Gap year(s)

[shootingstar]

I would say the opposite for me:

I did my 2 university degree years immediately after one another after high school. But the caveat here is that during my 3rd year in university, I was volunteering several hrs. per month at a non-profit org. on cross-cultural education and studies.The organization provided information resources tailored to people ready to work overseas in developing countries and for locals ie. high school students, college and universities on third world issues, historical colonization, race relations and immigration issues. It was difficult for people to get this information other than academic tomes which is not easy for the lay public. Hence, our organization provided more accessible information.

It was through this organization/volunteer experience, I understood the power of providing information to the right people at the right time in their lives. This motivated me to pursue my information science degree...after my English literature degree.

I couldn't have been able to afford to take a gap year. I might have easily lost some student grant money.

Melavli: She might want to consider something in geotechnical engineering or biomedical /biomechanical engineering (ie. making of prosethses and devices for the physically disabled) or transporatation...where tomorrow I will be meeting with electrical and mechanical engineers specialized in transit rail power traction, communications and signalling systems. Mission-critical stuff. Bridge design engineers, if highly experienced, are elite group in civil /structural engineering world. There is aerospace engineeriing which my brother-in-law's engineering faculty is side by side with this specialty area.

There is also the world of fire protection engineering ...civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers with a focus on fire safety design.

I did work with all these specialty engineers ...from the information provision side. I never worked in a public nor school library. All specialized areas of knowledge and serving adults.