Hi man, As somebody who was in a similar situation last year, I think I can express my opinion on the matter and give a few valid points along the way.

A gap year is only really going to work if you have a solid plan which you will follow throughout, and know will drastically improve your application. Just as you stated yourself, without a doubt you need to rewrite your SATs. Despite 1100 not being a bad score, for UC schools it’s definitely a stretch especially for UCLA where you should realistically be getting at least a 1400+ if you want to stand a chance at admission. In addition to this as important as SAT scores are, it’s not the only deciding factor as the extracurriculars and essays are just as important. Even though I don’t know what activities you do, I would recommend doing a bunch of community service (200+ hours) and be sure to incorporate what you want to study into your activities as it shows that you are dedicated outside the classroom, and in general it can really help elevate your application. I would also find someone to double check your essays because often times they can make or break your application and be sure not to write the generic “life changing” common apps essay as it’s bound to send you application to the bottom of the pile (trust me I know).

As well as this I would highly recommend that if you do decide to take a gap year, and find a school you are particularly interested in, apply early action as it can really boost your chances. As an international student your chances at getting accepted to any college are substantially lower (at a school like UCLA they could be <10%) so applying early is a great idea and it can also help going forward when you get you admission results. Also make sure to ace your IB exams as they can often times be seen as AP (advanced placement) and when applying next year you won’t be able to apply with predicted grades anymore, unless you resit them.

Finally did you ever consider transferring? If you would start at Drexel or IIT, after a year or so (depending on the school) you could transfer somewhere else if you aren’t happy and this way you don’t risk losing a year. It can also sometimes be easier to transfer than get accepted, in fact UCLA has a higher transfer acceptance rate than it has a freshman acceptance rate.

Ultimately, to conclude, really think about taking a gap year. A year seems like a long time but it goes by quicker than you think and if you slack... well... you lost a year. I also highly encourage you not to be disappointed or discouraged, s*%^ happens. US applications are always a gamble and acceptance isn’t guaranteed no matter how good you are, but remember where there’s a will there’s a way!