<p>I guess what I'm really asking is, do colleges (especially the truly competitive ones,) look down upon applicants who take a year off to do AP's and SATII Subject Tests? Do they think less of your AP's just because you did them after HS and not during?</p>
<p>I've found numerous threads on CC with info on gap-years, but all pertain to students taking gap-years because their first choice colleges rejected them and they want to reapply, kids who do it for travel, volunteer work and mastering foreign languages, kids who do it for kicks and giggles or to escape stress, etc. I've found none that talk about this specifically.</p>
<p>My plan is to take 4 AP's and 2 SATII Subject Tests. I have already taken SATI and scored 2140 (M:610, CR: 750, W: 780). I plan on retaking the SATI in May and I've been studying my a** off to improve my score in the Maths section. Not taking into account Freshman-year, my GPA is 4.0. Also, keep in mind that I am an international student.</p>
<p>The most competitive schools I want to apply to are JHU, UCLA, UCB, LSE (London School of Economics), UCL (University College of London), Standford and Syracuse. (So, if you've got time, please "chance me" on those.)</p>
<p>i don't know, personally i wouldn't just because it looks to the colleges as other students could go to school and do it..
however, i understand where you are coming from, cuz my school having no classes for me to take next year, i am planning to self-study/community college for my senior year..but i am slightly concerned about how it will be taken by colleges too..</p>
<p>LSE and UCL will require you to do APs in order to compete with A-level students. I would suggest taking a gap year for them and taking 4 to 5 AP's as many students will be a year older than you in the UK.</p>
<p>Basically Gryffon took the word out of my mouth.. "stupid."
It will NOT impress colleges that you took a whole year off to practice for some trivial tests.</p>
<p>Seriously. Not a good idea. APs are for high school students. If you are college-age (18) and taking Advanced Placement, that kind of defeats the purpose, and you are really just taking Placement. Try to stand out in some other way--get an internship, start a non-profit organization for a cause you believe in, get something published, do some research, anything. There are countless ways for your application to look impressive. But regarding the APs: I beg you, don't do it.</p>
<p>I don't think you understand that at least 2 of the schools that I'm applying to require them for international students. They use them for admission and assessment of student capability, not for actual "Advanced Placement". I may have no other choice but to apply to UCL and LSE (and not the US schools).</p>
<p>I may end up taking 6 (heck, maybe even 8; it won't be tough for me) AP's instead of 4 to offset the fact that I took a gap-year. And it isn't like I can't do anything with my time. I can probably intern at a local newspaper (my brother did it before). At least, that way I can give the impression that I was doing something with my time.</p>
<p>The reason I didn't take the AP courses/exams this year is because my school offers no AP courses and I couldn't find any other school that would give courses to kids not enrolled in their HS. I only found one recently and it is in a different city (but not too far away by train ride).</p>
<p>I do not want to do 4 AP's this year and end up getting 3's or less on all of them. I really need this, but feel free to give your honest opinion about how schools would look at the gap-year. I want to see some solutions to my problem, though.</p>
<p>Also, what good US schools (preferably out of the list I gave above) would you think I have good chance at being accepted to with my current qualifications.</p>
<p>UCLA, UCB, and Stanford are extremely competitive schools...</p>
<p>Just start studying for APs now... I started self studying two weeks before with only Princeton Review and got 4's and 5's. The curve is ridiculous, and many SAT subjects are similar to APs.</p>
<p>I still think that if you're going to apply to UCL and LSE then doing your AP's will be a requirement. Not only that, both of them will require you do minimum 4 AP's and get 5's on all. The thing you need to bear in mind is that you are competing against A-level students who all have three or more A-levels. </p>
<p>So, I really think you should do them if you're applying to both LSE and UCL especially as they are both top Universities in the UK.</p>
<p>People who answer in manner similar to this; "Really, really stupid. Just don't," are encouraged to explain why they think it is a stupid idea. For example, is it bad because it would hurt my chances of admission, or is it bad because I may get "derailed", etc.? Please, explain further.</p>
<p>Also, for students who went to UK colleges/universities and people "in the know", would you advise against my taking the gap-year for AP's even though I cannot get in at all if I don't? If you do, should I just forget about UCL and LSE and apply to an American university like Syracuse in addition to a few safeties? Or is this kind of thing not unusual for UK college applicants (and international applicants applying at UK colleges)?</p>
<p>Knowledgeable advice would be highly appreciated.</p>
<p>You'd probably be better off taking the GAP year to take courses at a Community College, rather than just self-studying AP exams. If it's a school that takes AP courses and either gives you credit or placement, then you'd be better served moving forward and getting college credit under your belt. Competitive schools would be more impressed with you doing something unique and worthwhile in terms of research, or public service, in a gap year than using it to study for AP exams.</p>
<p>I think you will be accepted to Johns Hopkins and Syracuse.</p>
<p>If LSE is your top choice, I understand what you are trying to do; can you find out if a year at a community college will let you get into LSE as a first year student?</p>