Should I apply this fall?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I first want to say that I’m very happy to have found such a useful forum. The information one finds here is invaluable.</p>

<p>I’m in sort of a dilemma and need your help, or chance estimation. So, this is my situation:</p>

<p>I’m a senior at a highschool outside of the United States (in Eastern Europe). And I’d like to apply this fall (fall 09) to a college in the U.S.</p>

<p>In school, I have very high grades, with an average over 9.91 out of 10. I have participated to national physics and computing olympiads in years 9 and 10 and 11 respectively, and have finished in the top 15 each time.
Extracurriculars besides the olympiads include French courses (with no language diploma as of now), a Cambridge Advanced Exam in English and the Scripting Games (can’t wait for this year’s edition).
I haven’t taken and SAT exam yet, but have registered for the June Subject Tests (I’ll be taking 3 - math 2, physics and french) and will take the October SAT reasoning test. I expect to get high scores on each (750+ for reasoning test and more for the subject tests).</p>

<p>I would normally register for the admission exam at the college of my choice this july. However, I’ve found out that enrolling in a college, would make me inelligible for freshmen status and that I’d have to apply as a transfer student.
Since I also need a great deal of financial aid, the chances of that happening would be practically nil.</p>

<p>I’d like to apply to good schools, tire 1 as you call them, Stanford, Williams, MIT, Caltech, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Colmbia and Washington off the top of my head.</p>

<p>So, question:</p>

<li><p>Is there any way to apply as a freshman if I start college in my home country?</p></li>
<li><p>Assuming I take a gap year and work towards getting admitted, would this be looked down upon (the gap year)? Would it seriously lower my chances? Do I stand a chance in these circumstances (or in any for that matter)?</p></li>
<li><p>If I do, is ther anything I can do in a gap year to help with my admission? Internship, learning another language or contributing to an open source software project are considered. Anything else?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for reading.
I look forward to your advice.</p>

2

<p>A gap year would not be looked down upon if you do anything constructive. You would have to apply as a transfer after a year of school anywhere.</p>

<p>Realize that even with your great sounding stats, getting into one of the colleges you name with aid will be very difficult. Each may take one or two from your country each year and the competition is stiff. If you are really set on college in the States, expand your list to include some less competitive schools as well.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for clarifying the gap year question I was having.</p>

<p>Would you, or anyone for that matter suggest anything I could do to improve my chances at admission besides studying for high SAT scores and writing a good essay?</p>