Things Every Student Should Do If Taking a Year Off Before College
After graduating high school, most people are left with important decisions to make. Arguably the toughest one of them all is figuring out whether it's best to jump straight into a four-year college, settle for a two-year vocational school or spend a year away from your studies all together to figure things out. If you opt for the latter, this blog will provide you with a guide of some things you can do to make it through your "gap year" and stay on course to reaching your ultimate goal. Are you ready to figure it all out?
When you decide to sit out of school for the while, the first thing you should do is take some time to figure out exactly what you want to within the next year. If you are worried that you won’t have enough funds to pay for college, it may be wise to try to get a full time job so that you can save some money. For those who have their finances set already, getting an internship is a good way to get some experience in a field you are interested in. Real life work experience will also allow you to decide whether or not you want to go forward with the major you have in mind once you finally become a freshman in college.
If you are one of the people who prefer to just lay back and enjoy life during your gap year, then you have the right to do so. However, somewhere amidst your year-long vacation, make sure that you take some steps to help you stay focused on your goals. If you are going to be an art major, spend at least two days per week doing new paintings. If you are pursuing a degree in journalism, use your friends as test subjects to do sample interviews. No matter what field you are in, it can never hurt to work on perfecting your craft.
Once you graduate, don't make the mistake of losing contact with resources that are vital to someone looking to get into college. No matter how busy you may be, you have to find time to stay in touch with your mentors. If this means stopping by your old campus and paying a visit to your principal and guidance counselors then you shouldn’t hesitate to do so. A year is more than enough time for a lot of things to change. If you have any contacts that could potentially lead to scholarship opportunities, send emails to them periodically during your gap year. When you write, let it be known that you appreciate their help while clearing stating your intended start date.
While you have free time on your hands, it’s imperative that you visit the schools that you are interested in attending. If you can’t afford to buy expensive plane tickets, convince your friends to take a road trip with you. When you make it to the respective campuses, don’t just listen to the sales pitch from student advisors. Instead, walk around the school and talk to students who currently attend. Their opinions are bound to be honest – this is exactly the kind of feedback that you want.
After following these steps, you will finally be ready to make your mark at the university of your choice. Get the process started by logging onto Moving Cost and finding a crew of college movers to help you move. Your gap year may have been fun, but its time to take the next step and confidently approach your future.
If you are one of the people who prefer to just lay back and enjoy life during your gap year, then you have the right to do so. However, somewhere amidst your year-long vacation, make sure that you take some steps to help you stay focused on your goals. If you are going to be an art major, spend at least two days per week doing new paintings. If you are pursuing a degree in journalism, use your friends as test subjects to do sample interviews. No matter what field you are in, it can never hurt to work on perfecting your craft.
Once you graduate, don't make the mistake of losing contact with resources that are vital to someone looking to get into college. No matter how busy you may be, you have to find time to stay in touch with your mentors. If this means stopping by your old campus and paying a visit to your principal and guidance counselors then you shouldn’t hesitate to do so. A year is more than enough time for a lot of things to change. If you have any contacts that could potentially lead to scholarship opportunities, send emails to them periodically during your gap year. When you write, let it be known that you appreciate their help while clearing stating your intended start date.
While you have free time on your hands, it’s imperative that you visit the schools that you are interested in attending. If you can’t afford to buy expensive plane tickets, convince your friends to take a road trip with you. When you make it to the respective campuses, don’t just listen to the sales pitch from student advisors. Instead, walk around the school and talk to students who currently attend. Their opinions are bound to be honest – this is exactly the kind of feedback that you want.
After following these steps, you will finally be ready to make your mark at the university of your choice. Get the process started by logging onto Moving Cost and finding a crew of college movers to help you move. Your gap year may have been fun, but its time to take the next step and confidently approach your future.
