<p>What are the Pros and cons off not going to college right away to save up some money, then going to college fall 2012?</p>
<p>Most people don’t go back so probably bad idea, but if you didn’t start college yet you should be fine</p>
<p>Eh, don’t do it. Then you get sucked into it, end up with a car payment and insurance and can’t afford to go to school without working. Then you can’t go fulltime because of your class schedule, so you just take a couple classes at a time = never finish. Then, the boss at your job takes advantage of the fact that you didn’t go or went but didn’t finish and uses that as an excuse to cut your wages when cutbacks need to be made. Or, your the first to get laid off when the economy heads south next. </p>
<p>^ = Pretty much what I did. Fastforward ten years and now I have a kid, got laid off from that job that promised I’d be management a long time ago. Because I have no degree, the only job offers I’ve had have been minimum wage despite 7 years of retail experience with 3 years in management. Now I really can’t do the internships, or go to any college I want to attend. I’m stuck at the one I can commute to. </p>
<p>If your going to go to college, then go straight from highschool to college. Get that fun part time job on campus or at the local coffee shop making minimum wage and plenty of memories. Work your butt off in class, finish on time, and then go on with your serious working life.</p>
<p>I basically did that. It really motivated me to do well in college so that I wouldn’t end up stuck in a ****ty job like that for the rest of my life. However it wasn’t entirely by choice… I screwed up my first semester at uni (really badly) and withdrew so I could get my priorities straight in life. Let me tell ya, working a menial labor customer service job will make you really want to break out of that. With all due respect to Jennifer, you’ll only get “sucked into it” if you let yourself.</p>
<p>In retrospect I would have formally taken a year off from the get-go and worked. Or I would have joined the military. I simply wasn’t ready for college right after high school. But hey, can’t change the past.</p>
<p>It all depends on the person. If you are smart about it, great things will happen. But there is also the risk of getting lazy and lacking the motivation to go back, or working but not really saving up any money. </p>
<p>If you are motivated, and have a strong desire to go to college, you should take the year off. But if you are happy with not going to college, maybe you would be better off going straight out of HS so you actually GO. </p>
<p>Do you think you will still want to go back to college at the end of the gap year?</p>
<p>Also look into other sites and books- they have a lot of useful tips at to what to do or not to do during the gap year. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I also don’t think I was ready for college right after HS. However, I know I will definitely go back next fall if I do leave. It would not be an option not too. I just need some time off for personal reasons.</p>
<p>Yeah just thinking I really came at the wrong time. Luckily I’ve actually talked to my good friends about it an they are completely supportive, which I am thankful for. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I took a break between undergrad and grad to get myself together. Applying for grads now and really, isn’t too much of a problem…just have to keep motivated.</p>
<p>I mean honestly I can’t see how one WOULDN’T want to go to college after a year off. Low-pay low-satisfaction work SUCKS.</p>