[des monstres]

askfksajjgjklgjklgsakjlgasjkla

[w00tah]

Seems like you're making excuses to not go to school. Do you really want to go in the first place?

[des monstres]

Seems like you're making excuses to not go to school. Do you really want to go in the first place?

Excuses? Mmm.. yeah, no.
I want to go to college, for sure.

[tofu plushie]

If are unable to pay for college maybe you should apply for financial aid to get loans or at some grants. But, you said you are sheltered so I assume your parents would help you pay for college? Personally, I don't think you should take a gap year. It's just not a good idea. Plus, a lot of people when they start going to college they are not mature in the first place but slowly they start to adjust and become more responsible (hopefully, lol). Yeah, so that's my advice. Go to school and don't delay your time by taking a year off.

[SHARK]

See above.

Just go, you don't want to wait. Trust me.

[PDURRR]

i skipped winter session last year
it was the most boring 3 months of my life lol

[busagiboo]

I didn't know you could take a gap year even after your invoice is mailed to you. But I'm from Canada, so I don't know how universities and colleges in the U.S. works.

I recommend you not to take a gap year. Your tuition will be even more expensive if you wait. It'll just keep building. College/university will help you mature as well, so don't take a gap year. It's not worth it.

[w00tah]

Excuses? Mmm.. yeah, no.
I want to go to college, for sure.

Then you know exactly where you need to improve. Theres no need for a gap year and it will take time and self reflection to get yourself to be where you want to be.

[emc123]

i'm thinking about taking 3 years off after undergraduate so i can be part of the peace corps. i think that's my gap yearsss sort of. so i think that as long as you have a plan you should go ahead w/ your gap year idea. just make sure it's what you want to do though and be wary~~~ you don't want to be the loser with no career at age 40...

[SHARK]

i'm thinking about taking 3 years off after undergraduate so i can be part of the peace corps. i think that's my gap yearsss sort of. so i think that as long as you have a plan you should go ahead w/ your gap year idea. just make sure it's what you want to do though and be wary~~~ you don't want to be the loser with no career at age 40...

I was thinking about taking a break after undergrad so I can work a bit and pay my own grad school, but my parents say otherwise. It's your call after undergrad, but for undergrad, definitely start ASAP.

[aKaoNi]

My 'gap year' has turned plural on me, that's the problem a lot of people fall into, hence why most people advise just to go and not put it off or you'll end up putting it off and putting it off without realizing it. I got my associates at a community college fall of 06, decided to take a small break, work full time, live life, get my own place, retake some of the classes I didn't do so well in while I got my associates and also take some Japanese classes.......... Well I've done that, am currently doing that, planned on transferring in the spring, then this summer, now this fall, and I still haven't completed the transfer process and classes start in a couple weeks, the community college and university I'm transferring to have a program where associate transfers are automatically guaranteed enrollment, yet the transfer process doesn't seem guaranteed so I've procrastinated putting off my app til I've made sure it was right and now I'm here, feeling in a slump. I plan on doing the app/resume this weekend, which I said to myself last week and the week before that, etc.

Sorry I rambled, I say it's better to take some student loans out and go if you're worried about financial issues, but if you wanted to take you're gap year to volunteer in another country, hey that's great and I say go for it. Whatever you decide just remember the goal you set out to accomplish and stay on track with it.

Oh, and good luck!

[des monstres]

If are unable to pay for college maybe you should apply for financial aid to get loans or at some grants. But, you said you are sheltered so I assume your parents would help you pay for college? Personally, I don't think you should take a gap year. It's just not a good idea. Plus, a lot of people when they start going to college they are not mature in the first place but slowly they start to adjust and become more responsible (hopefully, lol). Yeah, so that's my advice. Go to school and don't delay your time by taking a year off.

I did apply to financial aid.
But once I'm finished with college, all that debt is going under my name.
And I'm going to have to pay for ALL of it.
My parents aren't helping me pay for any of it.
Except my laptop.
Yes, I'm sheltered, well, was sheltered.
But my parents, for some reason, decided I needed to pay for my own college.
And a lot of people go to college, not ready, and a lot of them seem to waste their time and money.


Eh. Sent in my papers already. :}

[peaceman]

Last year, I was incredibly excited to start college the next year, aka this year.
I went to Korea for the first time for 2 months this summer, and I never matured there.
Instead? I got worse. I stayed out later than I usually would. I never kept my focus. Never.
So now? I'm thinking of skipping college for a year which is known as a gap year.
Till now, all I've really learned is how to spend my money.
Sure, I've saved $1000+ in my savings, but is that really enough? Maybe for the books.
Up till now, I've been sheltered, never really had a real job, etc.
I think taking a year off before going to college will wake me up.
Give me a taste of the real world.
When the bill of over $8000 for college tuition came a few days ago, I thought, "****, how am I going to pay for this?"
I guess that also woke up me. I know I'm not ready for college, financially and mentally.
I have to pay my way through college, so yeah.

I'm thinking of working full time and volunteering in another country for a couple weeks, maybe months?
I'm not sure where this year will lead me.

Have any of you guys had a gap year?
How was it? Did you accomplish anything?
Any suggestions or tips are welcome.

Ouu, wish me luck~

If you are not entirely ready for college, id say go for it! I agree with you that many students procrastinate during their studies & tend to not pass their units at uni (& it's not uncommon among students these days). I think you should listen to your instincts and do what you want to do. I guess college can wait (it's not going to run away!) If you want a full-time job, you can always do part-time studies instead of being a full-time student. I have mates who do full-time work and studying at the same time, & they only take 2 units a semester. You could always do off campus studies, whilst working at the same time. In that way you can be studying whilst working at the same time! Although you should really learn how to balance these 2 factors, if you are considering in doing this. There are a lot of options available, i guess you need to think carefully if you are making the right decision. I guess you should take in the experience by taking the a year off & maybe somehow you good get an insight on what you really want to do for your career.
In the end it's all up to you, IMO i think you should do what works out best for you!
Good Luck! =)

[THEmerryJANE]

From personal experience, people that I have known who take gap semesters/year tend not to go back after the break. They get caught up in having a lot of free time, working, and not really worrying about a career since they have a steady cash flow. But personally, I wouldn't want to live like that forever.

[baobao_chan]

In my view, you may be get a part-time job and study at the same time. In my country, many people do like this due to their own financial problem.

[FRUITYCHEESECAKE]

Are you worried because you'll have a loan to pay back under your own name when you finish college?
That shouldn't be an excuse to take a break from school. There are millions of people who are doing the same thing. Besides, education loans are considered to be "good" loans because they will help you build a good credits once you graduate, and find a job. So do not worry about it.

I think you just need to slow down and mature in school. Get a part time job, on or off campus, and start to learn how to be responsible and independent. I was also sheltered up until college but I knew I would have to pay for my own expenses once I started college (and I did).

Do not take a break from school - you'll regret it.

[apple.me.a.pie]

i went to korea for the first time this year as well for the same period of time!!! hahaha... anyway... im going to be a second year this year and im thinking of taking that gap year as well... but before you do, i strongly you suggest you attend your college for at least a year so you can get your feet wet... figure out what you want to do and how you want to spend your life... that way when you tkae your gap year, it wont be just fun and games, rather it could be more productive... but thats just me...

[XtremeNuisance]

So... I'm kind of confused. I'd say if you ARE going to take a gap year, go ahead and do just the full time job and save. Anyway, that $1000 you have will be good for 2, maybe 3 semesters of books....

Anyway... you said something about how you stayed out later and didn't focus... Just a heads up, you do the same thing in college. XD It's just, eventually, you will have no choice but to start to manage your time wisely and after you get those first non-review assignments back, it's like a smack in the face telling you to get with it. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

[imuhhater]

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to financial issues. My parents are not going to pay for anything college related. They did, however, pay for my laptop; which was a graduation present in a way. I know how hard it is to struggle not knowing what you really want to do in life, but don't take off a year. Sometimes its hard for people to get back on track because they lose focus on what they really want. Start now, and grow from it.

[Lebanese_Blonde]

i think gap year rly hurts...i only took off about 5 months from school but it was rly difficult to get back in the swing of things and i got used to my non-study ways and just lost practice w/ many things (heavy loads of reading, long essays, math!) and it suckssss