<p>Do you guys think it would be a bad idea to take a gap year at my current school (Top 10) before applying as a transfer to top LAC? To give you some brief background information, without giving too much away, I would be a rising junior this year, pre-med and bio major. My GPA is stellar, as are my extracurrics. I want to attend a smaller, quieter, more rural school that maintains the intellectual rigor of my current school. As transfer apps for this upcoming year have already passed, I would have to take a gap year and apply for the next school year ('12). During this gap year, my plan is to finish up the pre-med curriculum at my local state university while continuing with research and volunteer work. Alternatively, I may spend the year doing volunteer work abroad (not sure which endeavor would be more valuable). However, my parents are decidedly against either idea, and I understand that there is a large potential of the gap year becoming a huge question mark when people take a look at my resume in the future. However, the way I see it, is that it will free up some credits in the future, allowing me to delve into my academic interests in the future at the college, while at the same time allow me to pursue my interests even more deeply during this gap year. I was just wondering whether you guys could give me some advice as to what I should do?</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice and thoughts,</p>
<p>Alcibiades</p>