<p>Soo....I am a senior who is anxiously waiting for the colleges to make decisions and notify me; however, I came to states when I was a sophomore from an Asian country. I was supposed to start off as a freshmen but $$ was an issue =0 Well I am attending a school in North Carolina but in like the randomest city ever and no body ever knows my school's name. But, I am ambitious kid and have big dreams so I did my very best at schools and got straight As, 2180 on SAT and like activities that my small school can offer. However, I do not feel competitive against all these crazy kids whose school enables them to do so much stuff you know? I know I should have done the same thing, but I did try, urged friends, teachers to start new club/activities and stuff but they were all not very interested..sad considering the fact that I am the homecoming princess/queen of the school. Anyway, so I am thinking about taking a gap year and going to China and working as an intern or something under the chinese hospital, or even i guess find family friend who works at the hospital and work something out. I want to be a doctor, and if I do take a gap year, I am going to get 2400 on sat1, i guess several perfect grades on sat 2, and more intensified exctra curricular, am going to publish books (short stories, books on people relationship) and take another langauge (prferably french) so I will be a lot stronger candidate...what do you think the ivys will consdier me as? Please help me out!</p>
<p>well you will definetly be a unique applicant since you did not live in the states for long with high grades and scores. But since you will be productive during your time off and did the best to use the resources available to you, your plan sounds good to me and the officers will acknowledge your success and love to have someone with your history =)</p>
<p>you are so encouraging!! 
thankyou!! but i definitely will have the issue of getting rec letter and all that while i am in china…but thanks :)</p>
<p>My pleasure but good look to you +) and btw what country did you come from exactly?</p>
<p>well its a boring country…south korea haha</p>
<p>you may be surprised with your admissons results!</p>
<p>Taking a gap year isn’t a clear plus for college admissions. However, it might be one (+) if you have set reasonable and rational plans to best enjoy your ‘spare’ time. Exchange programs is an example of a good time-consuming activity, and would well justify your gap year.</p>
<p>In your case, I too see it as a good idea to enhance your chances for college admissions. However, as I’ve already mentioned, your time must be carefully planned to make sure it will be worth it. Otherwise, it actually could deduct from your chances.</p>
<p>Before deciding whether you’re going for a gap year or not, see whether the activities you mentioned in your original post are really feasible, such as working at a hospital and publishing books.</p>
<p>Good luck with this year results.</p>
<p>I know that publishing book is a feasible plan i just need to have like the set goal at working in the chinese hospital, but i think my family friend actually lives in france and work as missinary…so hopefully they will be able to help out =) </p>
<p>but if i do accomplish everything i mentioned, do you think i will have a way more stronger chance?</p>
<p>thank you helluvachance =) you are so sweet. i am keeping my fingers crossed!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you are able to establish higher SAT scores, more engaging ECs and greater accomplishments, I don’t see why your chances wouldn’t be uppermost.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>First off, you don’t get perfect SAT scores just because you want to. And taking a gap year for US colleges isn’t seen the way it is for Korean colleges. Despite your perfect score and tremendous ECs, it’s going to be unbelievably tough for Ivy admissions due to your international status. While I do admire your uniqueness, take a step out of the ignorant and narrow-minded perspective of too many Koreans. Ivy isn’t the be-all, end-all. Many schools outrank the Ivies in different fields (MIT and Stanford in Engineering, Northwestern in Journalism, Johns Hopkins in Medicine, Carnegie Mellon in Computer Science, etc).</p>
<p>You’re a very strong candidate for the Ivies. But I’d think realistically about taking a gap year, and I’d definitely do some more research on colleges and admission processes before simply saying “I want to apply to all Ivies! Yay!”</p>
<p>dear sandrorigues thanks again for your cheerful comment =) thanks!!</p>
<p>dear calvin
well i was hoping i will study for many many times prior to taking sat again and was hoping i’ll get score closer to 2400 I know i really shouldnt have just said arrogantly oh yeah i will get the perfect score! that was stupid i’ll admit. andd I am actually an American citizen I just happened to be born in Korea and was raised there till my sophomore year so I think that will give me a more solid chance on where i stand compare to other applicants but then again i really dont know and shouldnt say anything…
and yes, even though I am applying to ivys for its prestigious reasons, i’ve been giving more thoughts and comments on other colleges and other dreams too. so i thought doing what i enjoy(going to different country, learning two different languages, writing books!) would provide me an ample opportunity for me to maybe change my mind. like to test myself but i do appreciate your thoughtful comment. I will definitely think more carefully!</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, how are you an American citizen when you were born in Korea and raised there until your sophomore year? I came to the US from Korea when I was in first grade, and I’m still not a citizen. I just got my permanent residency card like last month.</p>
<p>Anyways, I suppose I should expand rather than just give our rash opinions. Like I previously mentioned, colleges don’t like (per se) the fact that you took a gap year. But if you really take that year to intern in a Chinese hospital, they’ll recognize your passion and learn to respect you. It’s another one of those differences in Korean and American mindset. Korean colleges care about your level of intelligence and how you can apply such knowledge. American colleges care about your passion and your willingness to set a unique and bright path into your future. I’m not going to say one’s better than the other (in fear of being judged as a narcissistic nationalist and/or a self-loathing racist). </p>
<p>To be perfectly honest, most of us here can’t give you proper insight on what you should do, but only give logical reasoning from experience and observation. In general, it would be a better idea for you to apply to college immediately after high school. But overall, your SAT score isn’t really Ivy-standards, especially as an over-represented minority. But none of us know what impact taking a gap year for an internship and improvement in SAT scores will have on your admission. Personally, I’d say it’s worth the shot.</p>
<p>In the end, I wish you the best of luck in all that you do.</p>
<p>Actually Harvard encourages taking a gap year.</p>