Do you advise taking a year off to travel before college?

Question

Tell me about your own experiences or opinions, etc. Thanks!

Answer 1

Apply first to universities in which you are interested and see if you get in. If you do, many offer "deferred enrollment," meaning you can accept your offer of admission but defer it for a year, as long as you don't enroll in another institution. That way, you have a guaranteed spot when you come back!

I wish I had taken off time to travel. I was so set on traveling for a year but didn't, so when I went off to school I was in the wrong state of mind for school. I was still wanting that vacation.

Answer 2

Do you plan to travel for an entire year? If you decide you just want to travel for a few weeks, then I think doing that during summer vacation before college would be great. If you've already been admitted to the college you want to go to and can't defer admission, then I'd play it safe and go straight to college. Most universities offer study abroad opportunities at reduced costs which are definitely worth considering. Depending on your university, it's usually also possible to take a semester or year off from school to travel and then continue on with your education without any penalties.

I regret not studying abroad while in college-- you get to experience another culture, travel, have fun, and still complete college coursework and earn units, all at relatively good prices (the Cal State Univ. has a really great study abroad program). I would say that's the best way to go-- work and play together.

Answer 3

I knew exactly what I wanted to do after high school (go to college, major in elem. ed), but I decided to go overseas to Spain on a Rotary sponsorship. I spent 3.5 mos there (I'd been there twice before on exchanges set up by my Spanish teacher). I loved it. It really brought me out of my shell. I had to fend for myself in a strange land, my parents were an ocean away...it was great! It taught me a lot of independence. I learned how to navigate in a large, unfamiliar city (Madrid). I learned how to use public transportation (I grew up in the country). I learned where the interesting sites were. I learned to take life a little slower, and to just enjoy the moment sometimes. I learned how to cut classes! I learned that I could do a lot of things I didn't know I could do when push came to shove. After that, college was pretty much a breeze. After I came back, I worked for six months as a substitute teacher before I went to college (I had already been accepted; I had just gotten my admission and scholarship deferred for a year). Again, great experience and it cemented my decision to major in elementary education. I think the year off also gave me some time to decompress after high school. (I was in a very competitive honors environment in high school, and, looking back, I'm surprised I didn't burn out...). I suspect that if I'd jumped right into college, I might have been waaaay too focused on the grades to the exclusion of having any sort of social life, which really isn't healthy.
I think if I had it to do over, I would definitely go overseas and travel, but I might try to go to more places. I stayed wholly within Spain while overseas (I more or less had to under the rules of Rotary sponsorship), but I really wish I had seen more places. I definitely recommend it. It's a nice break, you probably won't have this opportunity again, and, even if you do have more opportunity, doing it during a gap year is great because you'll be eligible for all the youth tourist passes and whatnot (in most international countries, those end when you're either 25 or 27, I believe).
The way I see it, you'll never be in a more perfect place to jump into this adventure. Soon enough, life will smack you head on with job obligations, car payments, a spouse, children, etc. While all of those are great (except maybe the car payments), they make it much more difficult to just leave everything behind and take six months or whatever to jaunt about a foreign land. Do it now!!! It's wonderful! Good luck!!!

Answer 4

I would agree with the person above and say to combine learning with travel. If you can save and do it in college I would suggest that. It would be a great experiance with new friends and educators. However, if you have the money now, I guess I would say "Go for it!" You're luckier than most of us.
I just think that the transition from high school to college is an important thing and you should stick to that.

Answer 5

If you know what you want to study and you know your ready to go to college then id say go right after high school. But, if you kinda know what you wanna do and you really have always wanted to travel before college then i'd go. My personal opinon is travel. you only live once and yeah nothings ganna drop of the face of the earth, but traveling is amazing. ive been to italy and some of europe and it was a real eye opening experience and when i got home i had a better understanding of what i wanted to do in life.

Answer 6

i think so. you need a break. i went right after high school and was burnt out after the 2nd week. i didnt finish. you need a chance to live a little and experience other things. you will know when your ready to go. if id have taken some time off, i would have finished. take some time and have fun while you can. you may never get the opportunity again.

Answer 7

Certainly. I advise taking the next 40 or 50 years off before going anywhere near a college.

Answer 8

I took a few years off, I went into the military. I saw the world and came back with the GI BIll.

I could not afford to take a year off to travel otherwise, I was not a rich kid.

Answer 9

If given the opportunity to combine travel with learning, I would take that opportunity.

Answer 10

If you can afford to take the time to do it, then go for it! But, I know for some people that once they stop going to school, it get really really hard for them to get the motivation to go back!