u/Thirdagedworld

Location: Rural Puerto Rico

APPLYING AS A GAP YEAR APPLICANT THROUGH QB

Major: Data Science/Computer Science (Planning on Double Major)

Minor #1: Public Policy/Economics

Minor #2: Political Science

GPA: 3.92UW (11/12 classes per year; 4 sciences/2 mathematics)

Standardized Testing: Test Optional (Hardship, will be taking in the summer)

Rank: 3rd of 48, Top 3 school in PR, specialized in STEM

Demographics:

\- Hispanic male

\- HOOK: First generation to go to college

\- HOOK: Low Income

\- HOOK: Geographic Location (Rural)

Awards:

\-Won a Special Award at ISEF for Software Design (12th)

\-Won National Science Fair in Puerto Rico (out of 120 projects, 1st overall) ($1500) (12th)

\-Won National AI Startup Challenge: Most Transformative Award (1/2700 participants) (12th)

\-Finalist for National Aerospace Hack-A-Thon (MARS CHALLENGE: ENERGY) (Runner-Up for INTL. comp) (11th)

\-Finalist for Hispanic Scholarship Fund (12th)

\-Multiple National Math Olympiads (No Placements) (10th-12th)

\-Columbia STARS Fly-In (12th)

ECs:

\-Founded a Community Based Organization: I made a CBO helping students from Title 1/ Under-resourced find mentors, scholarships tailored to their talents (125k in scholarships found), summer programs, and giving 1:1 STEM tutoring + Courseworks for over 30 career paths for 210 students (Began Freshman Year)

\-Math Club (Powered by my CBO): President of the math club and created an after-school free tutoring session for 70+ students (school only has 120) from Algebra 2 to Calculus 2 (Began Sophomore Year)

\-Secretary of the Puerto Rican Institute of Robotics Chapter: Pretty self explanatory + was the lead engineer and led my team to nationals 7+ times (Began Freshman Year)

\-STEM Youth Research Initiative (SYRI): President/Founder and created a hub for independent researchers and prepared over 45 members for ISEF (6 qualifiers, including myself) and NASA Hack-A-Thons, among other national competitions; acted as a mentor and facilitator. (Began Sophomore Year)

\-Chess Club: Founder and President of the school chess club, preparing 25 lectures per semester and weekly tournaments for 50+ members (Began Freshman Year)

\-Major Family Responsibilities: Managing budget, taking grandmother (Only Parent) to appointments, and buying groceries (Forever)

\-Varsity Basketball, Futsal, Baseball (Freshman, Sophomore, Childhood Sport respectively)

Location: Rural Puerto Rico

APPLYING AS A GAP YEAR APPLICANT THROUGH QB

Major: Data Science/Computer Science (Planning on Double Major)

Minor #1: Public Policy/Economics

Minor #2: Political Science

GPA: 3.92UW (11/12 classes per year; 4 sciences/2 mathematics)

Standardized Testing: Test Optional (Hardship, will be taking in the summer)

Rank: 3rd of 48, Top 3 school in PR, specialized in STEM

Demographics:

- Hispanic male

- HOOK: First generation to go to college

- HOOK: Low Income

- HOOK: Geographic Location (Rural)

Awards:

-Won a Special Award at ISEF for Software Design (12th)

-Won National Science Fair in Puerto Rico (out of 120 projects, 1st overall) ($1500) (12th)

-Won National AI Startup Challenge: Most Transformative Award (1/2700 participants) (12th)

-Finalist for National Aerospace Hack-A-Thon (MARS CHALLENGE: ENERGY) (Runner-Up for INTL. comp) (11th)

-Finalist for Hispanic Scholarship Fund (12th)

-Multiple National Math Olympiads (No Placements) (10th-12th)

-Columbia STARS Fly-In (12th)

ECs:

-Founded a Community Based Organization: I made a CBO helping students from Title 1/ Under-resourced find mentors, scholarships tailored to their talents (125k in scholarships found), summer programs, and giving 1:1 STEM tutoring + Courseworks for over 30 career paths for 210 students (Began Freshman Year)

-Math Club (Powered by my CBO): President of the math club and created an after-school free tutoring session for 70+ students (school only has 120) from Algebra 2 to Calculus 2 (Began Sophomore Year)

-Secretary of the Puerto Rican Institute of Robotics Chapter: Pretty self explanatory + was the lead engineer and led my team to nationals 7+ times (Began Freshman Year)

-STEM Youth Research Initiative (SYRI): President/Founder and created a hub for independent researchers and prepared over 45 members for ISEF (6 qualifiers, including myself) and NASA Hack-A-Thons, among other national competitions; acted as a mentor and facilitator. (Began Sophomore Year)

-Chess Club: Founder and President of the school chess club, preparing 25 lectures per semester and weekly tournaments for 50+ members (Began Freshman Year)

-Major Family Responsibilities: Managing budget, taking grandmother (Only Parent) to appointments, and buying groceries (Forever)

-Varsity Basketball, Futsal, Baseball (Freshman, Sophomore, Childhood Sport respectively)

Title

Well, I guess not having money for college would be an issue, and not simply "something to sleep on"

Gap year here we go!

Hey everyone, for a bit of context: I just graduated high school, I am 18, 6'6 and 285lb. During the entirety of high school I would really just be living off whatever food they provided since it was boarding school. I developed gyno, and I was really like a burly person, and not fat per se. I have normal looking arms up to the biceps (clothes do not fit me just because of this), and I have very good leg genetics, up to the thighs (pants do not fit me because of this). My biggest concern is whether I should focus on getting lean, or getting bigger than I am all around. Sports are not really the biggest concern of mine, but I am very active (4 days a week) and the weight just seems to stay on me regardless of whether I play or not. I play basketball and soccer, btw. Is there anyone that has been in this position, or know what worked for them?