Gap year(s)

[Owlie]

I'd vote against it. I know way too many people who took a break either in the beginning or middle and never finished their degree. In this market it's hard to find even an entry level job with a degree much less without one.

I told both my boys they didn't have to go, but if they didn't they had to get a job and pay rent.

My oldest boy is a junior at a liberal arts college and will graduate debt free. He can take time off then if he wants to.

I agree with this. I went straight from high school to college, but took a year off before I started my master's. It was a strange thing to get used to studying again.