<p>If you have a legitimate medical reason (previously hearing impaired as you mentioned) that makes the reading section difficult, have your GC put something about that in your recommendation for Wash U if that is really where you want to go. They may make an exception for someone with very good grades and just the one weakness in the CR score with a good medical reason.</p>
<p>The learning issue could explain the burn out, and some of the feeling down about yourself, but you are doing a phenomenal job. You are a musician too, and a top student.
You are already in college, so go ahead and apply to the other schools you are interested in. Take the teacher’s rec for Wash U. Apply to Rice. Let the colleges be aware that you have achieved all this even with the history of hearing impairment. This does effect early language and literacy, but you have overcome it. You are more than a number, and your reading scores should be interpreted with your situation in mind.
The counseling suggestion is a good one if you are feeling stressed, or sad.It’s OK that you are undecided about next year- you don’t have to decide now. Apply- and also look at gap year ideas. Then you may be able to defer your admission.
College is different from high school. You don’t have to sit in class all day long like in high school, and although you still have to study on your own, you can arrange your classes so that you get breaks. A lighter class load may help too.</p>
<p>You’d definitely get into Trinity or Austin College or Southwestern in Austin.
As for being hearing impaired, make sure your counselor mentions it in her/his recommendation. It’ll give the proper perspective - and holistic admissions do look at your record “in context” (as long as context is provided). Your CR and W scores are amazing for someone who used to be hearing impaired, so congrats.
Furthermore, 640 is not a score to sneeze at, and especially if your SAT2 scores are good it won’t matter. No matter what though, that 640 will NOT be the deciding factor for you.</p>
<p>Give this to your Dad. It is from Harvard’s director of admissions and supports time off versus burnout: [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Taking Time Off](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/time_off/index.html)</p>
<p>Here is a list of test-optional schools, though your scores are great:
[SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>
<p>You should have had accommodations on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Did you apply for them? Things like extra time, extra breaks, that kind of thing. If and when you do go to college, make sure you register with the disablities office of dean and get a list of possible accommodations there too.</p>
<p>I know someone who got into Harvard with two scores in the 700’s and one much lower score. Schools really are “holistic.” And your guidance counselor or doctor or someone can write a note to schools about your hearing impairment and reading disability, if you are really worried about your reading score. The other two are stellar and certainly show your abilities, and 640 is high for most people.</p>
<p>Here are some other things to show your Dad:
[Gap</a> Year, Backpacking & Travel Community - Gap Year](<a href=“http://www.gapyear.com/]Gap”>http://www.gapyear.com/)
[Sea|mester</a> | Semester at sea study abroad programs](<a href=“Sea|mester | Spend your college semester at sea and sail the globe”>Sea|mester | Spend your college semester at sea and sail the globe)
[Gap</a> Year Programs with Purpose - Thinking Beyond Borders](<a href=“http://thinkingbeyondborders.org/?_kk=take%20a%20year%20off%20before%20college&_kt=e123f847-1c58-4f7b-9919-cbcc7f2736f3&gclid=CMb3452B77kCFYWf4AodT3QAmQ]Gap”>http://thinkingbeyondborders.org/?_kk=take%20a%20year%20off%20before%20college&_kt=e123f847-1c58-4f7b-9919-cbcc7f2736f3&gclid=CMb3452B77kCFYWf4AodT3QAmQ)
[NOLS[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.cityyear.org/CityYear/Home_New_2011/Home_A_2011.aspx]City”>http://www.cityyear.org/CityYear/Home_New_2011/Home_A_2011.aspx]City</a> Year: give a year. change the world.](<a href=“http://www.nols.edu/]NOLS[/url”>http://www.nols.edu/)
[Courier</a> Program<a href=“I%20did%20this%20in%201969”>/url</a></p>
<p>There are many more. Some gap year programs (including NOLS) have financial aid or a stipend.</p>
<p>That said, one of my kids and several of her friends stayed home and worked in restaurants and gained a lot of maturity while getting their bearings. I am not even a fan of everyone going to college, period. And community colleges have great vocational programs. However, it would seem to me that you are a great candidate for college, one of those who truly belong there, so after a year or maybe even more, you can go to school. There are many ways to go these days, some residential, some online, some “low residency,” some involving prescribed programs and some with a lot of independence.</p>
<p>Burnout is something to really pay attention to. It is true that college is different from high school but in many ways, it really isn’t. I think taking a break is a great idea, whether you apply and defer or wait to apply next fall. And make sure you also read the Harvard piece!!</p>
<p>There are even fairs for gap year plans: [url=<a href=“USA Gap Year Fairs | Go Overseas”>http://www.usagapyearfairs.org/]USA</a> Gap Year Fairs](<a href=“http://www.frontiernursing.org/Courier/Courier.shtm]Courier”>http://www.frontiernursing.org/Courier/Courier.shtm)</p>
<p>Another alternative may be to do a “high school abroad” program. You may say “more school?” yet it’d mean becoming bilingual, making discoveries about yourself and others that you can’t even fathom as of now, all with zero pressure since the grades wouldn’t really matter and you’d have covered some of the material already - but with another perspective on it, other methods and approaches, and in a different language :p. In fact, many high schools abroad don’t grade internationals for the first term so that they have time to find their bearings. Some foreign high schools “track” their seniors so that you may be placed into a stream of classes related to your future major - for example, foreign languages, literature, history, and philosophy; or, physics, calculus, chemistry, biology, earth science…
Of course it’s still school, so if you’re really burnt out, a City Year gap year would be better and everything that compmom said above.
Taking APs in 9th grade would lead anyone to burn out though :s
I would second applying to college (Rice, Wash U are absolutely not out of contention for you) and to a gap year, then deciding in the Spring. if you decide to go to college, make yourself a COOL, easy, no pressure 1st semester. Even if you can skip a class with AP, don’t (unless you feel you’d really be bored and in that case take the advanced class P/F only :)). Take “fun” classes. Remember that you’ll probably only have 2-3hrs class/day in college - the rest of the time is yours to manage and fill with whatever you want. :)</p>
<p>Those are excellent scores, Academically, you are ready for college. Beware the enablers who will just tell you want you want to hear. Taking a year off can be productive or it can be a waste of time. At the end of the day, you have to get that degree. Get on with it. There are life-long friends waiting for you to meet them, cool profs, interesting experiences. The water is great - jump in.</p>
<p>ps If you want to do music in college, the music forum here on CC is excellent.</p>
<p>My advice is to do what is right for you. I was a super high achiever in high school and super burnt out by senior year. A little time to breathe would have meant the world to me. My parents were adamant that I not take time off, so I went right to college. I regret it to this day.</p>
<p>From your posts its seems there are some things about college that would excite you… Rice-like atmosphere, music opportunities, academic challenge. You won’t have any of that if you take a typical gap year. So if you do gap year, look for something that catches your interest.</p>
<p>If you do decide o the college route, do NOT take any summer courses. You need a break.</p>
<p>If you take a gap year, don’t do it because you are running away from something (college). Do it because you want to run to something (Peace Corp, Americorps, etc etc).</p>
<p>I will bet if you apply to colleges this year, get acceptances and then ask for a one year deferral; and then find some kind of program that will challenge you your Dad would be okay.
I am sure he would not be okay with working at the grocery store for a year.</p>