<p>I got into Dartmouth, University of Chicago, NYU and Duke this year (I was rejected from Brown and Yale). I can’t afford any of them, even with the $25,000 per year scholarship I got from NYU. I am considering taking a gap year and then apply to universities slightly less competitive, like UVA, Emory, and UCLA. These places all have really significant merit scholarships for a select few individuals. Do you think I’m a strong enough student to get one from them, or would I have to be stronger (like one of those students who gets likely letters from Yale and stuff)? I’m basically trying to figure out if I should take the gap year. If not, I got a scholarship at University of Illinois (not my top choice), so I could just say screw the whole gap year thing and go downstate to UIUC.</p>
<p>35 ACT
SAT II Chemistry: 800
Literature: 750
World History: 790
4.5 GPA
School doesn’t rank, top 10% but not valedictorian
Really good essays (according to NYU adcom)
Good extracurriculars (leadership roles, etc. etc.) Captain of Speech team (won some awards there), won outstanding delegate in Model UN (been on it 4 years), Science Club Captain, Editor of School Newpaper</p>
<p>I’m surprised that Dartmouth or the others didn’t give you a good FA package because you sound like you actually need it. Can you try to get any more FA out of the schools that you got into? It would be a shame for them not to. </p>
<p>Anyway, congratulations on such an impressive list of colleges! I haven’t heard the gap year thing working out for anybody (but nobody I know has tried that). I don’t know if holding out is the best thing to do. Can you get more student loans or grants? I truly hope that this works out for you! :)</p>
<p>PS: I know people who have had to leave Ivies because their families couldn’t afford them even with the best FA package that they offered (not full-rides).</p>
<p>I’m sorry about your case. Perhaps attending your safety right now is the best case seeing it is probably a big risk to lose a year in hopes of getting a scholarship next year which you might not even get. Work hard at your safety and things will work out.</p>
<p>UCLA does not have any significant merit scholarships for OOS students.</p>
<p>Honestly, I dodn’t think you’re being realistic. The $25K/yr you got from NYU is probably as good as It’s going to get without going to a much lower ranked school. With what your parent’s will contribute, summer work and school year work, you would graduate with reasonable debt that your parent’s may then be in a position to help you with. If that offer is still on the table I’d seriously consider it.</p>
<p>hmom is only partially correct. OOS kids ARE eligible for Regent’s scholarships. But, there are only a few awarded at each campus. Thus, you would be competitive, but it depends on what the committee is seeking next year, but chances are low (just as they are for instate students).</p>
<p>Dartmouth has phenomenal need-based aid; if you can’t afford it, means that you have a high efc (and your parents just choose not to pay). Go to UI (unless you really want to be in NYC).</p>
<p>Go to your safety school. Excel in your academics and become a leader on campus. Get to know your professors and when opportunities come your way, seize them. Find your passion. Succeed. When the time comes, attempt to gain admission to a top graduate school/program. Save the prestige factor for your post-graduate program.</p>
<p>Your path through life will have a lot of twists and turns. Move on and don’t spend your time wondering about the “what ifs”. There are no guarantees in life so it’s important to grasp the opportunities that are in front of you now.
Go to college in the fall. Don’t wait a year.</p>
<p>The UCLA Regents Scholarship for students with no financial need (the OP states on another thread their EFC is $50,000) is $2,000 per year. [UCLA</a> Financial Aid Office-Scholarship Office](<a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/uclascholarships/regents.html]UCLA”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/uclascholarships/regents.html) As bluebayou says, it is very competetive (only 100 are awarded each year out of over 50,000 applicants to UCLA). As the OOS cost for UCLA is over $45,000/year, even the slight possibility that the OP is awarded the Regents would only bring the cost down to $43,000/year.</p>
<p>I am inclined to advise you to take NYU’s offer and go $10,000 in debt each year for four years. $40,000 to me is a reasonable undergraduate debt load. Losing a year of school to try again next year is risky, especially if you really like NYU.</p>
<p>Sorry, I must have not been that clear: seriously, I can’t afford NYU and it’s too late to accept anyway. Right now, the only place I can accept to is U of I.</p>
<p>Sorry about the situation, I hope it goes better for you. I’m just another graduating senior, so I can’t really advise on whether you should take a gap year or not.</p>
<p>I went through the Emory scholars program though, and I could at least tell you about that. There are about 350 incoming freshmen total who get merit scholarships, 200 of whom get $20K+, 70 who get full tuition, and 20 who get full rides. Your stats certainly give you a good shot at getting them (I got a Woodruff full ride with similar stats, it’s all in the interview), but I don’t know how the selection committees would view someone who’s taken a gap year. Good luck wherever you go though, I’m sure you’ll be successful.</p>