Gap year for testing?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Ugh I know so many people are going to post negative comments but hear me out first:</p>

<p>So my dream school is pretty much Johns Hopkins, but I'm from Canada, and that'd make me into an international student, right? I'm currently in Gr. 11 (Junior I think?) so it gives me around 1 year and 1 month until early decisions for JHU ends.</p>

<p>My SAT score is not so good. 2000-2100ish? But with around 8-9 more months of practicing, I think I can get around 2200-2300.</p>

<p>My biggest worry is my AP courses. I'll be able to submit: AP Psychology, AP Eng Lit and hopefully AP Bio. I'll be able to show on my transcript: AP Chem, AP Eng Lit, AP Calculus, and maybe AP Human Geo, but won't be able to submit it because early is in November and these tests are in May.</p>

<p>I have really good EC's and volunteer hours plus awards and leadership. But when it comes to thinking about AP's, I get nervous.</p>

<p>My friend who's applying to a Korean University is going to take around 6 months for a semi-gap year (I think the time they submit their applications is different from most US schools...? Our school starts in september while I know theirs start in spring), so she'll take like 1 AP this school year, finish up her SAT's next year (as a senior), not apply to any university during ED's and Regular, take the rest of her 6 AP tests in May of her senior year, and use June, July, August, September, October to study for SAT II's and her Chinese/French (she fluently speaks 3, average in one) and travel a bit, then submit for ED's in November or whenever Korean uni's accept it.</p>

<p>I was thinking if I should do that as well. It'd give me a lot more time to prepare. But if JHU will look at it negatively, I don't want to risk it.</p>

<p>The truth is, I've been dying for a break. Every single break I've been out competing in sports or music competitions to get more awards, or go on volunteer trips in the middle of africa, and I'm just about done. My dad's a pilot--I can go and travel as much as I want. But I haven't been able to go on vacation since elementary school because every break was just another chance to get ahead of other people.</p>

<p>But if I don't take another gap year? Then another four years of undergrad starts, and then another four years of (hopefully) med school. Even if it's for one month, I just want to do something I really, really like doing. School's awesome, and I really like mine, but I don't even know what I REALLY like anymore. I loved lacrosse and the contrabass which is why I started. Now it just feels like I'm forcing myself to do things. I'm a very average student. Any 95% or 99% I've gotten was really the best of my abilities. I just want to sit back and draw on a really big canvas, or game a bit on my NES.</p>

<p>the only good part about school: I'm taking the courses I like. Right now it's: AP Eng Lit, Chem Honours, Bio 11 (because we don't offer AP bio at our school -_-), Psychology 11 (no AP for this class either--gotta self study), Pre Calc 12, Orchestra 12, Physics 11 (because I suck), and Spanish 11 (no AP). I enjoy everything except for Physics but that's a given to me lol.</p>

<p>Some life advice and gap year advice will be appreciated T^T. Please don't call me dumb, I just wanted to know if this could even be an option to consider.</p>

2

<p>Definitely don’t take a gap year for studying! Taking a year off to raise your score 100 or even 200 points won’t be worthwhile, or make a huge difference in the eyes of admissions counselors. A 2100 is already pretty competitive for Johns Hopkins. Have you tried taking the ACTs? I was about the same as you (2110 SAT), but then I got a 35 on the ACT (which is above average for JHU admissions). You might have the same luck!</p>

<p>If you want to take a gap year off because you feel mentally exhausted and not ready for college, that is perfectly fine; just don’t do it because you want to study more for standardized testing. Remember too, that the summer between senior year and starting college, you won’t have many obligations, so that can give you the month of relaxation that you need.</p>

3

<p>If you do well on AP’s in junior year, it will be an indictation of what you will do senior year. They just want to see your taking the courses senior year. Frankly, unless you want the credits you wouldnt even have to take those senior year AP tests. You would already be accepted by then. Alot of schools allow you to take a gap year AFTER you are accepted. Why not go through the process, get accepted, then take a gap year, knowing you are already accepted. Play video games for 6 months and then go work in the medical industry before starting school (or whatever). </p>