<p>Hello guys!
I've just received the results from Yale, Princeton, Cornell and UPenn and I wasn't accepted in any. The same for MIT and for my safety schools, Skidmore and Trinity. Still missing Wesleyan and Stanford but I see this year I won't enter the US. Good to stress that I am an int.l student with huge need for fin aid.
This way I chose to take a gap year and try again to enter univ next year.</p>
<p>About me:
Final GPA - 19,1/20
SAT I - 800M 600R 720W
SAT II - 800M2 800Ph 750Ch
TOEFL - 107
Others
President/Founder of Cultural association (involved with 30 schools)
Editor-in-chief of cultural magazine with circulation of 20,000
Finishing 8th grade of music conservatory in guitar, having played in prestigious auditoriums and with in masterclasses with renowned guitarists
University-level projects (schools) of maths and physics (16 hours a weekend, 16 weekends per year) - which took me to the national finals of the mathematical and the chemistry olympiads
Freelancer webdesigner (and I code as well)
Volunteering (400 hours)
EYP - delegate, organizer and editor in regional, national and international sessions (being selected to participate in an IS is a huge honor)
President/Founder of a Gavel Club (Toastmasters, jr.)
Tennis player (3 hours a week for several years)</p>
<p>I still haven't understood why haven't I entered university. Was it because of my reading score? Either way, I would like your help to prepare my gap year and assuring that I increase my chances of getting in a top university next year. My plan, for now, includes:</p>
<p>Sep - Dec: 3 months of internship at a tech company in the US/UK; retaking the SAT;
Feb - May: Journey to India with both volunteering and spiritual experiences (you know, learning their culture and the philosophy of zen,... similar to Steve Jobs's experience)</p>
<p>I still have a lot of free time. I will certainly spend a lot of time composing music and reading, but I also thought about improving my design skills as I have talent, but haven't yet developed it. Start coding more seriously would also be a plus for me.
What other things can I do to better take advantage of the gap year? Thank you!</p>