<p>I have always thought it would be great to do a gap year abroad between high school and college. My parents didn't agree, so I dropped the subject.</p>
<p>Now I am a senior and I have finished college applications. My biggest regret (other than a few schools/scholarships I missed applying to) is that I never studied for the SAT. I got scores in the 700s and was told that was enough. I believe that that is enough for admissions - the rest of the application will play a much bigger role - but I think I might have had a better shot at scholarships with better scores. I know that some schools offer their large scholarships to groups such as "the top 1% of admitted students." I believe a lot of this is numbers-based. Do you agree?</p>
<p>I believe I could have gotten at least a 2350 if I had studied, with at least one 800. I believe I could do that now, if I tried. So, could this finally be my excuse for the gap year I had dreamed of? If I got a great score and believed I had a much better shot at scholarships/prestigious admittances, I could probably convince my parents that a gap year would be the right choice.
I know I could not deposit and then reapply. I also know that I would love to have this college stuff all behind me. But I think it could be worth it to go abroad.</p>
<p>Does this sound like a good idea or an awful one?
Am I wrong in believing that a 100 point difference in SAT scores could make a financial difference?
Are there any good (and affordable) study abroad programs whose deadlines have not already passed?</p>