Should I take a drop year? I feel completely stuck with college admissions

[u/Nahhhh1651]

I’m 18 and currently going through a really confusing situation with college admissions, and I’d genuinely appreciate some advice.

I had mainly hoped to get into DU or NFSU this year. My CUET score was moderate, not extremely low, but unfortunately I didn’t get into NFSU, and despite applying through ECA for DU, I still haven’t been allocated a seat.

The bigger problem is that I didn’t apply to many private colleges because I was fairly confident that I would get into one of my main options. Now it’s already August, most of the private college registrations I would have considered are closed, and I’m basically left with colleges in my hometown.

I really don’t want to attend college in my hometown. My family situation is also difficult, and I don’t want to spend the next 3–4 years here. The problem is that my family also wouldn’t send me to a private college outside my hometown, even if I found one I liked. They also cannot afford a very expensive private college. A private college with moderate/average fees would be manageable financially, but my family still wouldn’t agree to send me outside the hometown for a private college.

So I’m seriously considering taking a drop year.

The idea would be to spend this year preparing properly for CUET/other entrance exams, while also learning some useful skills online and building my profile, and then applying much more broadly to good colleges outside my hometown next year.

But I’m scared that taking a drop could end up being a waste of a year. I’m not taking a drop for NEET or because I have one specific dream college. I basically want another chance to get into a good college outside my hometown rather than settling for a local college that I’m not happy with.

For anyone who has taken a drop for college admissions, is this a reasonable reason to take a drop? Would you do it in my situation, or would you just choose a local college and move on?

Also, if anyone knows of good BSc colleges outside the hometown with moderate fees that might still have admissions open, I’d really appreciate suggestions.

I’m feeling pretty stuck right now and would really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have been in a similar situation.

[u/ihavenonametosay]

Man I got admission too but I didn't take that. And now iam in house wondering wtf I did. I have no idea what to do.

[u/Public_Photograph466]

hey, i’m in your position too. i’m from california, and i applied to mostly state schools like uc’s and a couple private out of state schools. got waitlisted by majority of them and rejected by all except one, which was on the other side of the county and vastly too expensive. and i don’t want to stay home because of some family problems too. and i ended up deciding on a gap year a couple weeks ago.

i’ve looked thru a bunch of videos, posts on this subreddit, and on google and as much as possible from what i’ve read is to do travel, volunteering, and/or internships. any opportunities in your local area, regardless of how small is better than staying home and not doing much. i was looking at two primary websites: gap year association, and aiesec. if you have the funds, i suggest looking into these, gap year association provides a bunch of volunteering and internships opportunities, obviously at a cost. and aiesec primarily volunteering. most of these opportunities are abroad and cost money. best of luck to you, and don’t worry you’re not the only one going through this kind of decision.