Benefits of a gap year?

Applying to College
1

Hi, I’m an irresponsible high school student who got denied by nearly all colleges because I was looking for prestige, but I learned my lesson. I was accepted to three colleges, but then decided to appeal to other colleges that might accept me upon reconsideration. Unfortunately, from the appeals: Ithaca College, Baruch College, SUNY Buffalo, and City College denied my appeal and I have Stony Brook, Binghamton and Hunter to wait for appeal decisions to which I am not feeling too well about (considering they’re a bit more selective…). I was then told that I should apply to colleges that are still accepting so I did, and I’m still waiting for them, but if I was denied to 14 colleges and accepted to 4, what chance do I have for colleges that have limited seating like Fredonia? Since I don’t like my colleges and I already paid my seat deposit, took placement test should I take a gap year or just attend John Jay School of Criminal Justice for the time being and transfer first or second year? What do I get if I do take a gap year, my GPA will remain awful but my SAT will go up sure, but I just lost a potential term. I also really don’t mind attending John Jay at all, but if there’s a better option I’m always willing to listen.

Information about myself in case there’s another option:

School doesn’t give A-F or 0-4.0 grading
GPA: 80.2 (avg before senior year, 77)
SAT: 1750
Hispanic
Wanted to major in Stem, Biochemistry (previously wanted to become a musician but changed my choice and started doing schoolwork “last minute”)
Last term GPA: 91.4
SAT: (as of now studied extensively) 2000-2150
Senior Courseload: 3 AP and 2 CollegeNow Courses
Low income, work a lot to help pay rent

The little I am good at:
Trilingual (English, Spanish, French)
Piano Composition and Performance 12+ years
Violin Performance 4 years
Guitar Performance 4 years
Programming, Computer Technology
Worked at family business for 5 years

2

I did apply through SEEK, EOP and HEOP for all universities but to no avail. I recently applied to the following institutions:

SUNY Brockport Ranked
SUNY Potsdam EOP
SUNY Fredonia Regular
SUNY Oswego EOP
SUNY Geneseo Regular
SUNY New Paltz Regular

3

Since I don’t like my colleges and I already paid my seat deposit, took placement test should I take a gap year or just attend John Jay School of Criminal Justice for the time being and transfer first or second year?

If you don’t like your options and you have reasonable alternatives for what to do with a gap year, forget the deposit and do the gap year. `Reasonable alternatives’ means you are doing something useful with your time - research, working, internships, taking classes (that don’t damage your freshman standing) at community college, self-studying things that interest you…Read The Gap Year Advantage for additional ideas and practical advice on how to do this. Just be forewarned that sitting at home for a year doing not much is a recipe for unhappiness so that’s your least attractive option.

4

@N’s Mom Although research, community service and jobs sounds wondrous, landing one that pertains to stem with a mere 80 GPA would be much too difficult, perhaps I could work at retail or something of that like, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider that a “reasonable alternative”. I was considering applying to the New York Hall of Science program on August, however, it’s competitive and with this GPA my chances are slim to none. Although I’m very certain that I’ll be “shadowing a doctor” in my local hospital, the hours count as community service and I can do this while enrolled in John Jay. I was also considering attending a Winter Program researching and studying Biochemistry.
I have the option of studying abroad at my home country, perhaps I can create an organization for 4 months feeding the needy, and teaching along with friends and family? Many possibilities, but the problem is that I have no security that I will do any of these things, that I may get rejected to all of these programs and opportunities, and by the time I apply, I’d have to be in my 2nd week of college, so it’s very risky. Worst case scenario I get denied to all opportunities and don’t enroll in college, I stay home for 6 months self studying material (Linear Algebra, Biology, Gen Chem 1 2 and Organic, reading Classical Literature) in which I do need to improve upon. However, I’m indifferent so I’m certain I won’t be depressed due to the isolation. If any other reader reads this as well, I would love to hear your inputs and as many opinions as possible before making my final decision, definitely don’t want to be hasty with this. Thanks for your input by the way N’s Mom.

5

Unless you KNOW that college classes won’t make you a transfer (you’ve checked with all your schools) do not take classes at a CC. Also colleges won’t count a retaken SAT while you are in college (the test is made for HS students).

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Of course, CC & transfer may be a viable option if you can achieve a strong GPA in CC and there is a clear articulation path.

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@“Erin’s Dad” I believe 12 credits per semester makes you a transfer student, I’ll have to contact the colleges separately. However, I was admitted to Hunter College’s “Non-Degree Student” opportunity in which I may take classes in this institution without being enrolled. I would certainly choose Hunter College’s professors rather than BMCC’s professors, so that might be a bit better. I don’t know whether I can receive Financial Aid for these courses, if I can, then I will attend Gen Chem 1 and Calculus 2.
I also know that colleges do accept SAT scores but they usually don’t ask for it when transferring as a prospective junior, sending SAT scores to colleges like Cornell may either make or break you. However, I have heard of students who took the SAT in their freshman year of college, scored higher, and transferred to prestigious universities. So I don’t know about them neglecting SAT scores because of the date it was taken, it is a reasoning test after all, but I’ll look more into that. Thanks for your input.

@PurpleTitan Other factors come into play when applying to college like distance and worth. If spending a gap year doing things previously enumerated and then applying to a better institution is more convenient than attending CC, than spending a gap year would obviously be better, but the question is if its worth taking the chance, I’m more worried about losing a year. I wouldn’t worry about the GPA though, perhaps its arrogance, but I think I’ll be fine if it were either two(or more) of the colleges. Also given that If I do attend, I’m transferring my first year from community, I’d really like the best education and opportunities as possible. Thanks for your input!

8

You can’t get FA unless you are an enrolled degree seeking student.

9

@“Erin’s Dad” In that case, should I pay it off myself with loans or is that a stupid thing to do? Considering I’m going to be in debt anyways as an aspiring surgeon…

10

I think that in your case, working + studying to improve your SAT + trying the ACT + (if need be) preparing SAT Subjects + reviewing your essays + perhaps taking community EDUCATION classes (NOT community college, but the type of afterschool programs offered at the high school, perhaps some review classes) and/or coursera + volunteering at a hospital would be better, as long as you’re SURE you won’t think you don’t need to go to college just because you took a year off.
In college, you won’t be considered “a year late”. No one will care how old you are. Plus, seriously, no one looks more like an 18 year old than a 19 year old. No one will know, no one will ask. When you graduate, from a college that offers a major you want and that is affordable, you’ll be glad you took that time to prepare your future, and no one will care whether you’re 22 or 23.

11

^ Good recommendation

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@MYOS1634 @"Erin’s Dad @N’s Mom Yes I agree, the decision is then set. Only if, however, I get denied and rejected from appeals and admissions will I then do a gap year. With this information I’m more skeptical about the college I would attend, knowing I have options that may be equivalent to or greater in terms of opportunity. I do not care for the opinions of others due to my age, I’ve always been a year younger anyways :). I will swear to myself to utilize an entire year to myself only to constructive work and perhaps reevaluation, not to spend it in indolence, otherwise it really will be a “gap”. I thank you all for your advice and now the hardest part of all is convincing the family!

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The key element is that your plan is to attend college, not to “wait and see” - the gap year is an active pre college strategy designed to mazimize your college choices.

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@MYOS1634 So in that case, I should discard all admissions decisions? Considering the fact that if I do get accepted to these colleges I will request transfer to these accredited top institutions such as MIT within my first or second year. Do you think it’s futile and I should simply “attend” the gap year directly? If Stony Brook accepts me, I’m petitioning transfer from my second year to Cornell, this is my plan. If I do a gap year I will attend Stony Brook after the year and then transfer to Cornell. Am I in the right or is there something I have yet to understand? I certainly can’t go directly to Cornell after my gap year due to my GPA, but would it still be worth a try despite already having been denied?

P.S: Pardon the quantity of question, it seems my responses have been riddled with them… I’m generally a curious fellow sometimes unable to reason properly :frowning: (maybe i shouldn’t apply to Cornell lol)

15

So you think you’ll be in the 21 admitted transfers to MIT (<5% probability)? Never go into a college with a plan to transfer. It’s not fair to you or the college.

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@“Erin’s Dad” Certainly not, I don’t think I will be accepted and I do pursue higher education, I’m aware of the low chances of transferring to top universities. I will take my chance and if I do not get accepted then I will remain happily in the university of my choice. I just want whats best for me, sounds very pretentious, didn’t mean to. What do you think, should I then apply directly and retire my will if denied during my gap year? Meaning that should I give up on my dream college and settle with the above average one if accepted and then attend my dream college for my graduate year?

P.S: All implying I get accepted, I have numerous “dream colleges” that I’d love to attend, same with colleges that I’d be happy at as well. It’s natural to prefer one over the other I guess :stuck_out_tongue:

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Your odds of being admitted to any of these achools is virtually nil. Focus on finding colleges you actually have a shot at.
Since you’re into science an music, consider St Olaf and Lawrence. Both are excellent and, while likely reaches for you, would five youvlittle boosts for music and for geographical diversity. Start showing interest niw.(fill out request info dorm).

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@MYOS1634 I only play music for leisure, I’m still ambivalent on whether I should double major in Biology and Chemistry or just double major in Biochemistry and Physics and leave piano as just an extra activity for free time. I would prefer a college that has symphony orchestra and also possibly a recital hall. I don’t desperately seek it, but it would be nice and many colleges I selected do have that option, as do hundreds or thousands of others do as well.
But I digress, although applying to colleges with the inclination of transferring in the following 1 or 2 years is selfish, would it really matter as much in the future? I understand they ask your reason for transferring, but how relevant is it for my future career? Is it really negative to use a college as a basis for a greater opportunity? Would like to hear anyones opinion on this, I’ll stay at my accepted college after my gap year if you convince me otherwise.

19

Both universities above have excellent music facilities (open to all after audition). I understand that you want to double major in the sciences and both are also extremely strong in the sciences. At St Olaf, 1/3 of the student body are accomplished musicians who chose the university specifically because they can continue playing at a high level while pursuing the major of their choice. Lawrence has a conservatory. Both would fit well with what you want but both are reaches based on your current credentials (even with a 2000 SAT). At worst, they’ll just be another option. The goal is for you to have real choices - something you don’t really have right now.

First, applying as a transfer takes time away from your studies, for a very uncertain result (top schools take very very few transfers since transfers “replace” the freshmen who left and very few leave elite colleges). Second, going in as a freshman already set on transferring makes you a person who’s “neither here nor there”, it prevents you from forming meaningful friendships and get truly invested into your “first” “transient” campus - you need to be involved and invested in the process or it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that you don’t “like” your college; third, when you transfer, you lose all your network, leadership in clubs, professors who know you and can recommend you, GPA, etc., and you need time to establish yourself at the new college, and you often don’t transfer all credits so that you should expect having to spend one more semester toward your degree (with the added stress that either you make it up over the summer instead of doing an internship, or you don’t “graduate with your class”). Transferring should only be a last extremity, due to poor fit or financial constraints.

20

@MYOS1634
Although attending a college alongside musicians and having numerous opportunities to excel sounds appealing, it is really not a necessity for me. Like I’ve said earlier, I do it solely for leisure and although I’m passionate about it, I don’t really think I wouldn’t require the extended opportunities. That piled up with no religious affiliation (atheist) would probably make my attendance at a University with religious affiliation quite undesirable despite the plentiful opportunities for my hobbies. I’m mainly seeking a University with a Symphony Orchestra (Nearly 40% of them or so) and with the strongest field in the sciences. I don’t plan on moving too far, I’d like to not leave New York too far, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are limits of mine. Prestigious universities at or close to the level of “Ivy League” are exempted from this requirement. I’m aware that my chances are increasingly slim on attending such colleges and perhaps I’d be naive to try, again, but I don’t really mind transferring from a great college to an even greater college. Presently, I’m feeling an attraction with Stony Brook, Buffalo and Binghamton and those are, as well quite selective. I’ll consider applying to greater revered colleges such as MIT for my graduate degree if I have a realistic chance, as for now my chances are much too low. I have come across as quite pretentious for being extremely selective in which university I may apply to, but I only seek the best quality of education feasible and with that I would like to beg your pardon for this “picky” quality of mine. I thank you for your suggestions, and I also promise to be more realistic.

As for the transferring note, I am completely aware now, thank you for the insight. However, I would only consider transferring if I do not believe I do “fit” or if I’m very unsatisfied with the college I attend like you stated. However, I would like to note that I do not really care about losing meaningful friendships, been there done that, but I do care about losing network, leadership and attraction with professors. Transferring 2 years would personally harm me more than benefit me if attending a college of my choice. I completely understand now, I’ll research much more and visit constantly to numerous universities that appeal to me as to avoid any academic constraint due to attending a college I am not happy at, also the same reason why I decided to take a gap-year itself.

However, I have just one more question and again I do thank you for investing your time with such a dazed student like myself. My question is, if I take the gap year and start applying for research, internships and the like (which I’ve already started for the fall year) would I be considered a high school student or an undergraduate student? Many research opportunities in New York require that the applicant must have completed one year of their undergraduate degree, while others require that the student must be in High School. Would taking a gap year make me ineligible for both scenarios? If then, what else can I do other than volunteer, study and work?

I recently received an opportunity to shadow a surgeon for a month on August, I also received an opportunity to study abroad at a university (censored for personal reasons) from January 2016 to August 2016, I’m thinking of taking them both but it will cost me. I also wanted to do a winter and summer program but I was thinking that would be excessive and finding a program that would accept gap year students is tedious as well, do you have any other ideas other than volunteering, studying and working? If you or any other readers have recommendations for applying to numerous research opportunities and internships I’d love to hear them.

Sorry for giving you a hard time, and asking you all of these questions. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, completely up to you! If anyone else has any suggestions feel free to post or PM! :smiley: