@alas2125 I feel like I was pressured into telling myself that I was a STEM person (I didn’t really realise how much people discourage others from majoring in the humanities until I went through my switch) and I think I finally realised that, even though I love math and chemistry and physics, I’m more naturally talented at writing and self-expression and interpretation, and it’s what I truly love most.
I applied and was accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, and Boston University. I also applied to Harvard, Yale, and Williams and was rejected (figures, I get rejected from the only liberal arts colleges I applied to :P) those were kind of last minute add-ons when people kept telling me that I should apply to some Ivies/top schools.
I too have heard that as long as you do something on your gap year, you’re fine. Liberal arts colleges LOVE gap years (in fact, I’ve heard that when you get accepted by a school like Harvard, they suggest taking a gap year in the acceptance letter). I hadn’t heard anything about them when I was looking at non-LACs… Probably much more common among humanities folks than science folks.
@LAMuniv I definitely get where you’re coming from.
Was there any specific reason why you were mainly looking at Technological Institutes? I’m hoping to double major but I think in doing so, I might also need to compromise a little on one of my majors.
Someone I know distantly decided to take a gap year after being accepted into Harvard and said they have a lot of really cool programs set up. She ended up teaching English for a few months in Southern America I believe and seemed to enjoy the experiences she had.
I wonder how taking a gap year as a science person will ultimately affect how my application is viewed. It’s hard to compete against people who have been doing research for years (essentially from the womb, ha) when I have little in the way of scientific knowledge or expertise. On one hand, I feel like that might make me stand out a tiny bit but on the other, I feel like that would be a detriment to my application.
Taking a gap year seems like such a gamble but I think I’ll ultimately be glad I decided to take one.
ETA: Sorry it seems like everything is all about me. I’m just thinking out loud and trying to get more details on gap years and their impacts on college admissions. Regardless, I’m really glad I found this thread so I can get some input from American students!
@alas2125 I was looking at tech universities because, frankly, I thought I hated humanitie . The thought of never having to take another actual English or history class was thrilling to me, haha. I’ve always planned on double-majoring wherever I went… Started with math and physics, then math and statistics, then statistics and English, and now English and education/German/theatre/history/linguistics/mediaeval and Renaissance studies…
Before my high school offered me a job, I wanted to get my TESOL certification and teach English abroad, but it’s all so expensive… Even the non-scammy programmes make you pay… It just doesn’t make sense to me that you have to pay thousands of dollars to volunteer…
You should think about taking classes at a local uni or online (there are free ones) just to ensure that you won’t be behind when you get to college - it’s only been five or six months and I’ve already forgotten almost everything from calc BC ^.^
Don’t worry about talking about yourself - that’s kind of why this thread is here! Especially with gap years, everyone’s situation is unique, so it’s a good thing to let everyone know about yourself and your situation so that we can learn from each other and help each other sorry if I blatantly missed this, but where are you from (you implied that you’re not from the US)?
@LAMuniv Haha your interests seem to vary as much as mine do!
Yeah, the prices some of those programs are charging are really crazy. A friend of mine was trying to be helpful and kept sending links my way but it seemed ridiculous to be paying thousands of dollars for something that wasn’t even going to be lasting the entire gap year. I’m hoping to earn money, not spend it.
I thought about teaching English abroad as well but ultimately, it wasn’t going to be worth it.
Any good recommendations for online classes? I think I would learn better in an actual classroom setting, but something online will probably end up being way more convenient. I’ve been reading and looking through old textbooks in an attempt to not forget everything I ever learned…I never thought the day would come when I would miss school and homework!
I actual am in the US but in re-reading my post, I can see where I was a little misleading. Since gap years aren’t a huge thing here, I’ve been corresponding with a few people overseas so it’s nice to be able to talk with fellow Americans now. Sorry about the confusion.
@alas2125 no worries I’m not sure what they have to offer, but I’ve taken courses through Coursers and am currently taking one through EdX, and both are great platforms with tons of classes (all free!), especially STEM classes.
So I just called Columbia (my ED), and the admission officer told me to just write the gap-year letter/essay in the CA additional information section. Hope that clears some things for you lousy gap-year students
Seeing as I’m essentially a totally different person than last year, I’m rewriting mine (there’s a supplemental essay that I’m reusing for this year’s extracurricular essays, but other than that…). I had major writers’ block until a week ago, but now I think it’s headed in the right direction…
@alas2125 I’ve done Coursera before. It’s pretty good, but I haven’t been able to focus and finish an entire course. In the spring I’m taking an introductory astronomy class at a local university as a non-degree seeking student. I miss learning and being in a classroom with other students.
And while you all are busy writing essays and applying places, let me shamelessly recommend the College of William & Mary, where I have deferred my enrollment to the fall of 2015. Tribe Pride!
@1sparkle2 (I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself, but) one of my very good friends goes there and loves it! Too far away and too warm for me personally though
Lol, @LAMuniv, I think we’ve had this exact conversation before. A lightbulb went off in my head. Nevertheless, it’s always worth repeating! Plus I was feeling a bit left out of the discussion since I’m not doing any apps.
@dancingwriter Yay!! And I’ll have to agree about there not being not such thing as too warm. The humidity in VA can get nasty but that’s mostly in the summer. If you’re used to snow though you’re not going to be getting much.
@dancingwriter @1sparkle2 I’m going to have to disagree with you two about “not such a thing as too warm.” Have you ever felt Texas in the summer? Let’s just say there’s a reason I’m looking to head somewhere much, much colder
In the spring I’m taking an introductory astronomy class at a local university as a non-degree seeking student. I miss learning and being in a classroom with other students.