Would it be smarter for me to apply to colleges and then take a gap year or apply to colleges while I am on my gap year. I do not have the SAT score I want and I was thinking that it may be a good idea to have that extra year to study and retake the SAT. I already have an internship set up for the year so I don’t have to worry about looking into one. Your help is greatly appreciated! 
What is your SAT score and what colleges are you looking at?
You can google the common data sets for each college to see where their 50th percentile is and see if you fit.
Keep in mind that the CollegeBoard is remaking the SAT starting March of 2016.
Get your letters of recommendation from your teachers and guidance counselor lined up now even if you aren’t applying for another year. You want to get those letters while they still remember you well and can include those telling details about your class participation, etc…
I’d probably wait to apply since you want to retake your SAT and a lot can happen to your selection criteria for schools in the intervening time. Others like the idea of locking something in and requesting a deferral (which many schools will give if you have an internship), but that presumes that you actually want to attend the school(s) you’ve been admitted to.
I do not fit within the profile of the schools I want to attend @rdeng2614
Have you ever considered retaking the SAT in October, November, or December?
You’ll have to study all over again if you’re taking the SAT next year as the new SAT is completely different from the old SAT.
Have you thought about taking the ACT? You could take the test during September and see how you do.
I can not take the ACT because I will be in a country that does not offer it. @rdeng2614 I will be retaking it soon. I have been making 2100+ on practice tests
It as in the SAT of course.
If you take it in October and November and get a good score perhaps you should consider applying. The deadlines are generally January 1 for regular decision.
It sounds like you can already get into a lot of good schools. Why in particular do you want to take a gap year?
I have the possibility of doing an internship at an embassy so I believe that would be a great experience to make connections and gain good work experience. I think that it would be a good opportunity to take a break from school and still be doing something productive with my life. @rdeng2614
“I do not fit within the profile of the schools I want to attend”
what does this mean??
Regardless of anything else you do- THIS suggestion by N’s Mom is really important! Teachers will not be as willing to write GREAT letters of recommendation for you if you are not right there in their classrooms.
out of sight = out of mind
“Get your letters of recommendation from your teachers and guidance counselor lined up now even if you aren’t applying for another year. You want to get those letters while they still remember you well and can include those telling details about your class participation, etc…”
My SAT scores on not within the range for being admitted. My teachers and guidance counselors have already written their recommendations. Thanks for the advice though! I started talking to them about writing them last year. @menloparkmom
“My SAT scores on not within the range for being admitted.”
NO LORs from teachers or Gap year activities will get you in the door at colleges where SAT scores are considered “very important”
You’ll need to find colleges where your scores ARE in the range of accepted students. Otherwise you will be wasting your time applying to colleges where you have no chance of acceptance.