Taking a gap-year in the hopes of getting into an Ivy League next year

Applying to College
1

<p>Is this foolish or smart?</p>

<p>Everything in my application is super-strong, grades, essays, ECs, awards etc. EXCEPT my SAT IIs. They are horrible. I am pretty sure I'm going to be rejected by all Ivies because of my SAT IIs. Is it smart to take a gap year, work on finding myself, work in a company related to my major (computer science: so will work in a major IT corporation or a startup) AND study hard to get really good SAT IIs so that I can be accepted into one of the Ivies.</p>

<p>Or is it foolish? What If I get rejected? One year will be wasted (except the experience of working in the field)</p>

<p>btw, I'm an international applicant.</p>

2

<p>That’s not worth it at all. There are plenty of amazing schools that don’t require sat 2s. Even some Ivies.</p>

3

<p>Don’t do it for the sake of getting into an ivy. Do it because you want to, and it is beneficial to you in the long run for your career.</p>

4

<p>@DL43516‌ There are only 6 colleges in the US that are need-blind. All of them are top colleges that require SAT IIs</p>

5

<p>Uchicago, Upenn, USC and Yale are all need blind for international and none require SAT 2s. Might depend on major of interest but not from what I can tell at least.</p>

6

<p>@DL43516‌ Really? Are you sure? I was pretty sure Uchicago, Upenn and USC were need-AWARE for “internationals.” Though I know that Yale is need-blind.</p>

7

<p>^yes, ssgupta, they’re need AWARE indeed.
Did you take the SAT Subjects in December and in that case how come you have your results already? If you knew your results were not good enough, did you retake in December?
Anyway, I would not advise this.
Apply widely, look at your admissions. Don’t apply to all the Ivies and similar - only to about half. If you don’t get in and don’t get into another college you really like, take a gap year and apply to the universities where you didn’t apply before.</p>

8

<p>It doesn’t matter whether a school is need-blind or not; competition for international admission and aid at all schools that promise to meet need is same in terms of admission rates (5%-10%). </p>

9

<p>It is silly to think you only have need blind options. There are need aware that will give you aid too. But also so many internationals think they can get in Ivy and so few do. I would make this plan only knowing that you likely won’t have a different result. If you still feel it would be beneficial in that case you can do it. I don’t know that working improves the profile, can you get a job that makes you an attractive candidate? They aren’t looking for work resume really. They are teaching thinkers and doers, but academic types. , I find it hard to believe that better sat II would make any effect. Good luck, maybe you don’t need this plan b and will get in. How does gap year effect your home country options?</p>

10

<p>i know a kid who did a gap year, in hopes he could beef up his SATs and what not to go to harvard, where his father attended. well, it didnt work. he’s at a very fine school now, but is a year older than all the other freshmen. I wish parents would stop pushing Ivies on to kids thinking it’s the only or best place to go. sheesh</p>