<p>is a gap year in general?</p>
<p>Before college you mean? Idk, I know people who have done it before and they just save up money with a job and they like it.</p>
<p>in terms of what? Im sorta intrigued by the idea of a gap year abroad, as far as developing as a person and maybe some ‘relaxation’ before going off to college. I suppose a good use of a gap year might help in terms of college admissions, although it might feel weird being a year older than your classmates…</p>
<p>Yea itd be weird being older than your classmates but its your call. If you have to pay for college its probs more beneficial to take off and make some money. Otherwise it depends on what you wanna do:) Id just be worried not to lose my ambition about school and keep taking time off.</p>
<p>^^ Why should it be weird being a year older? Age doesn’t seem to be much of a deal in college (except for the fact that maybe you will be able legally buy booze before your friends), I know people who were a little older/younger when starting college and it didn’t seem to bother them, apart from some people who went into college too young and felt they weren’t ready.
I guess if you do something that you’ve wanted to do or just make it worthwhile, it is beneficial. The people I know who decided to have a gap year said it was incredible and that they got to learn more about themselves, but they had made sure their gap year was spent well.</p>
<p>Imagine taking a year off and not studying or taking any tests. Would that motivate you to even go to college after that gap year thinking that you’ll have to go back to studying and exams and all that? If I were to take a gap year, I don’t think I’d ever make it back to higher education.</p>
<p>Personally, unless I studied at least an hour a day or so during the gap year, I would be absolutely stoned and clueless during the first several months of freshman year. Summer break already kills much of my critical thinking/organization. A year would be…blerg.</p>
<p>I do personally think the whole being a year older thing would be super weird.</p>
<p>It depends if you’re gonna work or travel or live at home or what…</p>
<p>I am kind of totally for it.</p>
<p>I’d love to study abroad or volunteer abroad… it’d be really cool. I’m not quite sure about the age difference though. Probably won’t be a problem.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just me not wanting to be older than everyone because I’ve always been in accelerated programs where I’m doing stuff for people older than me, which would make me somehow feel less superior :D</p>
<p>^ LOL but that “being younger” thing won’t even matter if you go to grad school, when everyone goes at different times of their life</p>
<p>Personally, I would find it hard to be motivated enough to go back. Plus I would be irritated with the looks of scorn and disbelief on my friends’ faces. And you have to face the misconception that you weren’t smart enough to go to college when you were “supposed to.”</p>
<p>How about a 3 year gap in the military? I’m considering it…</p>
<p>Taking a gap year is very popular among the Jewish community. A large percentage of Jews go to a Yeshiva/Seminary for the year and study about Israel, culture, and some schools offer secular studies.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people who really regretted taking a gap year. But that’s my anecdotal stuff… I really think that taking a gap year is a bad idea unless you have a plan and you’re really going to do something, not just waste a year forgetting knowledge and skills while playing COD.</p>
<p>I sort of understand why people do it, but why not do whatever you would have done with your gap year after college?</p>
<p>I’m not sure, but it might be easier to apply for jobs and graduate programs and such while still in school. Same goes for college, but you have the option at many schools of deferring college entrance for a year AFTER you are accepted.</p>
<p>
Well, if those people who regretted the gap year didn’t plan for it and have it all prepared, that’s probably why.
I kind of expected only those who have planned out what to do during their gap year to do it, because that’s the case for those around me (and trust me, quite a number of them have had a gap year). Seriously, if you don’t have anything you wish to do, don’t have a gap year.</p>