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Is it fine for college if you take a year off and ski?

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IceCreamer
Posts: 1587 - Karma: 27
self explanitory
Oct 28 2008 9:45PM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
Depends on a ton of things.  Like your major, college you want to go to.  What do you want to do with your life (if you know yet).
You gotta worry about not wanting to ever go to college after a year of doing whatever the fuck you want.
Oct 28 2008 9:46PM
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4frnt_or_die
Posts: 780 - Karma: 3
you know taking a year off to ski takes a lot of cash???
Oct 28 2008 9:48PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I'm taking a couple years off after high school to focus on skiing. I don't know about taking time off in the middle of college though.
Oct 28 2008 9:50PM
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cmeriptahoe
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 12
It's not that self explanatory. Are you going to be doing this in high school? After you graduate? After your freshman year of college? Sophomore year? When? What's your major or intended major? These are all very important questions.
Oct 28 2008 9:50PM
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IceCreamer
Posts: 1587 - Karma: 27
lol i was jw im a sophmore in hs so im not to sure what i even wanna do
Oct 28 2008 9:52PM
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cmeriptahoe
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 12
Haha. Well it depends on a lot of stuff.
Oct 28 2008 9:53PM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
I wanted to do it for a year when I was a freshman, then I was like meh, not for me.  I mean obviously I love skiing but it just wouldn't work for the lifestyle I want to live.
Oct 28 2008 9:54PM
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4frnt_or_die
Posts: 780 - Karma: 3
oh sorry didnt see you mentionned about working also
Oct 28 2008 9:59PM
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wellpreparedrare
Posts: 651 - Karma: 11

so here's an honest response. don't really feel like studyin for calc.

there's the first question of what a degree means. a degree is merely a resume builder. if you feel you can build your resume while taking the year off, do it. all you need is a job, a place, and some shit to get your head straight with. i'm at college, i choose a combination of recreation and drugs. until i graduate, i'll probably be a mess, but that's what my degree means to me. i'd assume you'd be skiing. If i had the means to get on my boards more, i sure as hell would, but gas is a bitch, so i'd assume you wouldn't be destructive in your year off.

if you do it right, it'll help you clear ur head. shit, u may end up there, u may not, but there's no point dwelling too far in the future, if you aren't quite sure about the present. gluk

Oct 28 2008 10:27PM
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scratchproteen
Posts: 5173 - Karma: 286
meh...if you plan on going to college i say just do that right away and ski while you are in college...though it won't affect you if you take a year off...it will be really hard to tell your self to go to school after a year of work and skiing and fun thats what i think...atleast for me i couldn't take a year off i'd never go back.
Oct 28 2008 10:27PM
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SteezyasPie
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 15
sig worthy
Oct 28 2008 10:34PM
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,203
yes
Oct 28 2008 10:37PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Honestly, Its already helped me tremendously and I havent started working at keystone yet.
Long story short, I got job in keystone because I dont know what to do with my life yet and I wasnt even thinking college, but military or something.

So I get a job at a factory to help save cash for keystone, and working at a factory, Ive realized THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO AT ALL. And the only way not to be stuck in a factory is getting yourself educated.
So in a round about way, taking a year off to ski was the best learning experience, and it hasnt even started yet.
Oct 28 2008 10:43PM
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wellpreparedrare
Posts: 651 - Karma: 11
either someone is seriously excited, or being fucked up augments thread posts
Oct 28 2008 10:49PM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
if you read the post, he is saying that he enjoys taking the time off, but he realizes that he does not want to work in a factory all of his life and that the only way to prevent this is to get an education.
Oct 28 2008 10:51PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
thar u go
Oct 28 2008 10:54PM
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Sky.
Posts: 1158 - Karma: 287
its mine now
Oct 28 2008 10:54PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
I did it, and it was definitely the best decision I have ever made.  Working some crazy bum job makes you really appreciate what college can do for you, and you'll have a ridiculous amount of fun in the meantime.  I have absolutely no regrets about my decision;  I don't know what I would have done without that time to get my feet under me and decide what I wanted out of life.
Oct 28 2008 10:56PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
college is for pussies
Oct 28 2008 10:58PM
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wellpreparedrare
Posts: 651 - Karma: 11
jesus christ guys, do you think i wasn't stoned when i wrote my message. it's not like i give a shit whether or not someone's fucked up.
Oct 28 2008 10:58PM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
i took a year off and had the same experience.  learned a whole lot about life, the world and people in general and had a hell of a lot of fun at the same time.  working at the mountain and just bumming it is the way to go, though you really need to be in the proper place to do this; definitely not east coast.  After my year was over i was super pumped to get back to school with tons of kids my own age and actually learn some stuff in college because you really do realize that you actually want to make money when you're out of college and not be a bum your whole life (though lots of people do this and love it)  i really think everyone should take the time when they're young to get out of school and check out the world, the experiences can't be had in any other way.
Oct 28 2008 11:04PM
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010
Posts: 1427 - Karma: 14
I actually took a year off between high school and college.  While I did ski a lot that winter, that's not all I did.  I think if you are going to take a year off, you have to do something meaningful if you're going to be "fine for college."  For example, I worked all summer after senior year then traveled to Mexico and Costa Rica.  Then, in the winter I worked at a ski shop and skied a bunch.  Then with the money I got from working I went to South Africa for a photography internship.  So yes, it is fine to take a year off and yes you can ski a lot, but it probably won't impress colleges if that's all that you do.  I think that what I did with my year off helped me get into college (the one I'm at now I didn't apply to until my year off).  So as long as you do something worthwhile (not that skiing isn't worthwhile, I mean something that looks worthwhile to academic institutions) it's fine to take a year off.

PM me if you want to know more about taking a year off and options that I explored.
Oct 28 2008 11:10PM
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vincepru
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 17
i took this year off, ive already backpacked thailand and malaysia, ive visited tons of family. im thinking about two or three weeks backpacking and skiing patagonia. and i want to spend a few weeks or months out west, finding odd jobs to make money and live with family or friends

Oct 28 2008 11:14PM
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JibEarth
Posts: 753 - Karma: 26
yo man i just moved to whistler and am working a night job just graduated high school so i will let you know how it turns out
Oct 29 2008 2:35AM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
I'm debating whether or not to do the same thing. I'm a freshman this year, and I'm in the electrical/computer engineering program at UMass Amherst, and I feel like this isn't what I want to do.. (but the engineering program here is pretty strict and you cant fail anything or you'll be here another year pretty much). I feel like I need time to be out of school so I can get my shit together and think about what I want to do with my life..
Oct 29 2008 2:47AM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
just go to a school close to skiing and do both. Hell, fall semester is practically over when ski season starts. take an extra class in the fall, one less in the spring, tues/thurs classes, ski all the time, slack your way through the degree. then go get a real job and only ski on weekends.
Oct 29 2008 2:53AM
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snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
Just take off spring semester. Then go to school in the summer, credits at a local cc are usually $20 a unit and you can pass them without showing up. Many people, after living in a mountain town, no matter how sweet, will tire of it and realize you need an education because working shit jobs wears on you. Plus when you go back to school all of the girls will look hot compared to the swamp donkeys in the mountain towns, no matter how busted they are at your school.
Oct 29 2008 3:33AM
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skithe49th
Posts: 2487 - Karma: 14
doooooo itttttttttttttttt
Oct 29 2008 3:37AM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3229 - Karma: 1,098

i graduate this spring and i want to do the same thing. im going to get into college and then defer for a year. the only problem with this is that i want to go to a music school and if i defer to ski i wont be able to play a lot of music so the college might not let me do that.

i think its a great idea though

Oct 29 2008 9:32AM
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skiEER
Posts: 4089 - Karma: 79
not really you should atleast work enough during the year off to support yourself
Oct 29 2008 11:06AM
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sarahskis
Posts: 1587 - Karma: 41

Thats what i'm doing now, except the main reason was to get in state tuition because my parents aren't really helping me out.  I have a job though and it's dealing with what I want to go to school for.  I'm going to school for nursing and the job I nailed at Summit County Hospital is a Nurses Technician.

And selling hats. Wahoo

Oct 29 2008 2:01PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,072
I've been thinking about it since after next semester ill be taking my major specific classes and actually need to work hard and shit. I dunno yet though, we'll see.
Oct 29 2008 2:08PM
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CJHski
Posts: 2384 - Karma: 126
I actually went to MSU for a month, decided i wanted to take a year off, so know i am just workin and skiing.... and i am so stoked about it
Oct 29 2008 2:10PM
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potatofarmer
Posts: 2020 - Karma: 13

depends on:

do you have the money?

where are you planning to go/work?

where do you want to go to school?

Its fairly hard to get back into  the swing of school and studying after a year in the workforce

Oct 29 2008 2:15PM
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aurora.
Posts: 1169 - Karma: 104
it is absolutely fine

i am sort of doing this (taking a semester off instead of a year) and when i tell colleges that im leaving high school a semester early to go do what i love it makes me stand out as someone that is passionate and dedicated. All the feedback from colleges has been positive and mostly they are impressed. if you are ready and responsible enough to take a year off and adopt the ski bum way of life dont let anything stop you. In two months i'll be doing this and i am stokkeedd out of my mind. hopefully it all goes well.
Oct 29 2008 3:36PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I've talked to alot of people who have done this. Some of them continue to take online classes in between. Some of them worked and skied all year. I found a job at a mountain and I love it here. The freedom I have is like nothing I've ever experienced. My step brother moved to Utah in September and has been going to night classes while working all day. He invited me to move out there in February so that is what my goal is so far. I also want to pay for college myself when I do go. I don't know when I will because I need to find something I want to do for the rest of my life and so far, skiing is that. I could care less what people think about me and my lifestyle. I have alot of health problems which aren't going to let me do these things when I'm older so I'm doing them now.
Oct 29 2008 3:55PM
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inthewoods
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 111

mm..from 1 to 10? how badly do you wanna do it?

If its close to 10, then just do it..you´ll regret otherwise. If things dont go well, you can always go back to school. I am taking a semester off right now, I skied all winter and now I am even looking forward to going to school. Taking sometime off is good, it helps you think about the things you have and make you appreciate it more...

Oct 29 2008 3:55PM
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Dosh
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 14
you might want to take some time off and just take a few classes in the meantime to stay somewhat grounded. i finished my freshman year of college and had no idea what i wanted to do, so im taking a few basic classes this year and just working and saving money. the real world is shitty when you dont have the job of your dreams and most people do not. college seriously is where its at, but it has taken this learning experience for me to see that. as for kids who go into college claiming they know exactly what they want to do, i think that's bullshit. they just choose not to question their many other options because they have to see everything either black or white. its much easier for them to do, but its not realistic. these are the people who turn 40 and think about how they completely wasted their lives doing something they did not truly enjoy just for the money. it is somewhat of a compromise though. if you can make the money, then you can do what you want. patience is key. and i am not too patient. its really easy to get stressed out about.
Oct 29 2008 6:07PM
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