<p><em>more like a below average student needing guidance</em></p>
<p>So unlike most of the students on this site, I am faaar from applying to an Ivy school, but I do need advice on getting into a college I am comfortable and happy in. This year I have applied to UMass Amherst, Northeastern, University of Tampa, University at Buffalo, SUNY Purchase, University of Hartford, SUNY New Paltz, and University of New Hampshire. I got accepted to University of Tampa, SUNY Purchase and University of Hartford, and deferred from University of New Hampshire. The only school I would consider going to is SUNY Purchase, which although is a nice school, I don't see myself too happy in.
My grades are:
Freshmen: 80.3
Sophomore: 80.6
Junior: 86
Senior: 94 (1st semester)
my overall average as of now is 83.9</p>
<p>I have taken no AP classes until this year (AP Art History)
My school dropped my Math and Science this year (I tried to get both classes but they wouldn't let me take them)
And I dropped French after sophomore year because it was bringing down my GPA </p>
<p>SAT: 1670 (a 560 in Critical reading, 550 in math, and 560 in writing)</p>
<p>I relied on many small things throughout high school to get me noticed from colleges including:
-being bilingual
-having foreign parents
-having lived in different country for two years
-being a dedicated and active member in a year round youth movement (which is volunteer work during the year and a job during the summer,)
-attending a community service trip to the Lower 9th Ward (which had led me to be an active participant in yet another youth led organization,)
-steadily increasing grades throughout high school</p>
<p>my extra curriculars (in high school only) include:
Girls Learn International- Junior and Senior year (leadership role senior year)
Model UN- Sophomore Junior and Senior year (leadership role senior year) (Honorable Mention in a conference)
YCCA (Youth Coalition for Community Action)- Senior Year
Environmental Club- Freshmen year
Downtown Art- A theater program (which also serves as community service)- 7th grade to Freshmen year of High school</p>
<p>Having seriously been considering taking a gap year for a while, my college situation has given me a reason to pursue it. I will be taking a year abroad on an international community service trip, where I will also fluently learn the language. I am extremely excited, but I know I also have to keep college on my radar. I plan on re-applying throughout my gap year, but I have many questions that my college mentor couldn’t answer, so hopefully some of you here can help me out!
-Can I re-take my SAT’s ( or ACT’s?) I am leaving the country mid-September, so can I take it anytime before then?
-Can I defer from a college without choosing to enroll after my gap year (SUNY Purchase?)
-Will a gap year increase my chances in getting into a college?
-Is there a way to graduate with my class even though I am starting school a year later?
-Can I re-apply to a school I had already been rejected from? (is it worth it?)
-Do I use recommendations from the gap year program/ summer job? Or should I ask my current teachers for recommendations?</p>
<p>I am planning on applying to much better schools during my gap year, and although they seem extremely unrealistic, these are some schools on my mind:
-UCLA
-University of Southern California
-Marist
-Skidmore
-Northeastern (I had already been rejected)</p>
<p>If I can re-take my SAT’s hopefully I get a better score. Apart from the testing, please let me know if you have any college suggestions (I plan on focusing on social sciences) or anyway I can further increase my chances!</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! Sorry this was so long!</p>