Gap year(s)

[shootingstar]

But, we also made it clear that school was their first job and no working more than 15 hrs. a week while in school. When I was a high school teacher in AZ, I saw too many kids working 30 hours a week to pay for their car and insurance.

I totally agree that college or university full-time truly requires majority focus, hrs. and time. I found just working 8-15 hrs. per wk. some school years, just enough for me without dragging my energy around. And I didn't have a car .... Looking back, my parents though they expected us to work at least during summers and supplement with student grants, were VERY generous since we were poor, to ask that if we worked during the school year, it be only weekends.

As for gap years during our working lives...well I guess I had my "gaps" with unemployment looking for work. I do have a work benefit to take a partial paid leave of absence for a restricted period of time. It's nice to have this if life should require that I reset my priorities of personal over work for a short while. WHo knows.... but I know it would not be for taking off and travelling around. No, I don't have the urge to go back to school at this time.

[Crankin]

Going back to school at age 55 was not that hard for me. Of course, as a teacher, I had to take many university courses to advance on the salary schedule after getting my first master's in 1979. So, it wasn't like I hadn't stepped foot in a classroom since then. Of course, this was an option for me, because DH could pay the bills, but I had all kinds of scary warnings from the professors in my department about the "stress" of grad school. Yes, it was stressful, but to a grown up who is used to managing time and workload, it was more business as usual. And, I did not give up my usual activities and friends. I am glad it's done, but, really, it was not that bad. Better than staying home and doing nothing!

[ny biker]

I have no regrets about going straight from high school to college. It was a big enough event to move away and start a new life at college. It would have been overwhelming to start something else, do it for a year or so and then start school.

Also I was excited about going away to college and would not have wanted to delay it for any reason.

[smilingcat]

I'll second GLC. I too am an engineer. Grades matter and your drive and purpose in the engineering field matters very much. If she wants to take a gap year, she BETTER have a focused purpose.

I dropped out of HS and never got a GED or what ever that thing is called. Dropped out in Junior year and went straight to an IVY League school. I was determined and I was very focused on what I want to do in my life. I didn't have second thoughts about it. So I'm bit of an odd duck. Also didn't take any break from BS degree to my Masters and I quit during Phd program. I wasn't interested in becoming a tenure track professor at any university although I was a research staff at my alma mater. Different department though. I have loftier plans than to collect more wall/fly paper (honors degrees etc. My father already did that with his MD, Phd in BioChem... or other members of family uncles aunts cousins...) Only one in my family NOT to have a college degree is my sister. I think she was overwhelmed with all the "fly papers" on the wall.

[Trek420]

Only one in my family NOT to have a college degree is my sister. I think she was overwhelmed with all the "fly papers" on the wall.

I'm that person; the only one without a degree. Mom's got a masters, Dad a bachelors in chem, siblings are tenured, published college professors, Knott has 2 bachelors degrees and various and sundry medical certifications, sKnott's on his way, MIL's an author, aunts, uncles and cousins include UN translators, school administrators etc etc ...

In my second year of college my parents asked some questions. In hindsight I should have smiled and shut up but I said "Yes, I'm gay". Since they were supporting me and paying my way through school that ended. I remember clearly thinking that would not stop me and it did not. I found full time work first as a dishwasher, moved up, eventually was a souse chef in some hoity toity places. And while doing that went back to school. So working nights and weekend at hard physical work full time and during the day in school full time. But i got my grades up (some of the college work was pass/fail and I needed grades), the stuff outa the way in the community college (cheap! ) and transfered into a private art school.

And of course all that time repaired/built bridges with my parents, my biggest concern.

I was 3 classes shy of graduating when a disastrous break up (aren't they all so much fun?) happened. I was tired, and tired of the full time night and weekend work plus full time school and I was beginning to get design jobs. So I thought "I have the portfolio, I can quit school and go to work".

Big mistake. I never got that momentum back. I went on to get a really good job if you can ignore that the stress and inactivity nearly killed me but really good job. So that can be done without a degree. Tough, but it can be done. But now the lack of any degree feels like a great big, gaping hole in me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pWSwfVDiq8

So back to school. I'll probably be the oldest person on any graduating stage but back to school somehow.

[indigoiis]

So back to school. I'll probably be the oldest person on any graduating stage but back to school somehow.

I can tell you from experience it really is worth it. But I don't feel like it's a must-have anymore. I like the choices I made. I like being in school right now. And to tell the truth, there are a lot of adults who go back, so you won't be alone. Even in art school.

[shootingstar]

Congrats. to Trek and others here who have the courage and enthusiasm to go back to school! It's another intense journey in life.