College

[Whitedresswind]

So I got accepted into Slippery Rock (the college I want to attend) and I was planning to go right out of school, but now I am thinking about maybe taking a year off. How many of you have taken a year off and actually went back to college? I want to do a bit of traveling, and spending time with my horses, and earning some money for college, and maybe explore my options. I want to go into college knowing exactly what I want to do, and as of right now I don't know what I want to do. I was thinking about majoring in theater acting, but there is always the factor that your not promised a job anywhere. I am so confused, and I have to make this decision soon, because I have to make a deposit before may if I am going. What do you guys think?
Thanks!

[HoustonFarrier]

When I was graduating from high school, I got a 2 year athletic scholarship to LSU. It was a JR-SR year(s) scholarship....I would have had to pay (or do real well in athletics)......instead, I chose to go in the Army.......if I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know now......I would have gone to college......

Steve

[AUEquine]

Go to college! I've never understood this 'year off' thing. Unless you have completely wealthy parents that plan on supporting you 100%, it's not going to be easy financialy, which won't make it much fun!

Heck I think most people should go straight to college the summer after they graduate. Take only 1 or 2 classes. It will give you a nice taste of what college courses are like and let you ease into them, intead of getting drop kicked into 15 hours.

[elevenelevenxo]

I got right into college after I graduated....went for a quarter and a half, then took about a 1-2 year break. I didn't know what I wanted to do and had some issues in my personal life that basically put EVERYTHING on the back burner. And I do mean everything...school, horses, I was into photography and that went on hold....I took a break from it all. I tried to get back in the following fall at another school, but discovered upon moving into the dorm that I absolutely hated it - the environment wasn't for me. So I withdrew from that school before I even gained any credits, stayed out for another year, and got back in the following winter quarter at the community college I'm at now. I've been taking classes part time and working full time, but it's been really difficult - this quarter especially. In fact, I dropped both my classes and decided to just wait until the coming quarter to start over.

It's been difficult and looking around at all my friends who are graduating this year (it's tough to get on Facebook and see EVERYONE'S status saying something like "last quarter of college!").....I just feel ashamed of myself almost. Had I just stuck with things, I'd be done this year. But as it is, I'm struggling to find work and just get through a quarter of school.

In all honesty, I would get in and stay in. Just get it done. Even if you don't know what you want to do right now - there will always be the inevitable general education credits you need to graduate (your English, Math, Science credits) and it's just good to get those out of the way asap. You won't start taking major specific classes for another year or two, and honestly hun.....NO ONE knows what they want to do. I'd be a senior this year if I'd have stuck with it and I still have no idea what I want to do. :)

But only you know what's best for you. For some people, taking a year off to work is a good thing. For others....it's kind of a whirlpool that when you get sucked in so far, there's no way out, or at least no easy way to get back to doing school.

Good luck!

[Whitedresswind]

Thanks guys. Your all probably right, what do you think of trade schools? I just want to weigh my options.

[FlapJack]

I wouldn't rule out traveling for a while. It also doesn't have to be just a 'take a year off and see where wind blows you' kind of thing, you could go volunteer or intern/work somewhere for 6 months or 3 months or 1 month - it really doesn't matter. I think it's a really good idea to get away from your usual life, learn to rely on yourself and become a little more independent. I am graduating in Dec and plan on going to Africa for 3 months on a horse trip where I'll also get to help teach kids at the local orphanage how to ride. I may not go for the whole 3 months (depends on finances!), but I think just getting away from your day-to-day for a while is a good idea.

Having said that, I can see how it might be hard to go back for more schooling after taking a lengthy break, so I get how some people prefer to go straight into college. Personally I could never :), but I think it depends on the person.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide!

[FredRock]

I'd never be able to go back to college and learning if I went on a year-long break. I take college level courses right now as it is, and I know I'd crash and burn. Personally, if I was undecided on what I wanted to do, I'd see if there is a community college to go to and get a 2-year degree to try to decide what I want to do, and then find a good school for the major I want.

I don't know what it's like in PA, but in NY there's a "2 and 2" program through a community college that let's you take the first two years of classes for a major in the community college (and save loads of $$) and then transfer to the school you want to go into for the last two years. I'd bedoing that if Keuka had Criminology as a "2 and 2" option.

[3equines]

Once you quit school, there will be 1,000 reasons not to go back.

Your first year of college should be filled with 'generic' courses that can be applied to several types of degrees. You will have time to decide what you want to major in before it is too late. Get your math classes out of the way first, then you will have room to wiggle later on when you know what direction you are going. Basically, you are only taking prerequisites for a higher degree. Your student advisor/guidance counselor can help you pick a 'generic' course of study for your first year, which later can be applied to a variety of majors.

Remeber that you will have summers off. That gives you time to enjoy the horses, travel, explore other areas of life.

Also think about what income you want to live within to be 'happy' in life. Then think about what kinds of jobs can provide this income, jobs you might be good at. Then think about the availability of these jobs. You can always go BACK to college to change your career. But getting that first degree is priceless.

Taking a year off sounds like fun. But it is easy to get caught up in what you WANT to do for the short-term, and forget about the long-term. It is easy to find a 'decent' job for $10 to $20 an hour, enough to pay your rent and have a little fun, but then you won't ever get beyond that. Pretty soon a few years have passed like this, and you are stuck just 'getting by'. Your folks say they maybe can't keep your horse anymore (how old are you by then, say 20? 21? Isn't it time they stop holding your hand?) and you don't make enough money to keep it. Your friends from high school have gone on in their lives, to college, new careers, maybe married and starting families. Once you decide to go back to school, you have all these bills to pay every month, and the student loans don't cover them. Your scholarship opportunities have passed, and now you have to scramble hard to find any free funds. Then you realize you've forgotten some of what you learned in high school, and most of your classmates are younger than you. You have to work harder to keep up.

It is SO HARD to do college as an 'adult' living independently. I am 32 and a full-time nursing student. I live on my own without the support of family, etc. I have to work part time, and borrow money like crazy to pay the bills, and I do not have much time for the horses, a life, etc.

[alittleoffkey]

If I quit school today, as a junior, there's no way I'd go back. If I hadn't gone straight out of high school, I wouldn't have ever gone. It's a struggle for me to go back after summer break! 3equines is right, once you stop going to school there are a thousand reasons not to go back. I don't know your insurance status... but with our insurance (BCBS) if I don't go to school "full time" then I'm dropped from my parents' insurance and have to pay for my own. I need insurance because of my previous health issues.

Big secret - No one knows what they want to do when they go into college (okay, a very, very few people do - but they're definitely a very small minority). That's what the general ed requirements are for. ;) They let you test the waters a bit to find something you really like before you settle in for the long haul for something. :)

http://academics.sru.edu/liberalstudies/liberal_studies_guide.pdf

That's a list of the general ed requirements for every student. You'd probably do one or two of the first 4 classes listed your first semester, they'd probably count as 3 hours each. :) You'd pick one of "The Arts" classes to try out - probably Intro to Theatre for you. You'd pick a "Global Community" class to start out with, you'd try another during another semester. You'd take a science class or two in your first couple of years,

After your first semester, if you took and liked Intro To Theatre, you could take another Theatre class... or maybe you'd want to try Printmaking or Photography... or maybe you'll take a psych class along the way and decide you want to know more about social psychology or cognitive psychology. ;)

You play around within your general ed requirements - the classes you HAVE to take before they'll hand you that diploma anyway, for the first couple years, or until something really smacks you in the face and says PICK ME!!! You most likely aren't taking classes for your major starting your first semester. Colleges realize that they're a time for self-discovery and have adjusted their curriculum accordingly (liberal arts ones have anyway, technical colleges don't allow for much exploration of anything ;)).

Good luck Torie, let me know if you want to talk. :D

[Kaitlyn]

I took a year off, but then I also already had 2 yrs of college before I graduated High School.

I personally don't think it's a bad idea, and it's been proven kids do better after taking a year off because they are ready and their heads are cleared after graduating. I didn't know what I wanted to do after HS, I thought I was going to a very expensive college for equine management but realized horses aren't guaranteed, medical is. So now I'm going back to school to be a psychiatrist.

[mare]

I was in favor of one of my daughters taking a year off. Her full scholarships were still available, she could save money... lots of additional good reasons. Now she has tried to go back twice and "life" as she got used to it, really gets in the way. Her younger sister went straight in and is now half finished. It really bugs the older one, but she just isn't willing to completely focus after having a taste of money, her own place, etc. But, I've seen it work for some people just fine.

I, on the other hand, waited 18 years and was totally focused, able to work full time, raise three kids, and all the rest.

In this economy and with the cost of college, I am in favor of two-year degrees or trade schools. But, some of them are incredibly expensive. Just depends on what you're going for.

[ImaBronsonBear]

I'm still undecided on the subject - i'm a great help, aren't i?:D I'm 17 now and a senior, so i'm graduating a year early and have the opportunity to take a year off and go back to college. It's not a matter of not going back to school for me because i actually enjoy the challenge, but at this point i'm not too sure what i'd do with the year off. Some people i know have gone on mission trips, but i'm really not called to do that. So now i'm leaning towards doing two years at a junior college and then transfering into a university.

[NE_paint]

I've taken college slowly myself, 2 years on, a year off and it is working fine for me. A lot of people will tell you to keep going and don't any time off, but if you have enough motivation and drive to get your degree, it is never a problem going back. I personally get burned out if I go 2 years without a semester off, but I go to school full time and work full time, so that might be part of it. Good luck in whatever you choose!! :)

[Whitedresswind]

Thanks for all the answers guys, it helps a lot!
Thanks Em!

[Blue]

I think I'm just going to take an easy work load my first semester, 1-2 classes, that way I can still spend time with the horses and maybe get a job. :)

[Horseaholic]

Do you know what you want to do? If you do then I say go straight into college. I took a year off and found a great job (it was a fluke) and I absolutely love what I do. If I had known that I wanted to be in the field that I am in now I would have gone straight to college because now that I'm set and know what I want to do (go back to school for dental hygiene) I WISH I would have gone straight into it so I would have more time out in the field sooner rather than going to school for 4 years after I've been doing this for 2 1/2 now

[bigfish]

It sounds like you are thinking about getting a year off for the right reasons. It can be really helpful to focus in order to know where you want to go. I'd definitely advise you to do it if you can.
Concerning trade schools (http://students.washington.edu/stc6/washington/schools.html) I agree with mare that especially in the current economic situation going to trade school might be a smart idea - if it's a good one and if you can afford it.

Good luck! :cowboy:

[rocknK]

Don't you think you oughta be talking with your folks & school counselor about this, rather than a bunch of complete strangers on the internet?????

[Dandy21]

For me, I have always and will always know that me going directly to college was not best for me. I always wanted to go to college, and I love learning, so I have no doubt that I would have gone (and will go to grad school eventually). I needed time to settle down and figure my life out, which my parents refused to allow me to do. As a result, I've been fairly miserable at school, and I've struggled with my major/minor and with failing classes.

If you know what's best for you... listen to yourself. However, if you want a college education and you're not sure you'd go back, go ahead and go.

[shewasmyshadow]

Don't you think you oughta be talking with your folks & school counselor about this, rather than a bunch of complete strangers on the internet?????

HEY!! We're are not strangers!! :trout: I've known WDW for a couple of years now. :D

[shewasmyshadow]

I took a year off, then went to college for 1 yr. I got married the next summer and never went back. I found out I'm too hyper to study and ended up getting a job in the Financial Aid Dept. as an administrative assistant. I LOVED that job and kept it until my husband graduated. I took classes on and off while working at the school since I got them FREE. I absolutely loved learning that way. 1-2 classes at a time. I never could figure out what I wanted to do. Photography looked very fun though!! I'd love to do that someday. For now I'm a stay-at-home-mom and I LOVE IT!!

[carla]

Well, I may be odd woman out (haven't read all replies), but I took a SIX year break after high school and then went back to college. Now, almost five years after THAT, I'm about to graduate. Like SWMS, I LOVED learning one class at a time while I could! LOL

I had a wild streak to get out, though, during that time. I actually went to some sort of college orientation a few years after I graduated HS.. with some "friends" of mine at the time. But I NEVER would have stuck with it the way I have now.

There are days when I think, "gosh, I could've been working now for seven years!!" But then, I wouldn't be where I am now. And I'm quite content right where I am. ;)

Going now is a terrific idea; probably the best and most responsible idea. Get it out of the way, then do the "fun" stuff later. But I don't think taking a break would be a terrible sin, either. As long as you really think you'll commit to going back no matter what's happened by the time the right time comes. It didn't take me long to realize that, without some sort of education, my ceiling was very low in the working world- and getting lower every day.

I've had to do it (school) with a husband, house, and son already in tow. It's NOT easy. And it's true- life happens very quickly, before you even realize what's happened. :)

[Miracle Whip]

Good luck finding a job. I have heard of younger folks hikeing in foreign countries, I suppose it can be done.

I went to college for 2 years and took a semester off for mental health reasons. I tried to get a job and after 3 months I ended up working as a nurse aide. After doing that for 6 - 8 weeks I was rearing to go back to school!!! I could not find any other job back then, and even the 80's was better than they say it is now.

I didn't know what I wanted to do though, I sort of discovered that I like to write, but I was so close to graduating that I never pursued the journalism. Working might help you decide but the tuition goes up every year too. And there is the issue of health insurance. If you are not a full time student you cannot be covered on your parents insurance.

[Miracle Whip]

If you wait until you are 24, you can get a Pell grant, which is a free grant that does not need to be re-paid. I don't know if you can get it if your parents went to college...but it was something that they had when I was in school.

How about the armed forces? Different than college, travel the world, and get college tuition.

[root tootin' scoot]

I sent in my defferal request a couple weeks ago for UNH and I got it accepted. I need money and a license!!!!
But I have a lot of will power when it comes to my education and future so you can bet your buns I will be going:)

[carla]

I didn't know Pell had anything to do with age? In fact, my hubby had it in college (I remember him knowing what it was when I got it) and he went straight out of high school. Maybe it's a state-to-state thing?

[alittleoffkey]

I had a Pell grant my freshman year (when I was 18) they're a federal program, so it's something that would be the same state to state. You can learn about them here (http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html).

[carla]

Aah yes, federal. That rings a bell now. ;)

[shewasmyshadow]

Me and my husband both worked the Financial Aid office, but I did more filing then anything. I wish I could help. I do know if you go to smaller college they generally work harder to get you good financial aid. At least that was the case at the college that we worked for.

[Whitedresswind]

haha, wow, this thread is really old. :D
I guess I haven't been on much lately, just sorta lurk, lol
And that's right, none of you are strangers :p

I am enrolled at SR for this fall, I decided against taking any time off. lol, thanks for all the replies again guys ;)

[SedonaThunder]

Good girl!!!!:clap:;)