University of Toronto vs. Gap year?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, Well, basically, I do the IB diploma program and I didn’t necessarily put enough effort into applications resulting in rejection letters from 8 out of the 10 universities I applied to this year. My biggest folly was aiming too high whilst not working hard enough: namely Medicine at Oxford, St. Andrews, and a whole bunch of other 'elite schools in the UK and NYU in the states. As an international student my chances of getting in were pretty slim to start with, added with bad mid-term grades(currently sitting my finals) pitiable standardized test scores (SAT: 1820 after THREE attempts; although attending a British/International school we were not necessarily given any practice), and lack of interest resulted in the situation I’m now in. I decided to take my multiple rejections as a sign that Medicine was not the right choice for me. I see I’m rambling now, moving on…</p>

<p>My current predicament is: I’ve accepted an offer of Admission at the University of Toronto to major in Biology, however, not only do I not want to attend the University, I also have no interest in pursuing a degree that would not be helpful to my future plans: I am now determined to become an author. And another thing, I want to attend an Ivy League. I didn’t apply to any this year, but with what I hope is going to be good final grades and improved standardized test scores (I shall retake them fall/winter) I hope to have the opportunity to do so.</p>

<p>So, I have the following options that will decide the rest of my life and I was wondering if I could get any help in this decision: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Attend University of Toronto as planned with no changes. This option is not something I wish to do, but if all else fails, I will have to. </p></li>
<li><p>Attend the before mentioned university but change my major to English. </p></li>
<li><p>Attend the before mentioned university but change my major to English and then transfer to a more distinguished university for my sophomore and succeeding years. (I do like this option, but the likelihood of this plan turning out as I hope is near-impossible.) </p></li>
<li><p>Take a gap year and then apply next year to a university and degree of my choice. This is the most preferable option, however, I am confused as to what I could do other than volunteer work and travel, that would enhance my application.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Any advice/comments would be helpful to me, I am running out of time to decide and I regret the decisions I made my final two years of high school. In case you were wondering:</p>

<p>SAT: (Reading: 580) + (Writing: 600) + (Math: 640) = 1820</p>

<p>IB predicted Scores:33 with (5 + 6 + 6) at higher level (More advanced, more work). </p>

<p>The total for all subjects is 42 with 7 in each subject.</p>

2

<p>Take the gap year.</p>

<p>Get a job, make some money, think about what you really want as a career. Don’t worry so much about “enhancing” your application. Worry instead about finding colleges/universities that are most likely to help you with your career goals. If you want to act on the Ivy-application fantasy, do some test prep so you can bring up those SAT scores (and/or try the ACT). Since you are interested in writing, spend some time at scribd.com and similar sites that will allow you to e-publish for free so you can get a bit of feed-back about your work. Don’t start at Toronto this fall (excellent institution though it is) unless you are certain that is where you want to be.</p>

3

<p>You should be more happy with UofT. It is an amazing institution, with a great global reputation.</p>

<p>However, if you really really feel that UofT might not be right for your career goals, take a gap year. Retake SAT I, and try to get writing oriented ECAs. Then, I beg you (as a fellow international applicant), please apply to a good range of colleges. I’ve seen too many stellar international candidates getting straight 15 rejections, when they were aiming for top 25 schools and top 10 LACs.</p>

<p>And tbh it does not mata (ignore this soccer reference) that much what you do during the gap year. 2 friends of mine took gap years, and did nothing during this time, applied to top colleges again, and got into Cornell, Duke, Princeton, Yale, Vandy…i.e. all their colleges. With full aid. Take this information how you may like it.</p>

4

<p>Toronto is a very strong school but if you don’t want to go to UofT - you shouldn’t. You’ll be unhappy and most likely do poorly.</p>