Reapplying the next year after a gap year

Applying to College
1

Hello! So I decided not to go to college this year and take a gap year in a foreign country as an exchange student in either an international school or a sort of cram school while going on a cultural study. I’ll either be going to S.Korea, China/Hong Kong, or Japan for the exchange (the latter two with a program), but anyhow, I have some questions to ask about reapplying.

I applied to many places, most of which I didn’t get accepted to due to a variety of reasons. My essay was terrible (the biggest reason) and I admit to having lower test scores than I wanted to (the goal having been 2200+ on the SATs and managing to get just slightly underneath that). I realize I should retake the SAT and possibly the SAT II tests as well, and I’ll have to contact my high school for transcripts and the matter.

So, I would have to reapply this year/next application deadline, correct? And if I reapply to a school that’s rejected me, do I still have a decent chance of admission if I choose to apply early decision?

If there’s any other questions, or any comments, I’d love to answer/thank anybody who comments.

2

Also, since I decided to most likely not go to school for the coming term of Fall 2015, I would have to reapply for the Fall 2016 – that’s the timeline, sorry it isn’t very clear.

3

Do you plan on applying to any additional schools that are more likely to accept you? I wouldn’t 100% count on getting accepted at the schools that rejected you (although you might be accepted there so you should definitely try) especially if you don’t know if your scores will be any higher.

4

I’m planning on retaking the SATs before the summer or early in the summer before I travel overseas, and that’s when I’m hoping I’ll be able to take them at the very least! If not, my scores are decent enough to get into the schools, albeit on the slightly lower side. My high school transcript looks alright though – almost all AP classes (minus 1) and almost straight A’s with a couple of B’s (like 3?) mixed in there.

But yes! I plan on applying to some lower, less prestigious but still great schools for sure just in case I don’t get into my top choices.