Should I take a Year/Time Off ... Between High School and College???

[KhaoticKharma]

I wouldn't dream of taking a gap year off- but only on a personal level. I'm sure it's a great option for many people.

For many people, especially those who don't have the fondest high school memories, 'taking time off' leads to never going back,and working a string of dead end minimum wage jobs. Not everyone, or even the majority, mind you, but quite a few people just never go back.

 

[adorefaith]

Seriously, colleges typically don't like it when a student takes a year off. Unless you're spending that year doing massive amounts of community service, they're going to turn you down because you don't seem motivated. I'm not saying everyone who takes a year off isn't motivated, but that's probably what it'd seem like to a college.

And what about getting a job? When you're finally done with college, you'd be a year behind your peers. Many people would rather hire the younger person if given the choice between, say, a 22 or 23 year old.

sorry seanut...i dont want to pick on you...but i find a lot of what you are saying very problematic..

firstly, unless you have direct experience with the admissions board at a university, how can you claim that colleges don't like it when students take a year off?...as someone mentioned before, i think what universities want is a well-rounded, diverse, inspiring, interesting group of students from all age ranges and backgrounds...and i think this is reflected when you look around in a lecture theatre....at least all the lecture theatres i have ever sat in....there are people of all ages, some with already established careers, some with partners and families, some from halfway across the world, from all socio-economic backgrounds, with all different interests and expertise...

i dont know about the system in the U.S but i find it highly unlikely that universities consider applicants who aren't 18 and just graduated as "unmotivated".... why would they make such assumptions.? that would be a terribly uninformed and dangerous generalisation to make...

as for most people preferring younger employees, again i find this a fairly problematic statement...from my experience with employers, most of them actually prefer people with a good balance of skills, education and life experience....getting a good job is not usually about youth, or even strictly about what grades are typed up on your transcript...if you dont know how to relate to people, dont have good communication skills, can't conduct yourself well in an interview, don't have any life experience and don't know what you want out of the position, you aren't going to get a second interview, let alone the job....i'm not saying that young graduates have no chance of getting a good job....of course they do....but age is not going to be number 1 on the list of criteria for suitable employees...at least not for most organisations and companies...usually, the older you are, the more discerning you are, the more life skills you have, and the better your ability to communicate....that's more desirable than simply being 17....

 

[*Bianca*]

And what about getting a job? When you're finally done with college, you'd be a year behind your peers. Many people would rather hire the younger person if given the choice between, say, a 22 or 23 year old.

I think you may be thinking too much in terms of high school in which each grade is of the same age group and anyone who is older is seen as somewhat different or behind. College/university are completely different environments. I go to a relatively good university and I would say that the student body consists of students aged between 17-40 years old. Roughly 40% of students have not come directly from high school. As others have just said, you interact on a daily basis with a diverse group of individuals - which is exactly what you'll be doing when you enter the workforce/'the real world' too!

You'll also find that these days a large majority of graduates will return to study, either to further their current degree or to study something entirely different. So starting a career can often happen much later than 22 or 23.

Speaking from only what I know, with most Australian universities, every student who is accepted is given the option to defer their placement for one year. On top of that, there are also a significant number of places specifically reserved for those who haven't come straight from high school and who didn't defer their first offer.

As far as deterioration of study skills, I went straight to university from high school but I did end up taking a year off last year due to health reasons (between my 2nd and 3rd year) and on my return I honestly had no problems getting back into the swing of things. But, you know, everyone is different, and if you feel you may need a refresher I am sure that most universities offer free workshops and support. As far as my own goes, it offers free workshops during each semester on time management, stress management, essay writing, oral presentations, exam prep, note-taking, etc, and there are numerous resources on the university website if you aren't available to attend the workshops physically. (It really can't hurt to have a refresher even if you did come straight from high school anyway!)

But that said, I personally feel that not only is university a different social environment; it is a different learning and teaching environment too. So I think in one sense you will develop a new, perhaps more individualized, set of skills anyway.

Admittedly, on my year off I did become rather lazy. I think because time just goes so fast when you don't have a strict regime that schooling requires. So I do agree that planning is VERY important if you want to make the most of your time off

 

[seanutbutter]

firstly, unless you have direct experience with the admissions board at a university, how can you claim that colleges don't like it when students take a year off?...

Well, to me it seems pretty obvious. As I said earlier, getting into college is a highly competitive system. If they're looking at two students, and one is fresh out of high school and eager to go to college, while the other has already been out of high school for a year and took time off for themselves or another reason, it's safe to say they'll choose the person fresh out of high school.

And as for the job situation, any good employer would want to hire a younger person so that they can invest more of their time in them. It's nice and all to say that they only care about your knowledge when hiring, but sometimes that just isn't the case.

 

[adorefaith]

^sorry seanut...i just dont think you can make either of those assumptions...it's not 'safe' to say either of them...jmo..

 

[*k.a.t.e*]

I'll be applying for 2009 entry later this year and they (they being teachers who do applications every year) keep telling us it's ok to take a gap year, as long as it's for good reasons and justifiable to the university.

 

[Couture_Tribe]

Glad to know that I am not alone. I wil lmake an appointment with my guidance counsellor tomorrow, I need a talk =)

 

[vikingqueen]

Sorry to jump into the discussion, but just in response to what Seanut was saying;

I've found in my experiences in the job market as a fresh graduate, that it's VERY hard to secure a satisfactory entry-level position. For one, it's super competative, what with the flood of new grads all competing for the same jobs with basically the same skill sets under their belts.
Also, many employers are most definitly NOT willing to devote a large amount of time and resources in teaching a new employee with little experience. Some jobs do do a fair amount of training, but many just simply don't have the ability to focus so much attention on someone who is lacking in skills. And when I say skills, I mean the practical, everyday skills one acquires in a general workplace, which no university can ever truly prepare you for.
That said, I think employees like to see well-rounded people with at least some experience in the workforce .... I've never been asked by a potential employee what marks I got in my fourth year Contemporary Analytical Philosophy class, but they definitly wanted to know about job experiences!

So basically, in a long-winded way, I think if you choose to take a year off and use that time to acquire some practical knowledge in the workplace, not just sit around and watch Judge Judy all day, then employers would look favourably on that.

PS - I know, off the top of my head, 4 people who went back to university in their 30's, and 2 who went after a gap year, and they had no problem getting in

 

[Bella_Lass334]

Thank you so much everybody!!! You've really helped me out!!!! I think I will take the year off

 

[shirleebee]

Fact: I took a year off between high school & college, did an internship in that time & every school I interviewed with ADMIRED that decision, because it's still a bit of a taboo one to make on this side of the pond. In the UK, it is almost standard to take a "gap year". It's becoming an increasingly acceptable route to consider in the eyes of the upper crust US universities, as well. I think people worry about it so much because they assume young people have no motivation on their own, and must stay "on course" in order to get ahead. If this is true, then that discipline-challenged student is only delaying the trouble they will eventually face at age 21 - 23, when they graduate college & can't bring themselves to learn the self-generated focus, drive, and ambition it takes to survive in today's job market. Also, let it be known that some of the most intelligent, accomplished, ambitious people I know never even finished their degrees. In fashion and all creative industries, this is not uncommon at all. We just want to start DOING THE THING WE ARE STUDYING IN THEORY. In the words of Anna Wintour, "fashion, you either know it or you don't". That can virtually be said of all Arts subjects, I might add. If you are a designer, writer, artist, or other creative talent, you can get your foot in the door by virtue of your own talent (yay for meritocracy, boo to credentialism), you can work your way up without a degree (despite what the diploma mills want you to believe!)

 

[shirleebee]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24260521/?GT1=43001

 

[Susanna-Cole]

Well I graduated high school at age 16, so I am just now finishing my gap year. I will be going to art school some this summer, instead of waiting to fall... I found the gap year gave me a great breather, and made me more excited and prepared to go to college. I would definitly recommend it!

 

[Fabulyss]

This is obviously a very personal decision & it depends where you live and how much money you have.

I went straight to college from high school, but daddy couldn't pay for me to travel the world and live off of him (If he could I probably would have taken him up on it! ) Also, I didn't want to risk the seduction of either staying home, or working and gaining income -albeit a relatively low amount- immediately.

It's hard work but you do get holiday breaks as well as summers. I've only recently finished and I'm taking the time now to sort of relax and figure out what I'd like to do (incidently, not what I majored in however I don't regret my degree one bit). Of course, I live in the US where school breaks are short and it's expected that you go straight to college after high school (there's no such thing as taking a break, you either go straight to college or get a blue collar/service sector job after HS)

 

[Mota3089]

Well, to me it seems pretty obvious. As I said earlier, getting into college is a highly competitive system. If they're looking at two students, and one is fresh out of high school and eager to go to college, while the other has already been out of high school for a year and took time off for themselves or another reason, it's safe to say they'll choose the person fresh out of high school.

Well what about if that student who took the gap year took non credit or credited classes at a college and was not enrolled as a full student?

 

[Mota3089]

And what about getting a job? When you're finally done with college, you'd be a year behind your peers. Many people would rather hire the younger person if given the choice between, say, a 22 or 23 year old.

I think that is the craziest thing I've ever heard. How can a employer choose between a 22 or a 23 year old? That is almost the same age and there is no gap between those two. If you said 22 or 40 then thats a gap.

 

[seanutbutter]

^ There is a gap, actually, a year. And I was using that as an example. As I said in my post, an employer would usually pick the younger person. In that case, the 22 year old is younger than the 23 year old, am I right?

 

[*Bianca*]

I agree with Mota, I do think that's ridiculous. Would you say the same thing about two 22 year olds - one born 6 months earlier than the other?

Anyway, there are many more important factors than age that an employer looks at.

 

[seanutbutter]

^ What factors do you think are more important, then? And I think it's a bit extreme to go by the difference in months. I doubt an employer would get that strict. My example (I repeat, example) was shown in years.

 

[*Bianca*]

Education and experience, obviously.

Indeed, it's extreme to go by 6 months difference, just as it's extreme to go by 12 months. I think your example would've worked if you had chosen something with more than one year. If it were a 10 year gap example, I definitely would've accepted it.

 

[ysljunkie]

Id say don't, you can at least enroll and take a few classes-nothing that would get in the way of whatever your doing aside fom college. Im 18 and started college at 17, Im sure had I taken just one class for the first semester I would have had TONS of time to do anything.There's even online classes that you can take-depending on what college your going to.but one full year off filled with actually doing something sounds fun-just dont get bored!