<p>Thanks again everyone, for your responses. I am leaning towards taking a gap year. It was something that I was considering even before the college results came out, and I feel like if I am going to college I should be excited and ready for the experience. I think most people in the US have a slightly different perspective on gap years. In the UK, a lot of people take them and they are really quite common. In the US we seem to view them as something for over-privelaged kids or people who just loaf around at home. I do think I am “ready” for college however, the idea of traveling and experiencing new cultures just seems a bit more exciting than heading off to StO. I am really thankful for the great scholarship I have received, but according to StO that isn’t going anywhere. In my opinion, what is going somewhere is the opportunity to travel for a year while working in the EU, where I have citizenship. Of course, I will spend a lot of my savings on a gap year, but I also plan to work and hopefully make up some of my expenses. It seems like a lot of people think this is not a great idea, but I think I may go against the grain on this one. What do I have to lose? I know my gap year will not include unlimited resources, but I will be able to get out of the states and experience life for a year. I probably won’t end up taking the SAT’s over, just because I plan to be in Europe by then. I will however, re-write my essay and write about something that sets me apart this time.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your help, and will keep you updated when I have decided.</p>