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[quote=sparky][quote=Anonymous]I'm a teacher and I'm usually a big fan of gap years (my own two oldest kids both took gap years and had great experiences), but as you probably know, the standard advice is to apply during your senior year and then take the break.  I've known only a couple of kids who applied to college during gap years and outcomes were not optimal in either case.  I'd say that's likely to be the case with you as well, particularly since you allude to some behavioral incidents at school.  And you'll have to give up the UNC and UVA acceptances, you know.  That's putting a lot on the roll of the dice (especially the Echols Scholarship -- congratulations on that!).

Moreover, as you acknowledge, you don't have a burning passion for taking a gap year.  Your motivation is simply that you want to to take another shot at UofC.  I do understand that UofC has a distinctive culture (although that's changing a bit) and for some students it might seem like the only place where they'll find their tribe.  But UVA and UNC are both big schools with diverse student bodies -- you'll find your people on either campus.

Finally, and maybe most important, you need to get some distance from your family situation.  You've already seen the damage it's causing you -- behavior problems at school, applications fouled up.  Get out now, go to UVA and move on.  If you get there and find that it's not the right fit culturally, work hard, get the best grades you can first year and then transfer -- you'll have a good shot at UofC, especially since the HS behavior will be farther in the past and you'll have recs from first-year profs at UVA.

Good luck and take care of yourself![/quote]

I plan on depositing at UVA and asking for a gap year--and then applying mid-gap year. Behavioral incidents... I'd say it was more being an arrogant a-hole more than else (to cover for my insecurities resulting from home issues) but thankfully I have some very understanding teachers. I've been slandered around here and there by my students (there was a petition going around to prevent me from speaking at graduation. I complained, albeit in a way that wasn't too nice, and got myself a "talk" from the guidance counselor with my parents. Whole story is a total shitshow involving kids bullying me and hating me and stuff and me not making the best choices in response). [/quote]

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