<p>I'm young for my age, so I see no reason why I should go to a worse school than I might otherwise be able to get into if I take a year off.</p>
<p>Here are my thoughts. I have a 2000 SAT and a horrible high school GPA. I spent no time prepping for the SAT and admittedly didn't even try my hardest during the actual exam. </p>
<p>I've only taken the SAT twice, so taking it a third time shouldn't be bad? A lot of people take it at least three times, right? So if I take the SAT for the third time in a few months would it count towards my application for the 2010-2011 school year? I'm confident that if I actually prepped and tried that I would have a 2150+.</p>
<p>I'm concurrently taking an honors philosophy course and calculus at the University of Arkansas right now, so if I make good grades (B's or better in both), perhaps that would make up for my 3.20 weighted high school GPA? And maybe I could take another class during the summer this year?</p>
<p>So, </p>
<p>I. Would a 2150 SAT help me a lot, despite the fact it was my third time and my first two attempts were between 1950-2030?
II. Would making B's or better in three (difficult) U of A classes help to override my poor high school grades?
III. If I do this, what would I be doing during this time? Working? What do people do during gap years?</p>
<p>Anyways, I think I will only seriously consider doing this if I am rejected by most of my schools and am forced to go to my safety school: Hendrix. (And trust me, it's a safety.)</p>
<p>But is it more difficult for students who take a year off? How do colleges look at this?</p>
<p>Gap year, don’t know how that may look. Maybe transfer to a private school that has a 13th year ( and a well respected private school) this may increase your chances. If that can work then maybe go to a high mark community college doing advance high school work… dual enrollment etc… It really varies with the universities your looking at to attend.</p>
<p>I live in Arkansas…we don’t have private schools close by. Not an option.</p>
<p>I’m reluctant to go to an actual college because don’t transfer applicants face stiff competition? Good schools only have so many spots for transfers, right? Can you apply as a freshman even after already completing a year at a different college?</p>
<p>I’ve only begun to hear about this gap year concept recently and really think its a great idea. I have a cousin who is applying and thinking about the same.</p>
<p>I graduated from college a few years back so I think I can offer some perspective. Looking back, I was definitely unready for the realities of being a freshman at college. From simple every day decisions as to what I needed to do laundry to deciding what classes I wanted to take for a major I had no idea about. </p>
<p>Admissions aside, I think if you’re already young for your class, a gap year should be seriously considered. Go travel and perhaps get some working experience. It’ll help you understand yourself better and gain some confidence in your own skills.</p>
<p>You may want to apply and take a gap year if you do not like the results. Also, you can sometimes defer your admission for a year. I think your test scores look great and the fact that you are challenging yourself with those difficult college classes will help you. If the gap year is to mature and you need some time off from school, then go ahead, but if it is solely to make up for a GPA that you wish were different, the you want to think about how happy you will be taking a gap year if where you really want to be is in college. I would think you could be accepted into many colleges with your stats- what type of college are you aiming for?</p>
<p>Maybe that is not such a bad idea, but I have always taken gap years to be something of personal growth and experience rather than further education. To be honest, I am on a gap year right now, but I am not really doing anything much academically. Did take the SATs again (improved 2150 to 2240) but apart from that am doing a job as a journalist with the most widely read current affairs magazine in my country. I think the experience and widening your outlook on life is what a gap year should be about, not academics. A gap year should be what gives your a purpose in life by exposing you to the real world. If you want academic improvement, I’d rather go to university and then transfer.</p>
<p>“How will you make up for the record without being enrolled at a school? A post grad year can be a good thing but you need to enroll somewhere.”</p>
<p>Well the colleges I applied to this year obviously have no way of knowing what I am going to make in my two university courses. So I’m currently thinking that I could take a third course in the summer…that makes a total of three university courses (that’s almost a full semester of college). And if I made good grades in these courses, then maybe colleges will think less about my bad grades in high school.</p>
<p>So, assuming I do well, I would improve my SAT scores and make my high school GPA look…less bad. Plus, I could maybe get a job…which is (sort of) positive.</p>
<p>“what type of college are you aiming for?”</p>
<p>I applied to Lafayette College early decision and a few other notable colleges I applied to are Wake Forest, St. Olaf and Rhodes.</p>
<p>I doubt I’ll get into any of those, even Lafayette ED, so that’s why I’m considering doing this.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do Gap Year myself, but if you think it will benifit yourself then you should look more into it and perhaps seek information from school counslers.</p>
<p>^ Well I bet your stats are fine, coolbreeze, lol. Or do you mean, even in my situation, you wouldn’t do a gap year? Remember that I am young for my age and would have the ability to significantly better my application…</p>
<p>“How will you make up for the record without being enrolled at a school? A post grad year can be a good thing but you need to enroll somewhere.”</p>
<p>So let’s say I enroll at Hendrix College for a year. If I do that, I would likely be stuck their though, because aren’t transfer acceptance rates really low because there are so few spots available? </p>
<p>Could I go to a college a full year and then apply to other colleges to enter as a freshman?</p>
<p>I don’t recommend a college, a PG year at a high school could benefit you. If money isn’t an issue there are many great programs that would boost your high school profile. This is a common approach–a 5th year.</p>
<p>Well it’s like, how much younger would you be entering college than the other students… along with how risky Gap year can be. Would you feel really depress if it turns out/ appears the Gap year didn’t help you at all and posibility of just another year in high school?
Schools that your interested in, with or not with a Gap year, I would see what they would think about it. If in a way it’s frown upon by not meeting certain standards they would expect from students with a Gap year then you may re-think it. Though if they are found to be outstanded by such then it may help. </p>
<p>I think it’s risky, maybe because I haven’t heard of many people doing it/ I wouldn’t do it myself ( but your in a different position) etc…</p>