Hey guys! I’m a graduating high school senior and just finished the college application process. Got into a lot of really awesome schools, like CMU, USC, Rice, and more, and am very happy with my results. The final school I chose was UC Berkeley. I was recently granted a gap year there, so I will be enrolling in college fall 2026.
I’d like to reapply to a few top colleges that I did not get into that I would prefer over UC Berkeley—like Stanford, Harvard, Caltech, MIT, etc. The ultra-competitive ones. It is allowed within Berkeley’s gap year policy—if I don’t get into any of these, I have Berkeley as a choice. Does anyone have experience reapplying to colleges or advice on how to go about this process or who to consult?
I did my research beforehand and it seems the majority consensus is that reapplying to colleges is not helpful unless you really make leaps and bounds during your gap year. In my opinion, I sincerely do fall under that category. Since the time I submitted my college applications, I’ve had a VC internship, won prizes at a top 0.5% at a competitive international math competition, had success in an entrepreneurial venture, and other activities. Most significant of all, I was hired for a very selective/high-signal fellowship to work full time at a large tech company this fall (the reason for my gap year).
I am fairly set on going about this as I see no downside (besides the time/effort, which I’m happy to put in), and a potentially cool payoff! I did not have an admissions consultant during my last application process, but am considering hiring one as I’m in a fairly unique scenario and would like help framing my reapplication.
Please share any advice you have regarding reapplying! Anything is appreciated and happy to chat more/give details if necessary. Thank you to all of you for your help
Here’s your “not unique” situation…you are hoping for a Hail Mary by reapplying to the colleges which have already rejected you . Any counselor worth the fee will tell you to pick five schools that haven’t rejected you already, do your best, and then focus on a terrific gap year. But investing MORE time on a college which recently said no? Highly unlikely.
I respectfully disagree about it being a hail mary. If I didn’t think I had significantly improved myself over the past year, I wouldn’t consider reapplying. I understand that a lot of people are in this position as well, and I’ve done a lot of introspection before coming to this conclusion. Either way, regardless of what happens, I’m happy with UC Berkeley as well! Just a chance to potentially go to a place that was higher on my list.
A couple of the colleges I plan to apply to are ones I didn’t apply to last year, so it’s not that much more investment for me to write supplementals for a few more.
I agree that these are impressive and could impact your results the second time around. Are you considering applying anywhere REA/SCEA? Were you waitlisted at any of those schools?
If sending out apps is allowed by UCB, then I agree there’s not much downside. There’s the time and effort as you suggested. But one more downside…with two denials at those schools, you will be done. IMO of course. Likely no chance if applying as a transfer at any future point.
Please understand that your applications will be considered using the data from high school. You will be applying only half way through a gap year, and would need some amazing accomplishment to make a previous rejection school consider you. What you have is good…but it might not move the needle. PLUS these colleges have tons of excellent applicants who don’t get accepted.
If you want to reapply to them, go ahead, but it’s not probably the best use of your time.
Congratulations on Berkeley…which is a terrific university.
Thank you, I appreciate the response and insight It’s definitely competitive but tech fellowship is a really cool/unique opportunity so hopefully it can make a difference. Luckily I got As in all my senior courses (including MVC/Linalg/other advanced classes) so maybe that helps as well.
I have to reapply to Berkeley next year but I’m guaranteed acceptance.
Last year I applied REA Yale and was deferred then rejected. I was not waitlisted at any of the schools I’ll be applying to. I’ve heard REA doesn’t matter too much so the specific school I’ll apply early to (if I even do one) hasn’t been too much of a consideration (most of those top schools only have REA/RD anyways).
I agree, after two denials it will be tough to transfer. But transfer applications are egregiously hard anyways, and I doubt I would even apply to transfer. Just thought I’m in a good position to take another shot right now. Worst case I just go back and enjoy 4 years at UCB!
Is this in writing? Would you reapply for stats? Is that the major you want?
If you are guaranteed an acceptance at UCB, then I agree there is not much downside here. Good luck at your fellowship. Work hard so you can submit at least one LoR from a senior person there.
That’s the thing about anonymous message boards…you can respectfully disagree, your prerogative. But I have seen this scenario play out dozens of times, and in my experience your best shot is a school which has not already rejected you. Your regional adcom is likely the same person who saw your application 6 months ago. And you are competing with the same set of super accomplished kids as last time.
My observation is that continuing to invest in the schools which have rejected you prevents you from fully committing to where you are actually going.
Yeah I definitely understand what you mean. It’s certainly hard to convince someone after they’ve already said no.
I wish were more new schools I could pick from, but I already applied to a large amount last year and there are not so many schools I would go to over UCB haha. Appreciate your advice and input
I could totally be missing something, but won’t these other schools you’re applying to find it disingenuous that you wanted to take a gap year in the first place, purportedly to work at a tech company? I’m assuming they will know that you are taking a gap year and have committed to another university (?). Doesn’t it just look like the real reason is to try your hand again at getting in somewhere else?
Ok, doesn’t seem entirely forthcoming, but what do I know? Didn’t the applicant have to say to Berkeley that he/she wanted to attend in the fall of 2026, but first wanted to pursue this tech job for a year? Again, maybe I’m missing something, but I imagine that the granting of a gap year is taking on faith that the student will attend the following fall?
As the OP noted, they do have to reapply to UCB for Fall 2026 admission, but are seemingly guaranteed acceptance. Further, it is not prohibited for OP to apply to other schools. I take OP at their word. I haven’t personally confirmed any of that with UCB.
