Hi everyone,
I am looking to apply to an American university but as a burnt out Alevel student I want to take a gap year.
For context I have just taken by AS exams (French, English and History) and am finishing year 12. I feel like this is gonna get complicated so just humour me pls lol.
If I get good grades this year (as in for my AS I get B or A) then I will apply to UK universities only (as they don't have fees for application like the US, so I might as well try and get a feel for the process). This is mainly because my goal universities are Oxford, LSE and Kings. They're all very competitive and prestigious and if I get bad grades (Es and Ds) then I won't bother and will consider retaking my alevels.
Now, if I get good grades, apply and get in, I will most certainly skip a gap year and take a four year course involving French so I have the option to study abroad.
If I get good grades but don't get in, that's where I need advice. I will then take a year off to build my extracurriculars and either au pair in France or find an internship or program. Then I plan to apply to both UK and US universities.
My problem is, is this considered weird? I'm pretty sure this is a really niche situation, but I'm really concerned as gap years are not big things in the US. They require stuff like mid-year reports, references from 3 of your tutors who should be familiar with the US system etc etc. I feel like I'm at a huge disadvantage for being a British student wanting to apply to a US university already, not even considering if I take a gap year and then need all of this stuff specific to my tutors and college.
Not to mention how much it costs just to apply to 10 US universities (visa application costs, flights etc), which is something I would be saving up for in my gap year. I really need some reassurance that this isn't stupid or unattainable, as literally everyone around me knows nothing about the American system or have their hearts set on a specific university course in the UK already.
Thanks so much, I hope this isn't too ranty.