Future in Dilemma - Need Help

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm trying to get into the top colleges. I'm in Grade 12 and I'm returning for an extra year, and I need advice about how to spend my next few months before applications.</p>

<p>My Current Plan
- take SAT II's in the spring
- enter Biology and Writing competitions
- study for SAT I over the summer and get job
- Sept-Oct: go to India and volunteer for 2 months. Get SAT I coaching
- come back and do SAT I
- fill applications</p>

<p>The biggest problem is the India trip vs. an extra semester at school. India trip would give me SAT coaching and a great experience. Semester at school would give me chance to take more courses, develop references further (though they are already quite good), and participate in school clubs (eg. debating team, in which I have good potential).</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<ul>
<li>this year: Biology, Philosophy, Law, English, History, Chemistry 11, Writer's Craft, Economics</li>
<li>are there other courses I should choose for next year that are good for university? (prob. taking some Humanities course as a major)</li>
</ul>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>I would go with India. It will set you apart from the crowd. Besides you can only get so much out of high school.</p>

3

<p>It would help to know why you are taking the extra year. People do take gap years between hs and college, but they typically apply to college, get accepted, and then ask the college for a year off before starting.</p>

4

<p>Why am I taking an extra year?</p>

<p>1) I decided only a couple months ago to attend American university (I'm a Canadian).</p>

<p>2) I don't feel completely ready to go to university by the fall of this year.</p>

<p>Thanx for replies so far.</p>

5

<p>But you have been accepted to AU and you plan to attend in Fall 2007?</p>

<p>If yes, then why are you talking about prepping for the SAT and so forth?</p>

<p>If not, then are you planning to turn down all college offers and reapply next year?</p>

6

<p>It really depends on what you do in India. On one end of the spectrum is all the kids who are Indian and go to stay with family and "volunteer" and on the other is the white suburbanite who takes Hindi intensively and then goes to live in stark quarters and do something measurable. If you're closer to the latter, go to India. If the former is the case, don't expect colleges to be impressed.</p>

7

<p>To Dufus: No, I have never applied to American University. I decided to try for the US after applications were already submitted.</p>

<p>Suze: I'm half-white, half-Indian. I lived in India for four years when I was younger, but I want to go there again and see how things have changed. I would prepare by learning the language (Hindi) and probably teach English at a small school there.</p>

8

<p>In terms of college admissions, the time in India would help your chances quite a bit. It helps to have a good reason for a gap year. The extra time in classes doesn't even compare.</p>

9

<p>Okay, thanks. Two more questions...</p>

<ul>
<li>what SAT II's is the standard to take?</li>
<li>in grade 10, I got one mark in the 60s and other marks in the 80s because I spent two and a half weeks in the hospital. Should I redo that 60s class this summer or just explain on the application? worried that the university will think I'm "weak" because I spent time at the hospital</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

10

<p>Which college do you want to attend?</p>

11

<p>Excel: Top California schools. Eg: Stanford, USC.</p>