Hi, I have a 2020 SAT score and a 3.75 GPA, but unfortunately, I missed most college application deadlines due to some family issues. The only colleges that I can find that are still accepting applications are not the best of schools. Should I apply and attend one of these schools or should I take a gap year and apply to good schools next year? The thing is is that I’d like to have the “freshman college experience.” Would I still get that after taking a gap year? Also, do you know of any good schools that I might have overlooked that are still accepting applications?
Here’s a list of colleges with rolling admission. If your stats a re pretty good, I’m sure they’ll consider you this late in the game. https://ink.niche.com/list-of-colleges-with-rolling-admissions/. Look at the ones with grade A, they’re pretty decent but I’m not sure what you would consider “bad” and what type of school you are looking for. I don’t have any advice on the gap year situation but I’m pretty sure you would get the freshman experience, except with younger classmen if you decide to take a gap year. Good luck though!
Colleges offer more grants to freshmen than to transfers, so if money is a consideration you’re better off taking a gap year. You can target schools that give good aid for your stats. My son took a gap year and will be starting college this fall. He’ll turn 19 by the end of the 1st semester while the freshman who came directly from high school will turn 18, but nobody will know or care. Only in primary/secondary school does a one year age difference matter.
Out here in California, lots of students start college in the community colleges, then transfer to the state universities (UCs and CSUs) to complete their bachelor’s degrees. However, it is true that the community colleges in California have as one of their primary missions to offer very low cost frosh/soph course work to prepare students to transfer to UCs and CSUs as juniors. In some other states, the community colleges may be more expensive and offer fewer transfer-prep course options, or their role in California may be provided by more expensive options (e.g. in Pennsylvania, it appears that the more expensive PSU branch campuses fill that role).
You may be able to help others help you if you specify what kinds of colleges you are interested in, what your academic interests are, what your state of residency is, and what your cost constraints are.
If you are aiming for large merit scholarships, then there are more such opportunities available applying as a frosh than as a transfer.
Talk to your guidance counselor. See if they have ideas. Also talk to them about getting recommendation letters written for you while you are still in HS. Also ask your teachers for recommendation letters.
If you do think about a gap year, have a goal for it. Not just “hang out at home” but maybe something like Americorps or something.
Hendrix is still accepting applications and it’s a good school for high-performing, slightly quirky applicants. If you have a project or want to volunteer/study abroad, they’ll help you fund it! https://www.hendrix.edu/odyssey/
CA community colleges are very expensive from OOS.
In VA, check into deadlines for Richard Bland, which feeds into William&Mary and has dorms. Since you’re in-state, you’d probably qualify and it’d probably be inexpensive enough, but you need to move fast.
If you need a lot of financial aid, you’re better off taking a gap year. Most financial aid deadlines have passed.