<p>i did the International Baccalaureate and came out with a decent score of 38/45, and proceeded to get into law school in the uk. However recently, I have been having second thoughts about Law. So part of me is thinking of applying to the US for an East Asian Studies (or related) course.</p>
<p>But here are my problems</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I don't know if my course load in the IB was rigorous enough and so am considering taking up SATs and the ACT. Could I just apply with the SATs and ACT alone, without putting in my IB grades?</p></li>
<li><p>what kind of recommendations are allowed? i've been out of school for awhile, so some of my teachers have left.</p></li>
<li><p>will such indecisive or unconventional behaviour, resulting in a gap year, be looked upon lowly?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>You MUST take either the SAT or ACT. SAT subject tests may also be required.</li>
</ol>
<p>You do not need to report your IB scores but be aware that IB courses are more comparable to AP courses, which are an absolute neccesity in order to get into an elite institution. You’re probably better off reporting them than withholding what you have.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Teachers. I’m uncertain regarding which others are permitted but some colleges do not require recommendations. Do your research.</p></li>
<li><p>A gap year is not looked down upon as long as you can justify it and prove you did something productive with your time.</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>If the OP has a transcript from HS (which would likely be required) which indicates IB, the OP can report IB scores later. </p></li>
<li><p>If APs aren’t offered, they aren’t required.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>what should I do during my gap year to make a good impression? im thinking of attaching myself to a research assistant dealing with Chinese language research. Will that be a good idea?</p>
<p>i’ll be posting my ECs up tomorrow do chance me then!</p>
<p>this means so much to me thanks everyone :)</p>
<p>Have you already begun your law program in the UK? If so, then most (if not all) US colleges would require you to apply as a transfer student rather than as a freshman.</p>
<p>hi:) no, i’ve yet to begin my Law course.
speaking of which, will my chances be higher, lower or the same if I applied as a transfer student (as opposed to a regular/early decision student)?</p>
<p>Your chances would be significantly lower as a transfer student. (There are rare exceptions but they mostly pertain to local community college students applying to state school and does not involve you.)</p>
<p>so in that sense, would taking a gap year be a better option?</p>
<p>I’m currently 21 this year. Having completed two years of military service, if I were to take a gap year, would I be considered a non-trad student? And would this limit my choices of schools severely?</p>
<p>Sorry for so many questions! I’m having a tough time deciding now</p>
<p>You do not necessarily need to take the ACT or SAT. Check the websites of the colleges/universities that you are interested in and read the specific requirements. Your individual IB exam scores may be good enough for some of them.</p>
<p>After two years of military service, you are essentially a non-traditional age student already. This is not a significant barrier for admissions, and waiting one more year will not change things. Most colleges/universities that you would want to attend are happy to admit students with your life experience. To find institutions that are particularly veteran friendly, take a look at the Veterans Subforum under Specialty College Admissions Topics at the top of this forum. Although you aren’t a US veteran, you might want to investigate the colleges/universities that are committed to the “Yellow Ribbon Program” [Yellow</a> Ribbon Program List - U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs](<a href=“http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/YRP/YRP_List_2010.htm]Yellow”>http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/YRP/YRP_List_2010.htm)</p>
<p>It is perfectly reasonable to take a year or so after completing military service in order to re-integrate yourself into civilian life. A gap year is an excellent option for you.</p>
The only universities that do not require either the SAT or ACT are extremely uncompetitive. This is throwing USNWR biases aside. The only decent college on the list is Bowdoin.</p>
<p>Another resource for you is [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) Read through the entire section on undergraduate education, and then pay a visit to the advising center closest to where you live. These people are expert on helping international students find good places to study in the US.</p>
<p>One question that you need to address for yourself is whether you are interested in a particular major field of study, or if you are specifically interested in attending only an IVY or IVY-equivalent institution of higher education. The research and application strategies could be quite different. For example, a quick search with CollegeBoard’s College MatchMaker for colleges and universities offering East Asian Studies or Chinese Studies finds only 34 in the US. [College</a> MatchMaker: Results](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board) It wouldn’t take very long for you to screen this list for other factors that are also important to you, such as the presence of a strong graduate program or a joint major in business administration or even just a particular sports team.</p>
<p>Cornell does offer Asian Studies [Cornell</a> University - Department of Asian Studies](<a href=“http://lrc.cornell.edu/asian]Cornell”>http://lrc.cornell.edu/asian) It doesn’t turn up in the search for East Asian or Chinese Studies, just if you search for Asian Studies. So, choose your search terms carefully when you use the various college search engines.</p>
<p>You do need to think about how you would pay for this course of studies. Many colleges and universities are now more than USD 50k each year - and that is before books, transportation, personal expenses, etc. Financial aid is hard to come by for international applicants so you need to have a solid Plan B in case you aren’t admitted anywhere that you can afford. Useful information on this topic can be found here at CC in the Financial Aid, and International Student forums.</p>
do chance me then!</p>
i guess I’d have to work my ass off for SATs then.</p>