<p>I'm an international student and ACT deadline for registration (for international students only) was 2nd November. I left it too late and on November 1st, all the seats were taken and I could not register. Most colleges want ACT by December. Is there anything I can do besides take a gap year and apply next year?
I was thinking of a gap year anyway because of various issues including family and personal problems. Has anyone taken a gap year and accomplished anything great in it? Also, what's it like on graduation day when all your friends are in college and you're not because you want to take a gap year? Not that I'm not excited for my gap year, I am!
I'm not the careless type, I made a big mistake by missing the deadline! But since I was already considering a gap year, the idea isn't that bad.
I'm looking at top schools, if that helps.
Please help! And thank you!</p>
<p>Looks like you just missed the date to register for the SAT for international students by two days (had to register by Nov 1 for the Dec 1 date). As pretty much every college takes the SAT as well. I assume from your post that you have not taken either (SAT or ACT). To be honest, very few students get into top schools these days only having taken those tests one time anyway… leaving it for your first sitting fall of senior year was not really being on top of your game in preparing for a top school.</p>
<p>Another option is to go for a January or February 2013 test date. You can then (1) determine whether your test scores are even in the ballpark for admissions to a top school, and (2) have a score in hand if you do want to apply to some lower ranked schools that are still accepting later applications. You could go to a lower ranked school and then either stay or attempt to transfer later. Here is a thread of LACs with later deadlines:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1286273-lacs-late-extended-deadlines.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1286273-lacs-late-extended-deadlines.html</a> </p>
<p>I am not sure if they mention it on this thread, but I remember that a few years ago Gettysburg College had a Feb 15 deadline for regular decision.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would sign up for the January SAT and the Feb. ACT. Then I would find a few colleges with later dates to apply to and complete the applications, and let the admissions offices know that you are testing late and will have the scores sent as soon as they are complete. Ask if they need the scores rushed or not (tell them your test dates). They may be fine without the rush (which costs more), so ask. If they have a few thousand apps to look through, they are usually pretty willing to let a few sit for final components to arrive, as there is plenty of other work for them to do!</p>
<p>I know it’s hard to get in but I have the potential and I’m a very good student. Anyway I’m in no hurry to get to college and I don’t want to settle for any low ranked schools. Thanks for your reply!</p>
<p>Oh, you could also apply to some test-optional schools if you have a good GPA and strong extra curriculars. Bowdoin and Mount Holyoke are a couple of examples, but I know there are a lot more.</p>
<p>It just seems to me that if you don’t know enough about the admissions process to have tested early to allow for a retake, your odds of getting into a top school are really, really small. You haven’t said what the rest of your stats are, and whether you need financial aid. But it might be time for a dose of reality… and if that is the case, then no gap year is going to get you closer to a top school admission.</p>
<p>Yes that’s always an option. I’m considering Mount Holyoke. Do you know any other good ones?
I’m sorry, I may sound ignorant but I’m actually not. There were some problems going on due to which I could not register. Lol I’m not that unqualified for a top school, 4.0 GPA, really good EC’s, valedictorian, many leadership positions, editor of the school magazine, head girl, etc etc. I don’t want a gap year to gain admission to a top school, I needed time out anyway!</p>
<p>I have taken the SAT once before, I wasn’t satisfied with my score so I decided to take the ACT!</p>
<p>Here is a list published in the Washington Post about a year ago:</p>
<p>[The</a> most selective test-optional schools - College, Inc. - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/the-most-selective-test-optional-schools/2011/06/21/AGBB3heH_blog.html]The”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/the-most-selective-test-optional-schools/2011/06/21/AGBB3heH_blog.html)</p>
<p>I guess you probaBly missed SAT subject tests to? Many top schools want hem too</p>
<p>The full list of test optional schools is here:
[The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest](<a href=“http://Www.fairtest.org%5DThe”>http://Www.fairtest.org)</p>
<p>I don’t know why you’re opposed to settling for a “lower” school. Just because a school’s not ivy league, or in the top 20 on some stupid rankings doesn’t mean it’s bad. There are plenty of great schools that aren’t ranked super highly for whatever reason.</p>
<p>There a probably other discussions on here about gap years and I know there are some good books about how to do it. It is way more common these days and there are good ways of using that time productively.</p>
<p>Murphy600, no the last month to take SAT is January so I didn’t miss it.</p>