Do you think it’s a good idea for students to take a gap year before attending college?

by ABCnews.com Posted 2012/05/14 10:28:10

Related Topics: Student, College, Gap, students

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	Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.	7,496 votes	49%
	No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.	7,904 votes	51%

+26

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sundance 2012/05/14 20:11:15 (edited)

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+12
For the record, I picked yes, simply because I believe a break will do you good. The whole real world crap, is a handful of BS. Take a year, clear your head (and your pipes). Then your ready to go and become all super responsible. That way, whoever is paying for your college ( and chances are it isn't you), will not be left feeling like you jilted them, when you drop out from stress. Education is important, but then again, so is sanity.....Just a thought....
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Medulla Oblongata 2012/05/14 21:47:51 (edited)

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+1
Next thing you know one year turns into seven, and you're wondering what the hell happened.

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C-Breez 2012/05/14 21:42:46

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+1
Just need to stay with the flow of school in order to finish college

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Recruit 2012/05/14 21:40:31

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

All work and no play...makes college boys horney

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rustyshackelford 2012/05/14 21:26:13
Wulfdane 2012/05/14 21:12:51 (edited)

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

College is exactly the experience they need, besides college kids get plenty of breaks. This idea that we need to wrap our kids in bubble wrap and pamper them, is why we are raising a generation unable to think for themselves.

The real challange comes when they have to support themsleves and stting at home partying does not provide the real world skills to prepare for this. The real world doesn't forgive complacency.

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Mike 2012/05/14 21:03:30

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

In some cases it can't hurt

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jackolantyrn356 2012/05/14 20:53:02

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

what is thois A.Hole thinking.

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✞Knight of Honor 2012/05/14 20:52:45

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+1
It gets worse the older you are.

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Linkums 2012/05/14 20:41:39

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+1
If you're going to college, I'd suggest not taking a gap year. But I'm not very strong in that opinion.

However, I am strong in the opinion that you should carefully consider whether you actually need to go to college since you will essentially be ripped off and suckered into paying for 50% more than what you really want to learn.

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MissNovemberTuesday 2012/05/14 20:41:12

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+3
I took off more than that, but I left high school early. I needed time away from the grind to experience a few things.

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woodnymph 2012/05/14 20:34:01

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+5
I'm taking a year off, I need time to find myself. It's also a good idea if you're unsure about what you want to study at uni or if you want to go at all. There's no point spending thousands only to drop out or get a degree in something that won't help you achieve your dreams.

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Pug For Huck 2012/05/14 20:29:49

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+2
There should be an "undecided" option. Some are ready for college right out of high school. Some need to assess their goals, while working, to make sure they're giving proper research to the viability of their degree when they get out into whatever industry they want to focus on. It's not for everyone to do, but you really don't want to take more than a year to wait.

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001 2012/05/14 20:12:57

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+1
It depends, if they have a plan for that year it could be a great experience. If they don't, they'll probably lose interest in going to college.

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sundance 2012/05/14 20:11:15 (edited)

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+12
For the record, I picked yes, simply because I believe a break will do you good. The whole real world crap, is a handful of BS. Take a year, clear your head (and your pipes). Then your ready to go and become all super responsible. That way, whoever is paying for your college ( and chances are it isn't you), will not be left feeling like you jilted them, when you drop out from stress. Education is important, but then again, so is sanity.....Just a thought....

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Beat Ma... to sundance 2012/05/15 07:33:59

The "real world" is all a myth. All the "real world" did for me was make me want to go back to college as an adult student.

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sundance to Beat Ma... 2012/05/15 09:31:44

+1
Then we agree?

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gocar 2012/05/14 20:10:23

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

+2
The only gap worth taking would be to take a job overseas somewhere and try to do a little charity work. More young Americans need to appreciate other cultures. Even good to live in a European country for a year, learn the language and see how satisfied they are with their country, politics, etc.

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Beat Ma... to gocar 2012/05/15 07:32:28

+1
Working abroad has been the best decision I ever made. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I've got one year under my belt and am well into my second. I will return to the USA eventually, but it's good to witness other ways of life firsthand beyond what the talking heads tell you.

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Cellar Door 2012/05/14 20:10:23

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+1
That's what I want to do, but my mom is insistent that I go to college right away.

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Jake Bl... to Cellar ... 2012/05/14 22:44:41

You really do NOT want to enter the workforce as someone with just a high school education. Of course, depending upon what degree you pursue, you might not be that much better off. Many of the liberal arts degrees are a total waste of money. It's very difficult to get back in the school mentality after laying out for awhile.

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sundance to Cellar ... 2012/05/15 01:51:34

Well, the lesson for your mom, is that she isn't the one going, right? Succeed at your pace, be diligent with your goals and life will work itself out...Just a thought...

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kotabear 2012/05/14 19:56:33

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

This happens a lot.

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Elz 2012/05/14 19:27:23

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+1
if they want to or depending whatever they have to do after school. some people work after they finish school.

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mrdog 2012/05/14 19:13:40

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+2
Two years in the military is good idea...bark

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Jake Bl... to mrdog 2012/05/14 22:47:07

+1
Agreed, but does the military even offer 2 year enlistments anymore? I remember a few programs that they had many years ago where you had a short (i.e. less than 4 year) enlistment and then a longer period of being in the active reserves... And back in the time of the draft, it was 2 years...

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mrdog to Jake Bl... 2012/05/15 05:06:36

True...bark

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BIG BAD JOHN R. 2012/05/14 19:12:25

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

Good point.

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HarleyCharley 2012/05/14 19:10:42

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

get to it...

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meg 2012/05/14 19:10:33

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

It really depends on the student, I use to want to take a year off but decided against it cause I didn't want to take the chance of me not returning because I know how I am.

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dirty_diana100 2012/05/14 19:04:26

No, it may lead them to abandon their college plans.

I am a graduating senior this year and I actually considered taking a year off of school. but recently we had testing week and I didn't have to attend all week due to having no exams. Can I just say the Monday morning following that week, it was sooo difficult to get back into the swing of things. I can only imagine what taking a year off of school would feel like!!

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Sister Jean 2012/05/14 19:04:04

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

yes

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Rhi-ot. 2012/05/14 18:58:53 (edited)

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+3
I'm debating whether I should take a year off to work and save money, and hit up the gym and get fit!
I also don't see the rush. I have my whole life to work my ass off for what I want, why start before I'm ready?

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kotabear to Rhi-ot. 2012/05/14 19:57:41

Well... you can still make part time money and work out while in college... Get school out of the way!!! You'll be happier later that you did.

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Rhi-ot. to kotabear 2012/05/14 20:07:57

see my dilemma is though, that my parents don't want me leaving for university. they want me to stay here, but the only course im interested in is food and nutrition, which is offered about two hours away at a different university. theyre telling me to just transfer my credits after a year because they want me here for at least one more year, but i dont see the point in spending a year taking courses i don't really wanna take!

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Jake Bl... to Rhi-ot. 2012/05/14 22:54:33

There are plenty of courses that you are required to take in a degree program that you might not want to take... It's part of the "well rounded education" line that the "educators" like to lay on us... It's part of "paying your dues", I guess... The cost for the dorm room and cafeteria plans is a significant part of your college costs and if you can reduce that by going to a local college for the courses that do not apply directly towards you major (e.g. English, social sciences, and other BS courses), it really will save your parents a lot of money.

If you want to be fit at school, just bicycle everywhere instead of taking a car and walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator...

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kotabear to Rhi-ot. 2012/05/15 22:12:30

Well ideally the first 2 years of college are required courses of basics, such as English, Social Sciences, Gov, etc... So might as well get those out of the way while at home instead of wasting a year. Ya know? Cuz the university will make you take those too. But it's all up to you and it's your choice.

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Rhi-ot. to kotabear 2012/05/16 01:26:01

makes sense!

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serious... to Rhi-ot. 2012/05/16 17:42:58

If you decide to take courses at a local college with the goal of transferring, make sure all the credits will be transferable. I don't know a single student who transferred without losing at least a few credits.

Personally, I like to find my path before I start walking, which usually means stopping to examine all the options before forging ahead. For this reason, I recommend taking time off to PLAN before jumping into the next phase of your life, but everyone is different. You have to do what works for you.

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Rhi-ot. to serious... 2012/05/16 18:59:34

ya i definitely agree with you about planning, and im emailing the university today to see if i could transfer credits!

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prosperhappily 2012/05/14 18:51:49

Yes, it will give them valuable real world experience.

+2
It really depends on how they spend the time.

If they're out learning how the real world works, that's great. They will then, hopefully, go into college with fewer illusions & a better idea of what they want to do with their lives.

If they just spend that year hanging out in their parents basement, getting drunk etc, no that's not a good idea.

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