<p>I’m taking a gap year. My first preference is US but if I don’t get into my desired colleges and I decide to stay in india, will a gap year hurt me ? I’m keeping St xaviers, Stephens Et al as my Indian backups.</p>
<p>Noautographsplease</p>
<p>The question is not clear. Are you already done with 12th grade in 2012 and already in your gap year 2012-13? Or are you planning to take the year off in 2013-14? </p>
<p>Either way, hurt in what way…age gap in whichever school you choose to go to…you vs your school classmates getting ahead…I am assuming you already are in your gap year. In that case,</p>
<p>If you plan on going to US the age gap will not be an issue at all. Can"t say that for India though.</p>
<p>Classmates getting ahead, this part you must have weighed in when you took the gap year.</p>
<p>I gave my 12th final exams last month and will be applying to US colleges this year end. I’m not really worried about classmates getting ahead. The thing I’m worried about is IF I don’t get in my desired set of colleges, and decide to study in india, will the gap year hurt me for my admission in Indian colleges ?</p>
<p>Please don’t be worried…In the case that you are anxious of your classmates being ahead of you, think of it this way…all the students studying engineering(assuming :p) here in India have to undergo a course of 4 years (at a highly respected college) you on the other hand can finish yours in 3 if you want to( given you work really hard at the awesome college)…That way you will be out the same time as your friends…with a much bigger network and a touch of globalism. This is how I used to think of gap years…:D</p>
<p>In any case one year is not really going to make or break you…In fact you may learn much more in this one year that you didn’t before.</p>
<p>Everything is an experience…enjoy it whilst you can :)</p>
<p>Nope, the gap year should not, in my opinion, have any effect on admission chances here in India. I suggest you use this gap year, if it comes to that, by doing something productive, an Internship maybe. That will only help strengthen your application.</p>
<p>quiverfox, as i mentioned earlier, i don’t really care about classmates going ahead. hahaha let me get into a college first then we’ll think about finishing in 3 years :p</p>
<p>anialways, exactly why I’ve taken the gap year :D</p>