<p>-currently a young jr.
-2.7X accumulative through 10th
-upward trend 11th (and soon to be 12th)
-~3.12 through 11th
-~3.21 through 12th 1st semester
~~3.275 through 12th</p>
<p>taking rigorous schedule
12th grade schedule-
ap physics
ap calc
french 5th year
ap psychology
ap lit
ap gov</p>
<p>i'm under the impression that colleges won't see senior 1st semester grades when they receive application. They would be aware of courses taken, right? Even then, 2nd semester grades wouldn't play a factor in admission. My EC's aren't good. some music, nothing much. club soccer my whole life. some school soccer. a little volunteering.</p>
<p>I could take a gap year- find work experience, volunteer, continue on my club soccer for their last year and then apply the following year, correct?</p>
<p>Pros of gap year:
-possible travel- would love to take a short trip to france
-work
-volunteer
-soccer/guitar continuation
-upward trend calc'd fully into gpa (11th/12th are the more rigorous schedules as well)
-ap scholar w/ distinction award (does anyone even care lol?)
-more sat study time. i've been studying the past few months and am currently in the upper 2100s. next fall (when i take sat w/o gap year) i plan to be around 2230+, but with an extra year I believe I could get 2270+.
-younger jr, so it won't displace my age much in relation to my class
Cons of gap year:
-this is where I need help. For someone in my situation, what are the cons? i don't care about my friends being a year ahead and am motivated enough to not loose a work ethic.</p>
<p>Am on my second gap year so I guess I could provide some insight as to the cons.</p>
<p>Reasons, Reasons, REASONS…. That is what the college will look for once they know you took a gap year. You really need to have a compelling one. Higher sat scores won’t cut it nor will the final gpa with the upward trend.</p>
<p>You will have to write an extra essay in the common app explaining why you took a gap year and what you did in it. This will possibly put you in the group with other gap year students who usually do AH-MAZING things so once again, you better make sure that you have solid reasons to take one…</p>
<p>Here’s the sitch, when you take a gap year, you apply to colleges/unis in November (ED/EA) – December (RD), which is basically 2 to 3 months into your gap year and you won’t have done much by the time you send your application. This makes the reason for a gap year more important that what you actually do in a gap year. You can say what you plan to do in the coming months, but until it’s done, they won’t give much weight to it.</p>
<p>To me, it seems as though your reason to take one is to increase your SAT scores. I advise against it. 2230 is very good for competitive colleges. And if you want to show them your upward trend, tell your counsellor to mention it in the rec. If you applying RD, I think colleges do see your first semester grades and also your mid-year grades so that really should be enough to show an upward trend. (not sure as I didn’t graduate from an American high school)</p>
<p>In the EC’s you mention that you have done little volunteering and yet you want to take a gap year to do it? Colleges could look at that in a negative light and think that you are just doing it for the college apps rather than really being passionate about it.</p>
<p>All in all, think and plan your gap year carefully, coz if it isn’t for the right reasons, it could do more harm than good.</p>
<p>One thing you could do is try to participate in a “year abroad” program for high school students after senior year. It would be a little more difficult to apply from France or Québec but with CommonApp, it’s really doable. It’d set you apart and it may actually help you - both France and Québec have early specialization, meaning that if you intend on studying the sciences, you’d be in “Natural Sciences” in Québec (with two tracks, one focusing on math and CS, taking classes up to linear algebra depending on how advanced you are, and one focusing on premed stuff), or in “S” in France (with calculus, physics, chemistry, earth science/geology, and biology, mostly a repeat of what you did in AP classes… but also contemporary history and international relations + philosophy, which are required classes for all honors track seniors.) Same thing for Social Sciences.
You’d show your ability to handle a rigorous program <em>entirely in a foreign language</em> plus adapting to a new culture plus character, drive, growth, maturity. And you wouldn’t have to worry about first semester grades since it’s unlikely the teacher would grade you until you’ve become bilingual.</p>
<p>I’m actually on gap year now, it can definitely help if you use your time wisely. I suggest looking at Americrops, City Year, & Student Conservation Assocation. You gain work experience & a educational stipend between $2,000-$7,000( depends how long the term you take. Some are a few weeks to a whole year.) Just make sure you have a game plan for your gap year, you want to start applying to jobs BEFORE your gap year, so once you start. You’ll won’t be sitting around for a few months. I also suggest seeing if your school takes “CLEP” courses. You can look that up on College Board.</p>