Taking a Gap Year or going to State school (UMD-CP)?
So, I am a high school senior and I really got overwhelmed earlier this year due to multiple family problems, and struggling with heavy senior year course load. Because of this, I didn't have time to take all the standardized test and write essays, so to avoid near certain rejection, I decided to not send in an application to a top school in case I decided that I wanted to transfer or take a gap year. However, I have since taken the standardized tests, score near perfect and preserved my GPA. I can go to the University of Maryland College Park, but due to my amount of dual enrollment, I would finish in 2 years.
I am thinking of taking a Gap Year to join AmeriCorps or Teach English in the Carribean. I would apply to top schools and I think I can get into one at least, or at least get a full ride somewhere since my test scores didn't come in until after I applied to Maryland and they didn't see them. Also, If I went to UMD I would commute or go into debt.
Is it a good idea to take a gap year to get into a top-ranked school or should I go to UMD?
bump
If your stats are really good, you could just go to UMD for a year and transfer to a top-tier school if you're motivated enough.
take the gap year...put something great on your resume (americorps, peace corps, teach english in china or japan and learn the local language and culture). this is ABSOLUTELY the best time to do this. You won't be dinged applying to college after taking a gap year. You WILL be dinged applying for jobs out of college, taking a gap year after college. the older you get, the harder it is to do these things. Bonus, you'll save up some money befere college and increase the chances of getting scholarship money from the great story you can tell about your gap year (so, don't take a job at mcdonalds...really get far away and make a difference).
I would take a gap year. If your GPA & SAT are near perfect as you say, you can easily land in a ~T20-25 school here in the states. Your college app will be much more mature than your peers that are applying while still in HS, and your story will be something that will set you apart from most of them.
2 years at UMD wouldn't be enough. I see no reason (besides the financial one) to rush graduating and miss out on all of the internships & recruiting you get exposure to throughout the traditional 4 years in undergrad..
Good luck!
I would take a gap year as well.
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