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Albert Pujols · Apr 23, 2005, 02:05 PM

I have to make a decision on which college I want to attend by May 2nd. I know where I want to go, but I don't know if I want to go this year. I want to work a year before college.

Has anyone deferred their admission? Was it a hard thing to do?

shabbasuraj · Apr 23, 2005, 02:57 PM

I say defer a year. It will give you some time to earn some cash, and reflect a little regarding what exactly you wish to do in life. Also working may give you a fresh perspective on many life challenges. Do so as long as you promise yourself that come next year YOU WILL INDEED RETURN to school.

I am actually in the same boat. I have to decide by next week if I should begin my PhD this September. I have already been accepted and now I have to make an 'EXECUTIVE DECISION'.....

Good luck.

Mafia · Apr 23, 2005, 03:00 PM

ya if you take a year off make sure just make sure you come back. sometimes the money your are making can make you not want to go back to school.

MilkmanDan · Apr 23, 2005, 03:05 PM

If you really not sure about college, take a year off. Just make sure that if you want to go, actually go. A lot fo my friends from high school "took a year off" and then never went because the money was good. Or so they thought.

Cody Dawg · Apr 23, 2005, 03:44 PM

Don't put it off.

It's a lost year.

DO IT.

You won't regret it. You can always make money through the year or get loans, student work aid, etc.

Do not put it off. You may never get another chance to go back - with the same opportunities.

I always teach my children to embrace challenges and if they are afraid or fearful of doing something to make SURE that they go and do that thing that they are afraid of or fearful of as soon as possible.

It is through beating fears that we learn and grow as people - and we become successful in the process.

That's my advice anyway. Just go to school. College is a blast.

Good luck!

Sir Arthur Dent · Apr 23, 2005, 04:16 PM

I don't think he's afraid of college, just trying to strategize the next few years of his life.

I fully support thinking before you act, especially with something as important as college.

Cody Dawg · Apr 23, 2005, 04:27 PM

It's not a "lost" year. It remains the same. He has one year of college under his belt.

Let me put it another way: If my son came to me with the same dilemma I would tell him to go to college for one year, get it under his belt, THEN take a year off.

He has experience, from the perspective of having gone to college AND not having gone to college, to make his decision.

He can always take a year off. Best to do it when he has actual college perspective under his belt.

Sir Arthur Dent · Apr 23, 2005, 04:30 PM

I like that idea. It's what I did a couple years back. Helped me get in-state tuition and save $10,000 a year, too.

Cody Dawg · Apr 23, 2005, 04:56 PM

Yeah, well I did it myself. Went to school. Took TWO years off. By then my head was on straight and I'd worked and had a nest egg. Went back to school with a clear head and stayed in school all the way through 3 degrees (two undergraduate degrees and a masters). Ended up going to work for the Evil Empire: Microsoft. That was a long time ago. I was an early M$ retiree. I've never regretted my choices.

KeriVit · Apr 23, 2005, 05:05 PM

Ok- so back to Albert.

Mr. Pujols- why do YOU want to take a year off?

Have you been in college yet? or is this your first year?

Albert Pujols · Apr 23, 2005, 07:29 PM

I haven't been to college yet, I'm a senior in high school. I want to take a year off to make a little bit of money, make sure I don't find myself too far in debt after college.

But now that I think about it, I don't know if skipping a year is such a good idea. I like Cody's idea of going to school a year then taking one off.

SimeyTheLimey · Apr 23, 2005, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

I haven't been to college yet, I'm a senior in high school. I want to take a year off to make a little bit of money, make sure I don't find myself too far in debt after college.

But now that I think about it, I don't know if skipping a year is such a good idea. I like Cody's idea of going to school a year then taking one off.

My experience is that people who "take a year off" after starting college often end up simply dropping out. Once you start, it's best to keep going.

Taking a year off between high school and college is OK, but I wouldn't use it to just work. Do some travelling and see a bit of the world while you are still young, don't mind roughing it and don't have too many obligations. The chances are you might never have that kind of freedom again.

Cody Dawg · Apr 23, 2005, 08:17 PM

Albert.

PM me if you need help with anything at all. Seriously, I might be able to help. Might not, but then again, you never know. I always like to TRY.

Hi Simey! Where the heck have YOU been lately?

phillryu · Apr 23, 2005, 08:44 PM

Hey Al, what colleges you picking from? Just went through college admissions myself.

ender2002 · Apr 23, 2005, 09:13 PM

Skidmore: Class 2009

MaxPower2k3 · Apr 23, 2005, 09:26 PM

I just went through admissions, myself. decided on the School of Visual Arts (for filmmaking) in manhattan. Now i'm just waiting to hear about scholarships...

Albert Pujols · Apr 24, 2005, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by phillryu

Hey Al, what colleges you picking from? Just went through college admissions myself.

RIT, Drexel, and UMass Amherst. Right now I'm thinking about going to Drexel, although I still have to talk to my parents about it.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've thought abou it and I don't think i'm going to skip a year. I don't really want to be left behind while my friends are all off to college.