There’s that saying about when life gives you lemons make lemonade.
I’m not a fan of this idea of seeing which colleges are still accepting applications and trying to find a spot somewhere.
I think a gap year is something most people would benefit from. Provided you do something constructive with your time I think it can only benefit you.
I wish young people could see that there is a lot of time to do the things you want to do. I didn’t feel that way at 18. I am not knocking young people at all. I think this is an amazing generation with more compassion, kindness and tolerance than they get credit for.
You have the gpa, you have the SAT, who knows what your letters of recommendation were like? Maybe your essays didn’t speak to the people that read them?
If you can afford a gap year I would say take one.
Take a bit of time now to be angry and then to develop a plan.
Find a school you love (that you can afford) and learn everything you can about it. Then (as a general rule) consider Early Decision to that school.
Research matches and safeties also.
You have found College Confidential now.
I knew nothing about this whole process until I found this place but I had bright kids I knew I had to do the best I could for. You will quickly discover who gives great advice on here. It’s not always the ones who tell you what you want to hear by the way.
Read the Reject Train Going Strong thread for inspiration.
Good luck.