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Taking a year off of college??

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Celone
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 114
Im a sophomore in high school and me and my friends are planning on taking a year off after we graduate and sharing rent for a condo up at Squaw Valley for a season.  And I was wondering if taking a year off affects your chances of getting into college?  If it helps, I really want to go to CU Boulder because of the Architecture program.
Sep 4 2008 8:21PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
eithier that or after i complete uni ( my rents want to get a degree first) but then im heading out west for a ski bum life jea
Sep 4 2008 8:40PM
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mellifluous
Posts: 1682 - Karma: 68
sounds good if you got friends with you
just dont get too tuned out
Sep 4 2008 8:43PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
This is my year off before college, I started school a year earlier then everyone else, so even with a year off Ill be a freshman in college with people the same age as me. Im moving to Keystone to ski bum it up
Sep 4 2008 8:43PM
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Sufferboy
Posts: 4241 - Karma: 122
im thinking about taking a year off to be a semi truck driver and see the states and see whats out there before i go to college
Sep 4 2008 8:44PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
I dont know about the semi driver thing, but me being the spoiled son of an airline employee (free airline tickets) I can vouch and say, seeing the states or any place youve never been to is an awesome idea and a great learning experience.
Sep 4 2008 8:47PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
don't wait a year to apply.  Apply to all the colleges you normally would and the ones that you get accepted into, ask to differ.  That way you don't lose any college opportunities.
Sep 4 2008 8:49PM
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kingarthurs
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 10
you just started tenth grade.  why would you be thinking 3 years ahead?  and besides, your already in to college when you decide to take a year off.
Sep 4 2008 8:58PM
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laurence^
Posts: 1575 - Karma: 19
If i'm not mistaken you can apply to a college and "differ" for a year so they keep your acceptance and you take a year off. Maybe that's only for Canadian universities...anyway trying to help.
Sep 4 2008 9:14PM
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Celone
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 114

alright thanks guys for the help, im probably going to differ then.  + karma for the help


and to the guy who asked me why im already planning, its because i like to set goals for myself, because I really want to become an architect, but I also want to take that year off to ski bum and work as a waiter.

Sep 4 2008 9:29PM
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leckett1
Posts: 6476 - Karma: 294
I've been out of school for a year and I'm out for another year for multiple reasons which I'm not going to get into and man it is fucking killing me. I want to go back to school so badly and get into my program but I have to wait a whole fucking year again. Just the thought of it makes me sick
Sep 4 2008 9:31PM
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Mike34113
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 112
idk ive heard after taking a year off its mad hard to get back into the idea of school and that it does affect your chances
Sep 4 2008 9:43PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
I took a year off to bum after high school and it was definitely one of the better decisions I have made.  I didn't have any commitments whatsoever, and that enabled me to do pretty much whatever I wanted for a little over a year--skiing almost every day of the season, then taking a trip to the SW to go bike for two weeks, etc.  Just make sure you have the intention of going back to school if you're planning on only doing a year, because chances are you will have a lot of fun.  And chances are you will realize the full gravity of where a college education can get you, which really set my mind on getting back in school.

And this may have just been a rumor, but I heard CU Boulder lost their accredidation in their architecture school?
Sep 4 2008 9:44PM
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skierkid169
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
senior this year thinking about only taking a semester off to go to ak try and get a job on a boat and then come back apply to slcc for spring and ski and go to school just a thought why do u want to take a year off if u are going to cu bol, ur going to be a ski bum there and it gets u on ur own faster to start soon
Sep 4 2008 9:45PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
how much does a condo run at squaw? seems like it would be reallly expensive.
Sep 4 2008 10:16PM
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_The_Dude_
Posts: 52 - Karma: 55
don't take a year off, its so worth cuz next year when your about to go back your not gonna be ready for how hard college is after just fucking around for a year.  And if you don't have a job you have a still  have SHIT LOAD of free time.
Sep 4 2008 10:20PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
If you get a job at their it shouldnt be too much. Its 455 a month for me in keystone with three roomates, and I get my own bedroom
Sep 4 2008 10:22PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Edit: After looking, squaw doesnt offer employee housing, but most places do
Sep 4 2008 10:25PM
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Karcher
Posts: 3788 - Karma: 1,934
yah ive heard that if yot take a year off there is a great chance you wont go back. its too hard
Sep 4 2008 10:30PM
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Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
I took a year off and went and ski bummed.  Trust me, it's the other way around, most everyone I talk to wishes they took a year off.
Sep 4 2008 10:36PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Nah, you just go ski all day and party every night.  The only thing you have to miss from college is the homework, it's not so bad.
Sep 4 2008 10:56PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
most of the cats i've known who took a gap year couldn't readjust and ended taking two or three gap years. i'm going to take one just because i don't wanna hit up university before i turn 18.
Sep 4 2008 11:00PM
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Celone
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 114
Well I have a lot of time before I have to make a decision, but i might just take off a semester or something.  Hopefully it all works out for the best.
Sep 5 2008 12:03AM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
I took a year off, it was the best choice of my life. You'll never regret having fun and the stuff I learn't being poor and hitch hiking everyday was far greater than anything I've learn't at school to date.
Sep 5 2008 12:09AM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
i pretty much did exactly what you're thinking of.  started thinking of a year off in sophomore year and i applied to boulder got in and deferred, you just send them an email stating what you want to do.  I mightve had an easier time getting deferrral because i did a nols program but anyway... 
then i went to tahoe and lived in this shack of a cabin for 300 bucks a month (900 total)  and skied the most pow and sickest park i ever have at alpine.  i worked in the rental shop and worked like 30 or so hours a week with a 3 hour ride break every day.  its way easy to get around cause theres a bus system and people pick up hitchhikers all the time in the winter cause everyones just ski bumming.  i ended up staying there all summer too and worked at a really high fine dining restaurant right on the lake and made baaank.  now im at school and after a year of bumming its so good to get back and be surrounded by kids your age who are all just down to party and do stupid shit.     i recommend a year off to everyone because you learn so much about just life skills n shit too besides skiing every day.  people really need to just do it its fuckin awesome
Sep 5 2008 12:25AM
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Celone
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 114
thank you a lot!

Im planning on working in Squaws Village, they have a bunch of restaurants and shops I could work at.  I'd love to be a waiter because then I could make tips!  Or maybe I could be a lift operator or something. 

I might just do what you said too, and live near Alpine with a few buddies, because Alpine is WAY cheaper pricing for tickets.
Sep 5 2008 12:33AM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
dude you inspired me
Sep 5 2008 12:39AM
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TitsFrijole
Posts: 73 - Karma: 11
word :P im one of celones freinds thats planning it with him, ^^ i think that convinced me
Sep 5 2008 12:51AM
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josh.
Posts: 3469 - Karma: 42
i didint read the thread, but my dads still on his year of hes 47 or so now.
Sep 5 2008 12:53AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
I know a few kids that took a year off and are fine and loved it and i know a few kids that took a year off and never went back to school.  all of them are happy, some just have a better education and a better chance at jobs in the future.  it depends on the type of person you are.  if you stick to your plans/goals which you sound like you do then it would be a good idea. otherwise i'd advise against it if you get easily caught up in too much fun.


personally, I plan on taking a year or two off after I graduate cuz i know if i took a year off i'd never go back again.  i would take the winter quarter off and take summer classes off instead but my major doesn't allow for that unfortunately.
Sep 5 2008 1:05AM
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_alli_
Posts: 1792 - Karma: 34
I took a year off after the first yea of uni. started out in fine arts, then really quickly realized it wasnt what i wanted. planned to go right into a photojournalism program right after,but instead decided not to come home from nz instead. best decision i've ever made. I wasnt able to defer my place, but it just meant i had to re apply the next year, which wasnt a big deal. spent that whole year traveling nz, cambodia, laos, vietnam and thailand and being a ski bum at home. again, best decision i ever made.

Going back to school was a bit of an adjustment, but after the first month I was back in the swing of everything. i'm finishing up the photojournalism thing now, then going on to a communications degree with a minor in political science. my advice: if you don't have a very good idea of what you want to study, take some time off. and even then, if you get into it and end up hating it, DONT just stay in it for the hell of it. get out, find something you're really interested in, and things will go much more smoothly.
Sep 5 2008 1:56AM
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ben802
Posts: 565 - Karma: 16
am i an idiot think you are all spelling defer wrong? it might not be defer but i dont think its differ. thats lwrong isnt it..
Sep 5 2008 2:10AM
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doritos
Posts: 7368 - Karma: 53
It's defer, you all suck. Taking a year off is a great idea dude, a lot more people than you think do it and if you're actually committed to going back then there's no good reason not to. I took a year off between freshman and sophomore year of college and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Schools don't frown on students who take a year off to "grow up, reflect on their lives, and mentally prepare themselves for the exciting challenge that is higher education so that they can return to school with renewed focus and vigor". If you go in telling them you took a year off to shred gnar with your buddies, chug beers, and slay as much poon as possible then it's not going to work. Be intelligent.
Sep 5 2008 2:34AM
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theres_ghosts
Posts: 875 - Karma: 13
s'what im gonna do.  cept down in slc.  even if it effects your chances i do beleive that it is worth it
Sep 5 2008 10:30AM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
when i finish uni in 4 years though i am thinking i will be to old to go as hard as  i can now...thats the only problem....other than that, thats what my rents want me to do
Sep 5 2008 12:19PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
haha, trust me, that's far from true. they just party in a different way than we do now.
Sep 5 2008 1:46PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21061 - Karma: 8,366
but don't let that get in the way of your decision.
Sep 5 2008 1:47PM
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LOVEPOW
Posts: 646 - Karma: 15
How do employers view taking a year off after college and skiiing, then applying for a job?
Sep 5 2008 2:08PM
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hype
Posts: 1440 - Karma: 21
just go right to college, bc you might not go back. Go to UBC or somehting so your 2 hours away from some of N america's best skiing
Sep 5 2008 2:12PM
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LOVEPOW
Posts: 646 - Karma: 15
or the U of U, where I'm at and 30 Minutes from the best snow in the country
Sep 5 2008 3:24PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84

I'd say to do two years of college and then take a break.

OR

Find a community college really close to a mountain and get your AA. Classes are SUPER cheap, but then once you get your AA you can easily get into pretty much any university of your choice.

Sep 5 2008 6:13PM
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