Gap year or not?
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Anonymous
| Hello, I am a SOVA student that was recently admitted to UVA and UNC. However, I was deferred to my top choice, UChicago, and my RD applications came out miserably due to issues at home during the time I filled in the apps (parents getting a divorce with low key abusive father). My mom and I are planning to leave the house and go somewhere else. Now that brings me to the question, should I take a gap year and reapply while sorting the mess at home out or should I just go to UVA? Honestly, IDK how I would make use of the gap year and I'm not sure I would get the best recs from my high school folks either (I stirred up some trouble this senior year with my attitude... which was in my defense, affected by the events at home. They now understand, but a tarnished reputation is not easily recoverable). The only thing I have to my advantage are ECs, test scores (1500+ SAT and several 750+ in subject tests) and class rank (#1 in school). |
Anonymous
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Colleges I am considering reapplying to
UChicago (EA) Brown Cornell Amherst Notre Dame Dartmouth (ED) WUSTL Georgetown |
Anonymous
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Go to UVA. Money will be tight for your parents now having to cover two households. UVA is a great school. Save the Ivy/Chicago for graduate school.
What are your possible majors? |
Anonymous
Money is not an issue |
Anonymous
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Have the RD decisions come out yet? Why not wait until you hear a decision answer from Chicago?
But really getting deferred ED from Chicago may be a blessing in disguise. If you are already in at UVA and money is not an Issue, I say go there. Chicago would be 3x the cost and a divorce may muddy the financial waters as well over the next year. If so, you can apply for Aid at UVa which would be easier for years 2-4. And possibly take classes at nova cc. |
Anonymous
I'm an Echols scholar, so I'll probably graduating in 2~3 years max. I have always wanted to go to Chicago and I don't care that much about paying 100000 off later (plan on going onto a high paying job; investment banking) |
Anonymous
| It also helps my mom's side of the family is incredibly rich. My dad has nothing (and it's his fault for the divorce as well--abuse and manipulative behavior towards spouse and children) |
Anonymous
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Go to UVA and apply to the other schools as a transfer, if you decide you still want to attend after being at UVA for a year.
May be better to go off to school and not have to deal with your parents divorce as much. |
sparky
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True, but giving up freshman status for these schools can be deadly for admissions chances. Also, my stats are as follows SAT: 1540 SATII: 800, 790, 770 AP: 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4 Rank: 1/500 Main ECs -Helped create a popular app (#1 in App store for some time) -Works at a major gaming company -Translated supplementary legal materials for the government Would I have a chance? |
Anonymous
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I was in your position many years ago. Didn't get into my top choices, only got into UVA, wasn't too excited about it, parents mid-divorce.
I regret not doing the gap year and traveling. I think UVA is one of those schools that you have to want to attend. You should be excited about it and feel like you are choosing it. Too many smart kids end up there as a safety and then find they don't fit the culture. (I ended up transferring out.) But mostly, I think you should gap year and travel because it's absolutely the best education you will get. I ended up traveling extensively in my 20s and 30s, but I'd give anything to go back, skip the year at my safety school, travel the world and honestly, get away from the chaos of my parents' divorce. That way the year will be about you and your personal growth and not about managing them. It sounds like you have a bright future and the resources to make the gap year a true adventure. Do it. |
Anonymous
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I was in your position many years ago. Didn't get into my top choices, only got into UVA, wasn't too excited about it, parents mid-divorce.
I regret not doing the gap year and traveling. I think UVA is one of those schools that you have to want to attend. You should be excited about it and feel like you are choosing it. Too many smart kids end up there as a safety and then find they don't fit the culture. (I ended up transferring out.) But mostly, I think you should gap year and travel because it's absolutely the best education you will get. I ended up traveling extensively in my 20s and 30s, but I'd give anything to go back, skip the year at my safety school, travel the world and honestly, get away from the chaos of my parents' divorce. That way the year will be about you and your personal growth and not about managing them. It sounds like you have a bright future and the resources to make the gap year a true adventure. Do it. |
Anonymous
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I'm a teacher and I'm usually a big fan of gap years (my own two oldest kids both took gap years and had great experiences), but as you probably know, the standard advice is to apply during your senior year and then take the break. I've known only a couple of kids who applied to college during gap years and outcomes were not optimal in either case. I'd say that's likely to be the case with you as well, particularly since you allude to some behavioral incidents at school. And you'll have to give up the UNC and UVA acceptances, you know. That's putting a lot on the roll of the dice (especially the Echols Scholarship -- congratulations on that!).
Moreover, as you acknowledge, you don't have a burning passion for taking a gap year. Your motivation is simply that you want to to take another shot at UofC. I do understand that UofC has a distinctive culture (although that's changing a bit) and for some students it might seem like the only place where they'll find their tribe. But UVA and UNC are both big schools with diverse student bodies -- you'll find your people on either campus. Finally, and maybe most important, you need to get some distance from your family situation. You've already seen the damage it's causing you -- behavior problems at school, applications fouled up. Get out now, go to UVA and move on. If you get there and find that it's not the right fit culturally, work hard, get the best grades you can first year and then transfer -- you'll have a good shot at UofC, especially since the HS behavior will be farther in the past and you'll have recs from first-year profs at UVA. Good luck and take care of yourself! |
Anonymous
| Do the gap year! |
sparky
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I plan on depositing at UVA and asking for a gap year--and then applying mid-gap year. Behavioral incidents... I'd say it was more being an arrogant a-hole more than else (to cover for my insecurities resulting from home issues) but thankfully I have some very understanding teachers. I've been slandered around here and there by my students (there was a petition going around to prevent me from speaking at graduation. I complained, albeit in a way that wasn't too nice, and got myself a "talk" from the guidance counselor with my parents. Whole story is a total shitshow involving kids bullying me and hating me and stuff and me not making the best choices in response). |
Anonymous
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Does anyone have information or tips about reapplying during the gap year? Do the candidates get a fresh look from admissions, even at schools that previoulsy rejected them? Do they have a stronger chance somehow because they are perceived as more mature or improved because of the gap year (assuming it’s an educational gap year experience)?
Would it be okay to call the particular admissions office to discuss the plan? |