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Gap year after high school

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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,880
Alright I'm a highschool student right now going into my senior year and I'm unsure what to do after I graduate. I worked my ass off in school and have good grades so I would definitely get into some good colleges but in a way I just want a break from the school thing. Instead of going to college after highschool I'm thinking of taking a gap year and exploring/bumming for about a year. I would hopefully get into a college I like (maybe CU Boulder) and then defer for a year. Since skiing is obviously important for me one idea that I had was spending the winter somewhere out west by a mountain. What would be a good decently cheap place that I could do this for a couple months at?

A second idea that I had for a gap year is New Zealand where I would try and find some work. I have some family friends that I might also be able to live at for a while but idk if they're close to any skiing places. How realistic would skiing be in NZ during November-June?

I really want to do something like this but I just don't wanna get in over my head and be screwed for a year. One big concern I have is housing so I'm wondering what people who have done similar trips did for lodging. Also I'm pretty extroverted so getting to know people would be pretty important for me. I really don't have this thing planned out very much so any suggestions or advice would help.
Jul 17 2017 2:26PM
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,980
Some people take a gap year and never go back. Just go into college full force and get it over with. You can ski and go to college at the same time! But that's just my advice
Jul 17 2017 3:23PM
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mikemac
Posts: 1292 - Karma: 3,623
Do it! I didn't even consider it because I was just anxious to get to college, but I think I may have gotten more out of college if I had taken some time to explore the world on my own a little and mature I would have gotten more out of my college experience. I loved my time at my school, got a great education, skied a ton, and generally had a blast. However, I went straight from my tiny sheltered Massachusetts town (graduating class of less than 200) into a large university with 20,000 people in a town of over 100,000 people, and it was a little disorienting at first. If I had taken some time to travel/explore the world before college I think I would have been a little more mature and known how to handle certain situations better. If you have the means, definitely do it, but I would recommend doing all of application stuff this fall as if you were going to school next year, figure out where you're gonna go, get accepted, and then differ for a year.
Jul 17 2017 3:33PM
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SkiaNZ
Posts: 125 - Karma: 301
November - June is literally our summer. Ruapehu (north island) at just starting to get upper mountain stuff open and they tend to close early November. South island opens a bit earlier and closes a bit earlier I believe
Jul 17 2017 3:52PM
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,324
You are young and you will not be the same skier after college at 22 or 23, I say take a gap year. Going to college one year later will change NOTHING. Don't listen to the people who say it is going to ruin your future or whatever, they are just salty that they didn't spend a year living their dreams before things got serious in life. If you are dedicated, you will still go to college after a year.

I graduated in May, drove out from Wisconsin, and currently have a badass gig in JHole with no rent. It feels too good to be true. PM me if Jackson is on your radar because I can set ya up man, especially since you are a Wisco homie. It's so fun and you will meet many many people who will change your life. You will learn more important life skills in a gap year than you will in your first year of college. I am two months into this 12-14 month experience and my quality of life has improved drastically. Highly recommend.
Jul 17 2017 7:17PM
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creaturelo
Posts: 602 - Karma: 11,808
So I just graduated and am opting out of going to school right away. Pretty much anyone and everyone will ask me why I'm not going to school, but I think the more important question is why are you going to school?
I think that theres a number of reasons people attend university right away- to achieve education, to conform to a norm, to gain the social aspect and college experience, or to extend your adolescence. I knew that I wanted to learn, but I wanted to opt out of the conventional education system. Instead I am traveling, reading, learning, working, and networking my brains out in order to experience all the things I knew I wanted to in high school but couldn't. I by no means can offer you crucial life advice, but take the damn gap year.
Go ski, play, have fun! Learn to live before you have to waste away in a classroom for another four years, wishing you could ditch on each and every snowfall.
This outlook turned me into a high caliber outlaw in the eyes of my guidance counselors, but oh my god I am happy.
People will argue that the gap year turns into two years, and then 5, and then forever, but so what? If you're doing what you love, why should it matter? School can wait. If you want the education and are willing to work for it, it can happen at any time.
Jul 17 2017 11:21PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
RyhanYou are young and you will not be the same skier after college at 22 or 23, I say take a gap year. Going to college one year later will change NOTHING. Don't listen to the people who say it is going to ruin your future or whatever, they are just salty that they didn't spend a year living their dreams before things got serious in life. If you are dedicated, you will still go to college after a year.
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If he goes to Boulder he will probably be a better skier at age 22 or 23, after college, than he is now. I only skied 30 days a year in college, but I still got MUCH better. If I had done a gap year I would not have been as good of a skier during that year as I was when I graduated college and moved to Tahoe. If he goes to college and does not ski at all he will regress.

I say do the gap year. If you are a dedicated student you will go back to school and get that done. Just make sure you do one year. The college experience is awesome, you really don't want to miss out on that. Also, after you graduate you can ski bum for another year or two, then go into the real world. Or, you can decide you want to live in a ski town and say fuck a corporate job, nothing wrong with that. But you don't want to miss out on college. Everyone I know who went to CU Boulder absolutely loved it, you don't want to miss out on that.

As to the whole 'do what you love' ethos, while there is a point to it, you don't want to compromise your future completely. You want options. Some of the most unhappy people I know are folks who did that young then get stuck with nothing in their 30's and 40's. While living 3 to a room in a ski town might be cool at 22, you probably won't want to do that at 35. There is nothing wrong with finding a happy medium. Travel and have fun, but don't shut off your future completely.

As far as finding somewhere cheap....That will be tough, and I am not much help. I left my Tahoe ski bum days behind years ago. Tahoe City was not cheap back then, and I'm sure it is much worse now. I spend most of my weekends at Mammoth, and Mammoth (like many ski towns) is having a huge housing crisis for its employees. Air bnb has really screwed things up, Powder did an article about it this year. I feel for the young ski bums, it is harder now than when I did it.
Jul 18 2017 12:18AM
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Paul.
Posts: 1596 - Karma: 11,046
Do it, you wont
Jul 18 2017 2:42AM
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Park_Ranger
Posts: 3825 - Karma: 8,635
Don't do it. College was the fucking best time ever... why anyone would want to prolong the time it takes to experience it is beyond me.
A gap year after college would be a lot better... you're actually of age to do things, you have somewhat of a sense of bearing on your life, you've have spent a few years out of the nest, maybe you have a little money saved up, etc.

In my opinion (18 year old me would have slapped myself) ... but looking back, an 18 year old taking a gap year to travel around the country to "network" and "learn to live", etc. is major LAWLZ
Jul 18 2017 9:42AM
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creaturelo
Posts: 602 - Karma: 11,808
Park_RangerIn my opinion (18 year old me would have slapped myself) ... but looking back, an 18 year old taking a gap year to travel around the country to "network" and "learn to live", etc. is major LAWLZ


You have great points, but this path is right for me. I've known exactly what I've wanted for a very long time, and have weighed my options heavily.
I am working at my family's company, which is an opportunity that I did not want to miss out on by spending another 4-6 years at school, when my grandfather is 97 and still capable of teaching me things that I value and want to learn while he's around. I'm able to get my foot in the door in an industry that I am incredibly passionate about, gaining experiences that I would not be granted by college.

If taking time off is what one chooses, then having structure to it is without a doubt necessary. To each their own.
Jul 18 2017 10:29AM
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
Unless you already know what you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars learning about I'd stay away from college for now. Having said that, you should also actively explore your passions and interests while you're out there, it'll look a lot better when and if you do decide to go.
Jul 18 2017 11:21AM
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Park_Ranger
Posts: 3825 - Karma: 8,635
laura.obermeyer.
I am working at my family's company, which is an opportunity that I did not want to miss out on by spending another 4-6 years at school, when my grandfather is 97 and still capable of teaching me things that I value and want to learn while he's around. I'm able to get my foot in the door in an industry that I am incredibly passionate about, gaining experiences that I would not be granted by college.

.


Family Company = Obermeyer?
97 year old Grandfather = Klaus Obermeyer?
Jul 18 2017 11:30AM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
I I traveled the world, skied pow, gained experience I wouldn't through college, etc while still in college.
The two aren't mutually exclusive.
Jul 18 2017 11:31AM
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creaturelo
Posts: 602 - Karma: 11,808
Park_RangerFamily Company = Obermeyer?
97 year old Grandfather = Klaus Obermeyer?


yes and yes
Jul 18 2017 11:33AM
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OldNJaded
Posts: 65 - Karma: 234
I took off and never looked back.

Skiing completely changed how I live, and I'm a slightly better person because of it. I didn't want to rot away behind a desk during my supposed "peak".

Now at 30, bartending summers and tuning in the winters I've found a small balance. I'm broke as shit, but I get to ski A LOT. I keep telling myself I'll go to school at 40. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a damn thing.

The choice is yours, whatever makes you happy.

**This post was edited on Jul 18th 2017 at 12:24:38pm
Jul 18 2017 12:22PM
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,324
Park_RangerDon't do it. College was the fucking best time ever... why anyone would want to prolong the time it takes to experience it is beyond me.

What is the difference between 18 and 19 years old? It doesn't matter when you start college, the experience will still be there. There shouldn't be a rush. We have like 80 years, man. Gap year after college could be a struggle with debt.
Jul 18 2017 12:27PM
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eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
It's different for every person and that's something you need to figure out yourself. For me, going straight to college was the best for me, helped me figure out what I wanted to do and by the time I was 22 I graduated and could do whatever I wanted.

Gap years can be fine for some people, but I think it would have caused me to be even more lazy about school and caused me to question going. Not going to college is an option but if you have the means to do so, you should 100% go to college. Gap year can be nice, but you're only 18/19 TBH i think you can enjoy travelling and such more when you're in your 20s, usually you've got a better head on your shoulders and still have the same spirit. But again, this is all different for each person, do what feels right and dont let anyone tell you what you should do.
Jul 18 2017 1:49PM
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ButterItOut
Posts: 1094 - Karma: 420
OP - Get college over with if you have the means. I meet too many skiers who are 23-26 and still trying to finish college. I ski 100+ days a year and still achieve 15-18 credits per semester. Just be in the right place! Plan your school schedule in advance! Might be rough, but once you're done you can do whatever you'd like. Just my opinion.
Jul 18 2017 3:29PM
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,880
Damn thanks to everyone that responded on this thread and brought some really good aspects. I'm still weighing my options but I'm leaning towards just taking a gap year but committing myself to go to college after. I've worked too hard to not go to school and not get a degree.

I am still wondering about lodging though in the winter. Where and how. The general agreement seems to be that mountain towns are hard to live cheap in but is there any way around this? I found this website https://www.workaway.info/ and it looks really helpful but it doesn't allow me to be too flexible. Also, how is public transportation out west in regards to getting you to the ski hill?

Thanks for the help all I really appreciate it
Jul 18 2017 4:51PM
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MikeWeinerONE
Posts: 501 - Karma: 1,215
eheathIt's different for every person and that's something you need to figure out yourself. For me, going straight to college was the best for me, helped me figure out what I wanted to do and by the time I was 22 I graduated and could do whatever I wanted.

Gap years can be fine for some people, but I think it would have caused me to be even more lazy about school and caused me to question going. Not going to college is an option but if you have the means to do so, you should 100% go to college. Gap year can be nice, but you're only 18/19 TBH i think you can enjoy travelling and such more when you're in your 20s, usually you've got a better head on your shoulders and still have the same spirit. But again, this is all different for each person, do what feels right and dont let anyone tell you what you should do.


Evan is right. Every kid is different. When I graduated HS I took winter and summer off to ski. Yet, it took me 7 years to graduate. My degree was marketing and I use it, but times have changed and what I learned in 1998 is different then now with social media.

For me it was beneficial to actually gain more life experience to choose a proper major. Looking back I would have skipped out a year or two, but then it's hard to go back. I'm 38 and if you put me in a college classroom I would be lost.

Do you and have fun and follow your soul.
Jul 18 2017 6:34PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,827
Im going to try to go to college in Austria so I might take a gap year and just explore Europe, then go straight in college with out having to deal with much of a transition. I think gap years are good, you really don't have another time to do it in life until you are 80 so do it while you can.
Jul 18 2017 9:16PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
laura.obermeyerYou have great points, but this path is right for me. I've known exactly what I've wanted for a very long time, and have weighed my options heavily.
I am working at my family's company, which is an opportunity that I did not want to miss out on by spending another 4-6 years at school, when my grandfather is 97 and still capable of teaching me things that I value and want to learn while he's around. I'm able to get my foot in the door in an industry that I am incredibly passionate about, gaining experiences that I would not be granted by college.

If taking time off is what one chooses, then having structure to it is without a doubt necessary. To each their own.


I get that you don't want to miss out on this opportunity, I don't blame you for doing it. If you go to college later you will miss out on some things, but you might not be interested in those things. Each person is different. If I had the opportunity you have I would have strongly considered taking it.
Jul 18 2017 10:09PM
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Coloradoskier03
Posts: 174 - Karma: 501
Skiing at CU Boulder isn't too far away. Only like a 1hr 30 min drive one way...
Jul 18 2017 10:50PM
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grantwhitty
Posts: 854 - Karma: 9,380
laura.obermeyeryes and yes


KLAUUUUUUUUUUUS
Jul 19 2017 9:43AM
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eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,914
DeepskierIm going to try to go to college in Austria so I might take a gap year and just explore Europe, then go straight in college with out having to deal with much of a transition. I think gap years are good, you really don't have another time to do it in life until you are 80 so do it while you can.


Saying you dont have time in your life to travel until you're 80 is just wrong. You dont have to get a job right after college, just like you dont have to go to college right after highschool.
Jul 19 2017 12:26PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
eheathSaying you dont have time in your life to travel until you're 80 is just wrong. You dont have to get a job right after college, just like you dont have to go to college right after highschool.


This is certainly true, but it is easier to do at certain times. I spent half a decade in Tahoe after college and before grad school. I was back and forth on being a Tahoe lifer, then I blew my ACL and decided I wanted to be a weekend warrior, surf during the summer, and party at bars where there were actually women. When I lived in Tahoe I knew some guys who did gap winters when they were older, like early 30's. Usually they would time leaving a job and getting one so that they would have a winter off. It can be done, you just need a good resume and good connections so that you will be able to get back in once you have had your winter off. It is possible, but it is much easier to do right after college or high school. I have a number of friends who are now married with kids, and the opportunity to do something like that has passed them by. Until their kids are done with college they won't be able to just take a year off. The point is that while saying you can't travel again until 80 is wrong, there are definitely better times to do that kind of thing. Once you are locked into a mortgage it can be tough to get away. If you want to do the gap year thing I would do it, and I would also do it after college. What I would NOT do, is get a job right after college and figure you will work for 10 years THEN take a winter off. While I have seen some people do this, most of the time they never get the chance. They get locked into a career, then they get married and have kids and that's it. One of my buddies tells me all the time that he wishes he had done one winter with me in Tahoe. It is not impossible to do this stuff when you get older, but it does become more difficult. Even little things become tough when you have kids. My wife and I don't have kids, and don't want them, which gives us a freedom lots of our friends envy. Last summer I went up to Santa Barbara for a weekend. While I was there I visited one of my best friends from college who had stayed up there. I told him my wife and I were going on a cruise down Greece, then along the Italian coast, ending in Monte Carlo. He laughed, and said he and his wife would not be able to do that for at least 10 years. I laughed, then realized he was not kidding. The point is that while it is not true that you will never be able to do this again, it does get a bit more difficult. Take advantage of the opportunity you have. If I had not lived in Tahoe between college and grad school I would deeply regret it now.
Jul 19 2017 5:02PM
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iH8pow
Posts: 1803 - Karma: 7,646
I say it's a better idea to do it after HS and before college, but with cautions. The biggest downfall is you're going to feel too comfortable and content; there will be tons of kids your age right out of high school, it will be extra exciting because it's your first time away from home, and way too easy to get distracted and lose your focus and never go to college. But IMO, better to be an "uneducated" ski bum than to be an "educated scholar" broke as shit under a mountain of student debt with no job prospects because you rushed into school and picked the first program that had classes you enjoyed without doing your research on your long term goal. Go into it with a plan, and turn it into a win-win. Move to a state that has mountains where it is also easy to become an in-state resident for tuition, choose the school/state first and the skiing second. Tuition is a bitch and sinks many who are even able to use their degree after college, don't make the mistake of paying too much for a school. But equally the biggest advantage is the networking. Too many nerdy types think of networking as kissing the ass of your professor, finding a mentor, whatever. It works sometimes, but college professors are also not always to be trusted. Their bottom line is getting students to go into their program. If kids stop taking philosophy, that prof is out of a job so it's in their interests to persuade students that there is a future in that program even if they are lying through their teeth.
Ski lifts don't lie. Ok maybe they do, lots of lies about air time, gnar etc are made up on the lift line. But skiing is not a broke-man sport. Chances are, that 30-40 year old dude/tourist you get on the lift with is doing pretty alright in life, and they have much less reason to lie to you. Ask them what they do for a living, it's not at all awkward like ass kissing a mentor/professor would be, and talk around enough and somebody will literally tell you every step you need to take, what degree to go into, whatnot to make some healthy amount of money. They may even say "if you get a four year degree in ..geology, and I will hire you for 90k a year doing such and such..". Sure you may lose contact with them but that's a solid fucking lead right there.
Finally, a gap year after school IMO is no bueno. One of the best parts about a good school/program is that alums and employers contact the school departments of interest and specifically offer the jobs first to those people. It's a great resource. If you take a gap year after college, you lose pretty much all of those hookups on jobs, not to mention you have a nasty gap in your employment history. If I was an employer and I was interviewing somebody who just spent the last year smoking, skiing and partying I can see why you would have your hangups in believing that this person is really ready for a demanding, hard job.
Just a quick search led me to which states are easiest. Utah is easy and has great skiing, will also help keep you on the straight and narrow and you just may want to GTFO after one season of living there, sounds pretty good to me. I'm sure U of U life doesn't suck
https://www.instateangels.com/state-tuition-rules-search/

**This post was edited on Jul 19th 2017 at 5:43:06pm
Jul 19 2017 5:38PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,827
eheathSaying you dont have time in your life to travel until you're 80 is just wrong. You dont have to get a job right after college, just like you dont have to go to college right after highschool.


Well a lot of colleges give you connections, internships, jobs or something that takes your attention. Sure life you life how ever you want I don't give a shit, I just have my way of thinking about it where (sorry for the white girl Tumblr shit) if you want to go somewhere and do all that typi8cal spontaneous adventure shit while you're young, do it don't just assume it will work it self out. You have control of it so don't wait to cross shit off you bucket list.
Jul 19 2017 7:57PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,827
eheathSaying you dont have time in your life to travel until you're 80 is just wrong. You dont have to get a job right after college, just like you dont have to go to college right after highschool.


All Im saying is when you are 40 and have a family, an important job it is going to be hard to just take a year off and go backpack around staying in hostels and doing all that stuff around the world, if you do you certainly cannot expect to just walk back into your old life.
Jul 19 2017 7:59PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9329 - Karma: 17,816
laura.obermeyerSo I just graduated and am opting out of going to school right away. Pretty much anyone and everyone will ask me why I'm not going to school, but I think the more important question is why are you going to school?
I think that theres a number of reasons people attend university right away- to achieve education, to conform to a norm, to gain the social aspect and college experience, or to extend your adolescence. I knew that I wanted to learn, but I wanted to opt out of the conventional education system. Instead I am traveling, reading, learning, working, and networking my brains out in order to experience all the things I knew I wanted to in high school but couldn't. I by no means can offer you crucial life advice, but take the damn gap year.
Go ski, play, have fun! Learn to live before you have to waste away in a classroom for another four years, wishing you could ditch on each and every snowfall.
This outlook turned me into a high caliber outlaw in the eyes of my guidance counselors, but oh my god I am happy.
People will argue that the gap year turns into two years, and then 5, and then forever, but so what? If you're doing what you love, why should it matter? School can wait. If you want the education and are willing to work for it, it can happen at any time.


This is how I felt last year and kinda do feel, most kids went to school because their parents forced them to or because they'd look bad it they didn't, something I do kinda fear as well. I didn't wanna go waste my parents money and end up coming home early or just take forever to figure my major out, and fuck student debt today, I mean sure college is a fun experience but high school was still fun and not nearly as expensive. I'm probably gonna end up in retail or work somewhere I enjoy being, even like a skate shop would be a fun full timer, otherwise I have trade school and apprenticeships.

But I graduated last year with the intent to work a good job all summer and be able to ski all winter and all that good stuff. Sadly I spent all summer doing random yard work and just little motivation, high school was hard on me academically and kinda emotionally. Got sent to comm college by parents randomly and didn't do too well because it was honestly the most pointless shit to be paying for, stopped after Christmas, and just kinda felt bad about myself because I had an awful gpa in HS with no SAT or ACT score, because I really had to focus on just passing my real classes.

But after that shit it was great, ski season was boomin and I worked my current part time job and was able to ski before or after work a lot, sadly it was on my own most of the time. But even with working I've learned how bad life can be compared to mine and its opening me up to do better for myself and always had time to just think, especially with long, lonely, but scenic drives to the hill all the time.

OP I'd say plan out your gap year to be safe, also relax because it is sssoo nice not having some bozo teacher telling me about prime numbers. Just don't get too lazy.
Jul 19 2017 9:55PM
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,880
I snagged a 32 on my ACT and have an unweighted 4.0 GPA. However, I don't want to go to an extremely good college where I'm gonna suffer for 4-5 years and think that I am better then everyone else when I can instead go to an above average college and still get a strong degree. I'm really hoping that my work in highschool did pay off for scholarships though so student loan doesn't kill me. I honestly think the gap year will be worth it for me and help me prepare for college (which I'm definitely going to do the year after) while also being super fun.
Jul 19 2017 10:58PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
CoreyTrevorFinally, a gap year after school IMO is no bueno. One of the best parts about a good school/program is that alums and employers contact the school departments of interest and specifically offer the jobs first to those people. It's a great resource. If you take a gap year after college, you lose pretty much all of those hookups on jobs, not to mention you have a nasty gap in your employment history. If I was an employer and I was interviewing somebody who just spent the last year smoking, skiing and partying I can see why you would have your hangups in believing that this person is really ready for a demanding, hard job.
Just a quick search led me to which states are easiest. Utah is easy and has great skiing, will also help keep you on the straight and narrow and you just may want to GTFO after one season of living there, sounds pretty good to me. I'm sure U of U life doesn't suck
https://www.instateangels.com/state-tuition-rules-search/

**This post was edited on Jul 19th 2017 at 5:43:06pm


I know tons of people who did gap years after college and had no problems getting jobs. In many cases if you are a good enough candidate you can get yourself something to start when you are done with your winter off. Most people understand the desire to travel or ski for a year before the real world. A good alumni network won't go away just because you take a year off. That one year gap in employment history is easy to explain. It is not just for skiing, I know numerous people who have taken 6 months off to travel after they graduate to travel and do other things, it will work out if you plan. Also, where I went to school, not an actual Ivy but a public Ivy, it is very normal to take 4 years and a quarter or even 5 years. If you take 4 years and a quarter and then take the winter off to ski that sets you up for a job in May or June. I have lots of friends that did exactly that. If you have the motivation to take a challenging major, such as statistics or engineering, and the discipline to get good grades employers will see that. Now, if you have an easy major and graduate with a 2.3 THAT will be tough, as you will need to show motivation and a gap year could go against that. But if you go to a good school and get good grades that should be fine, employers know that people want to see the world, the vast majority of people I knew took at least a few months off before they started corporate life. If your grades are good you won't have a problem. Now if it takes you 6 years to graduate and your grades suck a gap year will say "I'm still not ready." Just make sure you are not in that position.
Jul 20 2017 1:53AM
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Mingg
Posts: 13973 - Karma: 49,218
General opinion of mine about gap years:

If you think you need to take a gap year to experience life and figure out who you are and what you want to do... you're wrong. Go to school, take gen eds if needed, manage your time wisely and you'll still have TONS of time to do your thing. There is nothing(within reason) you can't do because you're in school. So if you value/enjoy/want to go to school - make time for it and send it. If you don't value it, simple - don't go. Invest your time and energy into something you do value.
Jul 20 2017 2:10AM
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M.M
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 4,494
You're the only one who can make this choice dude, it's your life, live it how you want to, live it so you look back when you're old as fuck and be like man that shit was dope.

On a personal note, I took a gap year outta high school and lived in whistler and it was the best time of my life so far, stacked up money in the summer and skied almost everyday. Certainly wasn't living luxuries but it was the best because I was doing exactly what I really wanted.
Jul 21 2017 8:51AM
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rcn
Posts: 53 - Karma: 80
i just finished the swiss equivalent of high school this summer. im going to do an 8 month internship from august. my upcoming boss told me that ill be able to take days off whenever i want given i end up doing my monthly hours. all in all id recommend to you to not take a gap year of just travelling around. you can always quit a job and go skiing for some months but spending an entire year goofing around in the world won't bring you much further. i think you dont really know the major subject you'd want to study afterwards so i believe it would be good for you to do some internships in fields youre interested in. but keep in mind i dont really know the us job market and if it is easy for high school graduates to get valuable internships in companies
Jul 21 2017 6:08PM
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,880
rcni just finished the swiss equivalent of high school this summer. im going to do an 8 month internship from august. my upcoming boss told me that ill be able to take days off whenever i want given i end up doing my monthly hours. all in all id recommend to you to not take a gap year of just travelling around. you can always quit a job and go skiing for some months but spending an entire year goofing around in the world won't bring you much further. i think you dont really know the major subject you'd want to study afterwards so i believe it would be good for you to do some internships in fields youre interested in. but keep in mind i dont really know the us job market and if it is easy for high school graduates to get valuable internships in companies


Yeah I agree with this but I have looked a bit and it's hard to find valuable internships that would actually help me. I'm also not even sure what I want to do in college. I'm gonna try to make my year more then just a bum around year hopefully by finding some sort of work that would help or maybe volunteering
Jul 22 2017 1:54AM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
MinggIf you think you need to take a gap year to experience life and figure out who you are and what you want to do... you're wrong. Go to school, take gen eds if needed


And then end up with 50k+ in debt and a shitty communications degree
Jul 23 2017 10:20AM
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Mingg
Posts: 13973 - Karma: 49,218
DIRTYBUBBLEAnd then end up with 50k+ in debt and a shitty communications degree


Then don't go..? If your attitude towards school is you'll come our with outrageous debt and a shitty degree - don't waste your time haha.
Jul 23 2017 10:42AM
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1626 - Karma: 10,929
Wait until you're 21 because apres is an important part of a ski gap year. From my experience mountain towns are crazy strict with fakes so I wouldn't even risk it. My advice as someone who never left after moving to a ski town is to finish college first, life is easier with a degree.
Jul 23 2017 9:25PM
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,980
eheathSaying you dont have time in your life to travel until you're 80 is just wrong. You dont have to get a job right after college, just like you dont have to go to college right after highschool.


Of course not. But investing money right away is so important to be able to retire at all
Sep 7 2017 4:00PM
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,036
milk_manOf course not. But investing money right away is so important to be able to retire at all


Investing is fine but idk why so many people just want to retire. Find something you're passionate about and you'll never want to retire!
Sep 9 2017 10:46AM
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,980
TheDoughAbidesInvesting is fine but idk why so many people just want to retire. Find something you're passionate about and you'll never want to retire!

You're definitely right. But after 60 you're not gonna wanna be forced to work 40 hours a week
Sep 9 2017 11:06AM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,863
Doing a gap year rn in Norway and gonna be doing a shit ton of touring. If you find a folk school, its significantly cheaper than living on your own and easier to get a visa.
Sep 9 2017 12:41PM
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frickindarn
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 11,372
Told myself I was going to do a gap year. I graduated in 2010 and literally just got back to college last fall. It's tough to wanna go back after not having to. I wish I never took a year off. I would recommend going to a school where you can easily just go ski on your days off. Maybe take less classes in the winter and go full force in the summer. That's my take on it homie! You'll make the right decision I'm sure. But just make sure to thing about where you wanna be at age 25. That's where I am now and I fucked up when I was 18 lol.
Sep 9 2017 8:40PM
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,880
I'm pretty set on the gap year now and I'm FOR SURE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER. Even if it's the last thing I want to do, Im goung to school. Im applying now and then I'm gonna defer my enrollment. Also I worked damn hard in school so I'm not just gonna throw that out the window
Sep 9 2017 9:07PM
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,324
JichelMustenI'm pretty set on the gap year now and I'm FOR SURE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER. Even if it's the last thing I want to do, Im goung to school. Im applying now and then I'm gonna defer my enrollment. Also I worked damn hard in school so I'm not just gonna throw that out the window


Yeah people are right about how tough it is to commit to college lmao. Everything is pushing me towards doing this ski bum thing forever. I am slowly loosing my motivation to go to school next fall. I'm making bank.
Sep 11 2017 6:40PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
RyhanYeah people are right about how tough it is to commit to college lmao. Everything is pushing me towards doing this ski bum thing forever. I am slowly loosing my motivation to go to school next fall. I'm making bank.


Eh don't do it for too long. You'll probably want to be able to retire.


But whatever fuck it. You're just gonna be old and rot away after you retire. Maybe ski bumming for a long ass time isn't such a bad idea for some people.
Sep 11 2017 6:52PM
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Casey
Posts: 7840 - Karma: 24,150
I took a gap decade. Fuck it, I'm kick ass
Sep 13 2017 10:33PM
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gnarRat
Posts: 106 - Karma: 993
Bro I was in the same boat as you last year and I actually decided to attend cu boulder this fall and after just three weeks of school here I can guarantee you that it will be just as good if not better than bumming out for a year.
Sep 14 2017 1:05PM
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,048
JichelMustenI'm pretty set on the gap year now and I'm FOR SURE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER. Even if it's the last thing I want to do, Im goung to school. Im applying now and then I'm gonna defer my enrollment. Also I worked damn hard in school so I'm not just gonna throw that out the window


Im so glad you chose to!! it will be so fucking amazing. Its a good idea to apply and get into school now though, then defer for a year. That way you KNOW you are going to school after. My gap year was so amazing, fucked some hot ass girls, partied so hard, and made so many memories :) enjoy!
Sep 14 2017 4:29PM
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,965
don't do it its like heroin. You can never go back and be the same.
Sep 21 2017 8:33PM
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