<p>Hi! I’m no expert, but I’m taking a gap year from 2010-2011 and I did a lot of research before making the decision. </p>
<p>(1) A lot of colleges accept gap year students. In fact, the ivies and bigger name schools encourage students to take gap years because students who do tend to be more focused and have a better idea of what they want to do in college. And actually, gap years are becoming a lot more common in the US - they’re already extremely popular in the UK and in several other countries. Here’s Harvard’s opinion on gap years: [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Taking Time Off](<a href=“http://admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html]Harvard”>http://admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html)</p>
<p>(2) From what I understand, colleges see gap year students as being more mature, if anything. Especially if you’ve spent the year studying, working, or volunteering. If you’ve been sitting around mooching off your parents… eh, not so much. </p>
<p>(3) It’s not that it has a negative affect on your new application so much as it’s an indicator as to how things could go. It’s hard to get into a school you’ve been rejected from unless you’ve made some kind of special achievement or had a significant score increase. </p>
<p>(4) Yes, if you’re applying as an incoming freshman. A lot of schools have limited financial aid for transfers.</p>
<p>(5) It depends on how much your scores increase and the school in question.</p>
<p>(6) Yes. I’m taking the SAT IIs in December. </p>
<p>I definitely understand your predicament and my heart goes out to you. I overshot majorly with the schools I applied to and only got into 2 out of 10, both of which turned out to be too expensive because I was screwed over with FAFSA this year. Keep in mind that SATs are only one part of the college equation and that there are other things you can do to stand out to colleges should you choose to take a gap year, like volunteering or doing an internship. Good luck to you!</p>