Is taking a year off after high school a bad move?

It depends on how motivated you are to start studying again.

I am a very motivated person so taking a year off worked for me and I found I was more interested in learning after a year off than when I left school. It also gave me a chance to work out what I wanted to do with my career.

Financially it also worked out better for me as I had a chance to save up for expenses while I studied (although in New Zealand we have interest free student loans so do not have to pay straight up for university/college)

Although a gap year worked for me it may not work for you. I think you need to see a careers adviser (if you have them at your school) and discuss the different ways you could go about this.

If you can't talk to anyone then have a serious think about whether or not this will be the right choice or you. Do you know what you want to do yet? How long will it take to study? Can you financially afford to study? Can you financially afford to take a year off and live on your own? do you currently enjoy learning? If you take a year off will that change?

Good Luck!

Well, think about it. When you get home from school and finish your homework, you think- this is nice... right? well here comes summer break. You do not want to go back to school, you feel lazy, you want to stay home. You talked about how kids don't go to school when they made the move you are thinking of. You may be the most motivated person ever, but soon enough, you WILL get lazy, and turn your chances down, no matter how many times you tell yourself to move. Then you need to think about the economy. In these days employers are looking for the very best. Even at McDonald's. You will be immediately topped by the kid who went to college and has more experience. I DO NOT think you should take a year off. When you say you would exercise, socialize, work, and experience everything possible, you can do that while you are in college. I highly recommend going to college before taking a break.

You're right, most people who take a year off don't wind up going to college at all. If you've got a full time job a year from now, your mind set will be, why should I quit this just so I can go to school? Go ahead and enroll in your general ed courses in the Fall. Living on your own would be more expensive than you think, especially if you don't even have a job right now. Live on campus or with your parents your first year, and later on you can get your own place.

For your case i guess the idea doesnt seem to bad. But taking a year off would also raise up question from the universities you are going to apply to. Most likely it wont be to relevant regarding your chances of getting in but just something to think about.

I would suggest maybe be a part time student or go to a community college. Since your first and maybe second year will just be filled with basic classes it wont really affect your progress into getting a major. This hopefully will give you more time to decide what you want to do.

One more thing to keep in mind is the fact that the job market sucks. It only means that it's a lot more competitive now and college degree is almost a requirement for a career.

Room up with a friend from your high school, or check out local ads. There are a lot of people renting out rooms in their house (most people who rent out rooms are families with kids going off to college already, or working adults living togethers/friends, or maybe if you're living in a college town theres a lot of college kids living together and renting a house)

It'll come out pretty cheap, trust me I did it and they will ended up becoming your best friends and more networks for your future.

Yes i think it is a bad idea, The likely hood is that if you take a year off you'll never go back, and think of it this way if you this year you get college over and done with quicker then if you wait a year, you'd be a year behind. Go to college.

Well, my sister done the same thing and she took a year out. She's going to go to college in september which i suppose is good but as there are no jobs, she doesn't have that much money to help her when she goes. Its up to you really but just make sure if your going to take a year off, that you try to get a job and then you will have a bit of money to go to college.

Hope i help! (:

As someone who went straight from high school to university, I'd highly recommend taking a gap year. No harm done, travel, try new things, find yourself. We're here to live, so go for it. If going to college is what you want out of life, taking a gap year will only reinforce that if it's the right thing to do. I wish I'd done it.

You have summer to think through this! But don't! If you want to get in a good college, I think they might look down on that. If anything, do some extracurricular activities in school with some hobbies you enjoy such as a sport you like or maybe even a club! Motivate yourself :)

As someone who went to college directly from high-school, i think it's a great idea. The best action to take however would be to apply to college now and then defer enrollment. Taking a year off, would give u time to relax, travel, save money, and explore. But, most of all it'll help keep you from getting worn out when u do decide to attend school. Good luck!

Well, firstly, it would be hard for you to find a job straight out of high school without having some sort of degree. Secondly, it will be hard for you to get back into the routine of studying after having had a year off. So, no, I don't think it's a good idea.