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So basically, I was planning on attending University of Connecticut in the fall, but it came to me that I really had no idea what I wanted to study, so instead of laying down tons money to waste a year doing something I probably wouldn't enjoy, earlier this week I decided to delay my college plans for a year so I could have more time to really find what it is I enjoy in life.
Before you go and say 'ahh this is a terrible idea ahh dumb ahh', I know its not the most ideal decision but I believe that its right for me.
My current plans are basically to work for a few months until I have enough money raised to sustain myself for the remainder of the year (will be living with parents, minimal rent, food bills etc. taken care of) and travel. I also plan on doing humanitarian work through a local church and boy scouts, of which I am an eagle scout.
My biggest hope so far is to go to Korea and spend a few weeks exploring, seeing the culture, and of course watching starcraft, but that's all up in the air atm.
So I come to you TL to ask, Has anyone here taken a gap year, what was your experience, and what kinds of things are worth doing during this time?
  
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Without a college degree teaching english is out (ala korea)
You can expect to spend about 1300 for an airline ticket (round trip) On the cheap accomodations are probably 30 usd/night. Meals you can get for 5.
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I have not done this, but i do not think it is really the worst idea ever. You might not get the chance to have a year off until you retire, so enjoy this now while you can. I would recommend that you make sure you have some sort of plan where ever you go, so you can make sure you can do everything you want.
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Well, maybe you could tell us some things you are interested in or good at and we could give you ideas for how to explore those during your off year so you go into college with a better idea of your studies.
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United States4796 Posts
I'm doing a year off too. I don't know much about your arrangements but best of luck. 
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Personally, I think it's a great idea.
I indirectly took a gap year (bit of a long story), but I feel like it's helped me out of a lot in terms of just perspective on life, drive, etc.
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I think the decision to take a gap year if you don't know what to do is a great one.
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On July 02 2011 15:29 Froadac wrote:
Without a college degree teaching english is out (ala korea)
You can expect to spend about 1300 for an airline ticket (round trip) On the cheap accomodations are probably 30 usd/night. Meals you can get for 5.
Not necessarily.  A fellow student back in my university days went to teach English in China before he had graduated. He told the school that he didn't have a degree. The school replied "No problem", and sent him a fake diploma to use as part of his visa application. Amusingly, the university named on the fake diploma was a nearby rival school.
Ontopic: if you want to travel, consider a working holiday.
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just make sure your gap year doesn't turn into a gap year(times 3) like mine did
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On July 02 2011 15:37 munchmunch wrote:Show nested quote +On July 02 2011 15:29 Froadac wrote:
Without a college degree teaching english is out (ala korea)
You can expect to spend about 1300 for an airline ticket (round trip) On the cheap accomodations are probably 30 usd/night. Meals you can get for 5. Not necessarily. A fellow student back in my university days went to teach English in China before he had graduated. He told the school that he didn't have a degree. The school replied "No problem", and sent him a fake diploma to use as part of his visa application. Amusingly, the university named on the fake diploma was a nearby rival school. Ontopic: if you want to travel, consider a working holiday.
I don't think relying on a shady educational institute to print out a fake diploma is a solid idea for our young adventurer here.
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What grades did you get in HS? Were you a classic under-achiever?
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I took a gap year between undergrad and grad. It was sweet. Read a lot.
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On July 02 2011 15:55 iGrok wrote:
What grades did you get in HS? Were you a classic under-achiever?
I had like a 2.2 for my first three years but went out with something like 3.4 in my senior year which helped me get into the college I wanted, as well as doing (relatively) well on the sat (1890).
My biggest problem is finding out what I want to do. At first i wanted to go in to computer science, but then I took a computer science class and realized i like working on computers, not with computers. I did reasonably well, but i just didnt really enjoy it. I took a web design class and liked doing that, but from what I hear of its not really a good career to get in to, plus I could just go to community college for 2 years and be qualified for web design.
I really like writing and reading, but I dont want to fall into a 'BA in english' trap, and i hear its really hard to get a job doing what you want as a writer.
I really like music, but I don't think i'm good enough to make a career of it. Also, I'm not very good at math.
I considered joining the army/navy, but talk to a recruiter that told me that there is no way i can join since i had asthma when I was younger. Oh, also I considered starting training as a merchant marine, as I love sailing/boating and wouldn't mind being on the water.
So basically, thats all about me/interests/whatever.
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Take a year off, yes. Absolutely. This may sound a bit harsh, but you'll thank me later if you do this.
Get a job as soon as you can. Its not going to pay well, and you're not going to enjoy it most likely. Thats not incredibly important, its the work experience and motivation and money that you'll want later that are important. Plan on working there through a month or two before college (tell them you're planning on staying for a few years before college in the interview - it'll help a LOT).
Make sure you show up on time, do your job well, and try to find small things to take pride in. You're going to need it - After 2 months you'll want to quit, and again at 6 months - push through that, grit your teeth and work harder.
While working, you'll be blown away by how much free time you have. 40 hours a week sounds like a lot, until you realize you used to spend 60-70 hours a week doing school things. You can use this time for anything, but I recommend you use it to figure out what you enjoy doing. It sounds like you really enjoy being creative - there are lots of ways of being creative that aren't english.music based. Not sure if you're the artistic type, but maybe Zbrush would be a good thing to get in to - watch RuN's stream on TL when he pops on, maybe you'd be really good at 3d sculpting. With the money you're making you'll be able to afford the programs and a nice Wacom tablet. The point is, try a lot of different things, and figure out what you like. You have time now that you aren't in school.
But keep your job, no matter how much you hate it, keep working for at least 8 months. Theres no substitute for work experience and experience motivating yourself to do things you don't enjoy, particularly when you get to college and no one is telling you to work/go to class.
Any travel you want to do can be put off until 2-3 months before college. Thats plenty of time to go to Korea. Eventually, you might want to move out on your own somewhere, ot learn how to live on your own (no matter how much you think you know, you don't).
This isn't the exact path I took, though I was in a similar situation to you. But it is my strong recommendation
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I don't know what kind of job you're thinking of getting but even if you're just catching busses around Europe be prepared to spend more than $1 000 per month. Could go as high as $2 000 even if you don't feel like you're spending a lot. Depending on how you fly a plane ticket to Europe could cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand, but you probably won't get out of paying a few thousand for a ride to and from Korea.
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On July 02 2011 16:46 pissingwildly wrote:
I don't know what kind of job you're thinking of getting but even if you're just catching busses around Europe be prepared to spend more than $1 000 per month. Could go as high as $2 000 even if you don't feel like you're spending a lot. Depending on how you fly a plane ticket to Europe could cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand, but you probably won't get out of paying a few thousand for a ride to and from Korea.
My parents agreed to help fund me as long as i held a job/showed responsibility/etc parent stuff.
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United Kingdom16710 Posts
I would definitely recommend travelling. I spent my gap years (2 because of some financial difficulties) mostly working and have always regretted not being able to travel abroad. If you really want to see korea for all it's glory and splendor, you should definitely go ahead with your plan of working for a while to raise funds and then going on your travels. There is no better experience than seeing a new culture and getting a different perspective on life in first person.
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Go work as a liftie at a Canadian ski resort, I guarantee you will have the best time ever.
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Take a year off. It's what I should have done, I basically didn't know what I wanted to do after finishing High School, so I (without thinking about it a lot) went on to study Law. This was the first big, wrong decision in my life and I regret it completely. I know I could continue doing it and perhaps become successful, but I won't, because I do not enjoy it.
Do not make the same mistake. You are young and you have your entire life ahead of yourself, take your time with your decisions, and also don't forget...people make mistakes, we always have, and we always will.
-Raiks
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On July 02 2011 17:38 gosuMalicE wrote:
Go work as a liftie at a Canadian ski resort, I guarantee you will have the best time ever.
Thats actually a pretty good option. I love skiing, one of my favorite sports.
Though I'd probably be rooted in new england XD. I have family thats up near killington though.
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Going to Korea sounds like a great plan. If you have the money why dont you go there and study for a year while you consider you options ? If youre short on money I suppse you could apply to go there as an english teacher as well!
Anyway, going abroad to widen your view of the world is a great think. Try to do it for at least a year if you can. Just be careful, you might decide that you dont want to go home.
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On July 02 2011 15:26 Hakker wrote:
So basically, I was planning on attending University of Connecticut in the fall, but it came to me that I really had no idea what I wanted to study, so instead of laying down tons money to waste a year doing something I probably wouldn't enjoy, earlier this week I decided to delay my college plans for a year so I could have more time to really find what it is I enjoy in life.
Before you go and say 'ahh this is a terrible idea ahh dumb ahh', I know its not the most ideal decision but I believe that its right for me.
My current plans are basically to work for a few months until I have enough money raised to sustain myself for the remainder of the year (will be living with parents, minimal rent, food bills etc. taken care of) and travel. I also plan on doing humanitarian work through a local church and boy scouts, of which I am an eagle scout.
My biggest hope so far is to go to Korea and spend a few weeks exploring, seeing the culture, and of course watching starcraft, but that's all up in the air atm.
So I come to you TL to ask, Has anyone here taken a gap year, what was your experience, and what kinds of things are worth doing during this time?
While not taking a year, I have taken a semester off. If you feel you must, do that. Personally I'd say go to school anyway and take things you'd need to take anyway, such as English 101.
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Taking at least a year of is standard in Sweden, of 33 pers in my highschool class only one is picking up college this fall.
Some are doing loose courses but that's just so that they can qualify for student loans.
Most of us are working in the autumn and traveling in spring. I have managed to get a well paying job in Norway and will try to gather up as much money as I can and then go on a long trip in south America and Southeastern Asia. Stay clear of developed countries (Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe etc.) and you money will last 3x as long.
If nothing else, just work for a year and you will perhaps come to terms with what you want to study. Be advised though, very few people get some kind of epiphany and go on to study their dream subject, most people just settle with something.
You are, most likely, not going to work with whatever you studied for anyway so the whole "I will be doing this for the rest of my life" doesn't apply.
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One of my mates took a year off and joined the army. (Gap year program). He loved some parts and got paid a fuckton for someone coming out of school. another one of my freinds is unemployed and about to be kicked out of home. It all depends on your dedication to whatever you want to do in that year off. If you are dedicated you can do whatever you want to do (within reason). Just aim for something and go for it everyday.
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You can also look into volunteering programs such as Americorps if that is something you think that you might be interested in. Also, you don't necessarily need a degree for teaching in Korea, my friend is teaching English in Korea for the summer and he is a rising junior in university.
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Go and do a round trip around Africa. It is a beautiful continent and Im pretty sure you will love your time, and it will also let you see some of the suffering the kids go through there first hand.
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EPT
