<p>Hi, many here know a lot more about the college admissions process than I do. I'm thinking about a plan, not sure if it's been done before. I also have some questions about its implementation.</p>
<p>I think that right now my ECs are top notch and can't get too much better. My recs and essays are strong. However, my scores, while decent, aren't good enough for top schools. I'm a senior in HS right now. Can I take a year off from college and use it to get some job experience and have solid time for test prep. Then can I apply for freshman admission to various top schools next year?</p>
<p>Can one take tests like SAT/ACT after senior year's finished? Has this been done before and successfully?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>i know I have read of others who took the sat/act after the senior year and applied, so it has been done. it is called a gap year.</p>
<p>do some searches on CC using the term gap year and see what you find.</p>
<p>You will need to keep your EC's going (at least a similiar thing), improve your tests scores and maybe even self-study an AP or two and keep in contact with teachers for good recs.</p>
<p>you will also need to be able to show that you used the gap year to grow and mature and that you are better person for it -- a job flipping hamburgers won't do it, but there are many other types of jobs that will.</p>
<p>Yes, alot of people choose to take gap years after they graduate high school and before they enter college. Usually, they do it not only to take a break from the stress of school but also to pursue activities they're passionate about, get a job, travel in a foreign country, etc. I'm pretty sure that you can continue to take the tests even after graduation.</p>
<p>Just make sure your motives are right for taking a year off. Remember, life isn't all about getting into the best college. Do you really want to take a whole year of your life just to boost up one part of your application? I'm not criticizing your plan at all, but I want you to really sit down and explore what's in your mind right now. Don't get sucked into the admissions game to the point where you're sacrificing enjoying yourself. Ultimately, college doesn't determine your success or failure in adulthood. What you want to ask yourself is, "In hindsight, will I think that taking a year off to study for a test will be healthy/ reasonable/ worth my time?" If you say yes, go for it. </p>
<p>Is is safe to infer from your sn that you want to go to Harvard? I know Harvard and all those ivy league caliber schools seem so attractive and wonderful- I'll freely admit that I'm applying to them too. Just keep everything in perspective. Getting rejected from Harvard won't end your life. </p>
<p>One more thing- you say your ECs, essays, reccs, etc are really good, and test scores are the only thing you're worried about. You have to remember that colleges don't just accept students who are perfect in every part of their application; very, very few people achieve that. If the rest of your app is stellar, schools can and often do overlook less than perfect scores. They're looking for an applicant that comes to life through their application, an applicant that can convey his/her passions . Harvard's middle 50% SAT scores are 700-790. That means 25% of their class scored less than that. Numbers, obviously, aren't everything.</p>
<p>Look around some old threads on CC. There's tons of dedicated, passionate people who got into great schools despite lower test scores because they shined in other ways.</p>