A reader who wanted to do some volunteer work in Africa before reapplying to an Ivy League school recently asked me this question. He wondered if the volunteer work would make him a more desirable candidate.
I told him that it might.
You may wonder why I said "it might" rather than "it will".
The reason is that there are a number of things to keep in mind when applying to an Ivy League School. All factors must be balanced. Take these points into consideration:
#1 Taking a year off is like participating in summer activities. It will only help you if you are very, very busy doing really worthwhile things the whole time.
#2 The volunteer work, activity, or program you are engaged in must be a puzzle piece that helps you create your total picture. It must contribute to the overall image you want to present when you apply to an Ivy League School. So, for example, if you are interested in global warming, taking a year to study Norwegian climate patterns would make sense.
#3 Bear in mind that you will really only have about 6 months. Common Applications are due at the end of the calendar year. You will probably graduate from high school in May, so you will not have a full year for your gap year.
Click here for more info on Ivy League waitlists.
Fourth: Gap year activities only make a strong application stronger. They will not fix a weak application. If your SAT scores or your grades are low, your transcripts are poor or you don't really have much in the way of extracurricular activities, a great gap year won't help you!
When you are thinking about working for your dad's textile sales company for a year before applying to Ivy League colleges ,keep these four factors in mind.
In the final analysis, a gap year may be helpful. However, you must be sure that you are a strong candidate in other areas to begin with and that your gap year only strengthens your candidacy.
As far as personal development goes, a productive gap year is an excellent choice. It can give you a break from academic life while simultaneously advancing your academic career. This is an excellent choice, as long as you understand that a gap year is not necessarily a guarantee of acceptance to an Ivy League school.
I told him that it might.
You may wonder why I said "it might" rather than "it will".
The reason is that there are a number of things to keep in mind when applying to an Ivy League School. All factors must be balanced. Take these points into consideration:
#1 Taking a year off is like participating in summer activities. It will only help you if you are very, very busy doing really worthwhile things the whole time.
#2 The volunteer work, activity, or program you are engaged in must be a puzzle piece that helps you create your total picture. It must contribute to the overall image you want to present when you apply to an Ivy League School. So, for example, if you are interested in global warming, taking a year to study Norwegian climate patterns would make sense.
#3 Bear in mind that you will really only have about 6 months. Common Applications are due at the end of the calendar year. You will probably graduate from high school in May, so you will not have a full year for your gap year.
Click here for more info on Ivy League waitlists.
Fourth: Gap year activities only make a strong application stronger. They will not fix a weak application. If your SAT scores or your grades are low, your transcripts are poor or you don't really have much in the way of extracurricular activities, a great gap year won't help you!
When you are thinking about working for your dad's textile sales company for a year before applying to Ivy League colleges ,keep these four factors in mind.
In the final analysis, a gap year may be helpful. However, you must be sure that you are a strong candidate in other areas to begin with and that your gap year only strengthens your candidacy.
As far as personal development goes, a productive gap year is an excellent choice. It can give you a break from academic life while simultaneously advancing your academic career. This is an excellent choice, as long as you understand that a gap year is not necessarily a guarantee of acceptance to an Ivy League school.
About the Author:
John Chang was a former Admissions Officer for a top 20 school. Before that, he got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. He wrote Hopeless To Harvard to share secrets on how you can do it too. Click here to read his insider's account of Ivy League admissions. Discover secrets to Harvard admissions now!
0 comments:
Post a Comment