<p>I'm considering taking a year off from school. I just finished my freshman year of college.
Everyone says to use time off to explore a passion or travel, but those aren't specific enough for me.
What would you do, specifically? How would you finance it?</p>
<p>well, you can work from June - May… and if you have a place to stay during that time, you can save money. And then for June-July you could travel.</p>
<p>Is it really recommended to take a year off?</p>
<p>Sleep.</p>
<p>I personally wouldn’t take a year off, though. Almost everyone I know who has done so either didn’t come back to school, went back much later, and/or had a somewhat difficult transition back to it.</p>
<p>You’ll end up getting a job in this time off, and when next year rolls around, you’re not going to want to quit the job just to go back to school, as you’ll probably be settled into your surroundings. (Especially if it’s a “good”-paying job, which is very subjective, depending on your standards)</p>
<p>Another_Adam:
That’s exactly what I thought. Besides, you want to leave now that you’re (probably) finally used to college life? I heard about people taking a year off after graduating (before grad school or joining the work force) to volunteer around the world and stuff like that, but after freshman year… sounds harmful.</p>
<p>hmm… why do you think it will be harmful?
everyone who does it after high school or college always has an amazing experience. do you really think that it being during college will ruin it/ruin my whole college career?</p>
<p>I can understand doing it right after high school, when you’re can be a bit jaded after 12 straight years of education, or after graduating from college - also pretty exhausting. However, breaking the college routine after only one year, when I assume it takes a while to build in the first place… it just seems like it would be needlessly difficult to return to it afterwards. Of course, it depends on your personality and other factors, but I’ve also heard of people who wanted to take a year off and ended up taking more or not coming back at all.</p>
<p>Still, if you really want to and believe it won’t be bad in the long run, why the hell not? You know yourself better than I do :-)</p>
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<p>“Everyone” is far far far from the truth. I’d use “some”, and even that seems a bit generous. Most people who take time off don’t even seem to accomplish anything, other than being a year behind on their studies. And that break has a way of mysteriously extending past that one-year mark…</p>
<p>The fact you don’t even know what you’d want to do on a year off says you shouldn’t be taking one. I’d suggest you study abroad if you’re interested in travel, or graduate, and then to traveling/join the peace corps/become an artist/whatever you want. Once you decide you’re done with your exploring, it’s a lot easier to fall back on a degree than it is to fall back onto a year of gen-eds.</p>
<p>I’d work in a year off. Then you have nights, weekends, and crap to explore your interests, as you would have no homework.</p>
<p>Agree with the recommendation to study abroad.</p>
<p>I took a year off after college while looking for a job. I basically did nothing beyond that. It was nice to spend a year doing nothing, but it can get a bit boring at times. Obviously not everyone can do this, depending on your financial situation and/or family, but it’s definitely relaxing.</p>
<p>I would try my best to get a job in the area that I eventually want to go into (which for me is ultimately the food business).</p>
<p>If I couldn’t get a job, I would ask my parents if I could live with them for free (mine would say yes) and I would maybe get whatever kind of part time for spending money and volunteer at various places.</p>
<p>sleep 10char10char</p>
<p>I personally think it’s not a good idea to take a year off after freshman year.
Before freshman year or after you graduate, sure, but in the middle of getting your degree, that’s kind of strange.</p>
<p>I would think it would be difficult to get back into school since I assume you would have to reapply…?</p>
<p>Besides, if you absolutely need to work you could always work and go to school part time.</p>
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<p>Agreed. </p>
<p>Why do you even want to take a year off? Are you tired? Need money? If it’s just to “explore”, I suggest studying abroad as well, or maybe getting involved in community service around your college area. Something that has to do with your major would be best, like S0ad said. But if you don’t have something clear in mind, why would you want to do this? You have the whole summer break to do whatever you want.</p>
<p>I just took a year off, and spent my time working at a non-profit organization and performing (I’m a theatre and journalism double major). I applied to transfer schools as well, and reevaluated the educational path that I was taking. One year later, I’m really excited to go back to school. This year gave me the opportunity to make sure that I’m doing what I really want to do, and it was the best thing I could have done for myself. I’m going to appreciate academia SO much more going back!</p>
<p>I know people who took a year off in the middle of college because they just weren’t really into school at the time. They wanted to do their own thing for a bit. Some just worked, some traveled, and then after a year (or more) they went back because they felt ready to be a student again. </p>
<p>It really depends on your reasoning for wanting a year off and what your financial situation is.</p>
<p>undeniably I would travel like extensive travel in Europe and Asia (specifically Japan). I want to go to both France and Japan during school anyway for a study abroad program so that only seems natural that I would do that. To finance it I would get a little help from my parents and save up from work.</p>
<p>thanks, everyone, for responding.
well, i’m a writer, and i have an idea for a book that i’d like to get published. i’ve started writing it, but writing takes time and focus, so it’s difficult to do now while i’m working for the summer, and even more difficult to do at school. i’d love to take a year off to write it, but i don’t want to have a really lonely year and never go out at night or leave the house. so i’m trying to think of ways to make it work.
also, i wouldn’t have to reapply to my current school, because i’m pretty sure i’m allowed to take a year off and return, but i might want to transfer. i hope that by doing something productive, potential transfer schools will look favorably upon me, rather than think i was wasting my time goofing around. do you think writing sounds like a bad excuse to take off from school?
stars219 – that’s what i hoping to hear. i wanted to hear from someone who has done it. i’d hope that i would be really excited to go back. also, i haven’t chosen a major yet, so, as you said, it could give me time to evaluate my goals and educational path.</p>
<p>I’d say go for it, if you can. Just make sure to talk with your college about it and see what their policies are. :)</p>
<p>I’m taking a year off also, only before I head off to college. I’ve already been accepted to the college I’ve applied to. I requested a deferral and they accepted it. So, I’m already set. </p>
<p>During my year off, I plan to earn some money to go towards tuition, volunteer, join some clubs and maybe go on a small trip or two to a different country. I have heard of people take some time off for personal projects, so it would be the perfect time for you to write a novel. I know that I am going to work on some art projects myself.</p>
<p>A lot of people say that if you take a year off, you’ll probably not return. I don’t think it really matters if you take a year off or not. If you want to finish college, you will. And I really don’t think you’ll be behind. It’s not like you’re missing a year, you’re just delaying it.</p>
<p>I kind of took a gap year to study abroad in China, but I’m not sure if it counts since I did “study” there, though nothing of real importance. I got credits for “paper flower folding,” “creative Chinese calligraphy,” and a couple of other useless classes.</p>
<p>If anyone ever wants a paper flower folded or wants a cup of perfectly brewed green tea, I’m your girl.</p>
<p>It was supposed to have been all business and econ classes too, I’m not sure what happened.</p>
<p>ETA: Now I have a craving for chrysanthemum tea. I’m off to eBay to find some.</p>