Taking a year off before college?

You should retake the SAT now. If you wait, your math score will almost certainly decline. Not good. You should also get the recommendations now while you're fresh in their minds. They probably won't give the letters to you (I never do), but will have them available to send out when you ask later. Arrange this with them ahead of time.

As for just how to wait, there's a third choice I recommend. Go through the application process for college now, and then when you get in, arrange for deferred attendance. This is usually no problem at all; just tell them you accept their offer, but you want to take a year off so you'll actually show up the next year. Ordinarily you only have to sign something to set this up; it's not a problem.

As to whether or not you should wait, I'm not sure. I notice that all your other respondents have advised against this. They may well be right. You don't say what are your other plans for the year, but if they basically come down to goofing off, then I'd advise against it too. If it's something serious, then OK, but stay on track and make sure you actually do go to your college in a year.

I think taking a year off before going to college is an excellent idea. I've always admired the British Gap year concept where people travel and do public service work before settling down to college. Seems to me we are in a big rush to get into college, declare a major and work towards a career all before we've figured out what the heck it is we want to do. I went straight to college but ended up taking a year off involuntarily (lost my scholarship). I tried to make the best of it and make some money and break into my field without a degree. Instead I ended up working two jobs. It only took a year for me to figure out I did not want to spend the rest of my life wearing a nametag. That little ephinany provided a great deal of motivation to achieve when I did go back to college and finish my degree. I was much more serious minded and directed the second time around. I still partied but I didn't get lost in it - I kept my eyes on the prize. I guess my foray into the working world helped me to understand just why my parents wanted me to get a college education. I would limit the time off to a year. As another commentator already noted it's real easy for the year to segue into a couple more years. If you just apply and then delay entry one year I think you'll create the parameter necessary to make sure that you get back to college within a reasonable time. If I had it all to do again I would take the year and use it to travel! I wished I'd gotten to see Europe, Greece and the British Isles while I was young and adventurous. There are programs where you can travel with scientific expeditions and help them with the grunt work while seeing really cool things like China (The Great Wall) or Eygpt (the pyramids) and so on. Check it out.

I would recommend taking the ACT/SAT while you still have your high school knowledge fresh in your mind.

As many have said - taking a year off of school almost always results in many just not going back or doing poorly once they return.

You CAN retake the tests, no matter how old and what grade level you are in - many colleges actually offer them on their campuses, even for non-enrolled students.

Honestly, I would advise you to go on to college if you want it now - going to college does not mean postponing a life. For many, it's a party, but for the ones who actually want to do something with themselves, it's not any different than going out into the real world.

My suggestion is this: find a community college or university that offers online courses that are VERY likely to transfer and take general education classes while you're on "break." You can be a part-time student until you want to return, that way you don't lose your study habits and the knowledge you need for the ACT or SAT. Or heck, find a local community college and GO to the classes - one or two classes during the week isn't a big deal or time-consumer. In fact, you could keep going until you get your associate's degree - which is basically completion of your general education credits. That means you won't have to take gen ed's when you go back full time, most likely at another institution.

You can still have a life AND go to college. Another perk is that you can obtain recommendations from your community college so you don't have to ask your high school teachers. If you get the recommendations now, but don't go back immediately, it will look suspicious when you mail them and they're a year old (most teachers seal their recommendations - they're considered confidential, meaning you don't get to read them), AND they see you graduated in a certain year but didn't go right away. Many admissions officers will find that strange or send a red flag - they will most likely ask what you did during that year off.

So, in short - get your general education credits out of the way at a community college (or online through your desired university) and still have your break!

I agree that 3 months during the summer will be enough of a break for you. Most of those who "take a year off" never actually go back.. one year turns to two, then three.... They start to work more and earn a little extra money, which allows them to buy a car get an apartment, find a boyfriend, get a credit card.... then another... by the time you know it you've got a car payment and several other debts... not to mention being knocked up from some shmutz who lives in his parents basement but you think is hot because he has a motorcycle.

Go to college and avoid getting a life yet... those who have lives before they enter college have a hard time finding the time to get there. And at least if you get knocked up, hopefully he'll be a college student from a family who's parents encouraged him to go to college and didn't support him in his "year off" that never ended.

Hiya im also worried about this. i have decided not to take a year off but yes a couple of months off. about ur SAT scores, you should retake it because at collegeboards website a surveyed showed that 50% of the students who took the SAT again actually did better. About recomendations you should ask teachers who know you are a good student and know you have potentials. Also join clubs in your senior year because colleges see that as you taking responisibility and shows you are active, which colleges like

Start College now, it'll be harder if you get use to not studying, no test/quizzes/not getting up to go to classes/ not staying in classes/ and the initial stress will make you want to not go to college at all. Just take it easy your first year. go part-time and get a job somewhere.

hope I helped

If you want to take a year off, I would go to school part time. This way you still have time off, and you get a good education. Good Luck!

3 month break should be enough. I took 7 months break after high school and guess what? I've become lazy. I shouldn't take off too long I really regret it. i wish I still have my high school "momentum".

Really BAD idea. Just go an get it over with. You will regret it if you postpone college.