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Are gap years worth it?

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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
I want to take a gap year or even a semester to just go and ski out west. The problem is, I don’t think my parents support it really. However they are always like “go out and experience things” and stuff like that. And to be honest I think it would be really beneficial for me and if I were not to go I know I’d probably end up regretting it. I also have family members who will say that they regret going straight into work after college. Worse case scenario is I go to college and take a summer(s) off and drive west looking for snow and just do that. I guess my question is, is it really worth it?
Jan 15 2021 5:25PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2716 - Karma: 22,871
I would say do it, its fun as fuck, but you run the risk of falling so much in love with it that you end up not going to school. Trying to go back to school when you are older is pretty hard. Your best bet would be to go to school somewhere out west.
Jan 15 2021 6:37PM
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Bushdid9_11
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,208
Do it. I had a bunch of engineer track friends I graduated with who gave me a bunch of shit for taking time off to ski and soul search after high school. Took one year off, improved x1000 as a skier, and went into first year university with a way better idea of what I wanted out of my time there. 3 years later most of those friends either dropped out of their program or failed enough classes to put them on the same grad schedule I'm on. I regret nothing about my year off and would 110% do it again.
Jan 15 2021 6:51PM
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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
SendyMcSendyfaceI would say do it, its fun as fuck, but you run the risk of falling so much in love with it that you end up not going to school. Trying to go back to school when you are older is pretty hard. Your best bet would be to go to school somewhere out west.


That’s what I’m afraid of. I could totally see myself just blowing off school. I’m looking at schools out west but I don’t know where yet. Going out west for school seems like one of the best options.
Jan 15 2021 6:59PM
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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
Bushdid9_11Do it. I had a bunch of engineer track friends I graduated with who gave me a bunch of shit for taking time off to ski and soul search after high school. Took one year off, improved x1000 as a skier, and went into first year university with a way better idea of what I wanted out of my time there. 3 years later most of those friends either dropped out of their program or failed enough classes to put them on the same grad schedule I'm on. I regret nothing about my year off and would 110% do it again.


Yeah, I’m looking into engineering as well. What was it like going back after tho? Did you feel behind or like you missed anything?
Jan 15 2021 7:00PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
If I wouldn’t have taken a gap year I definitely would have flunked out first semester.

I spent my first gap year ski bumming out west. Then I got a girlfriend back home and moved back (bad call). After moving back I worked in the trades for about a year.

I had a bad breakup with that girl and ended up quitting my job and deciding to go back to college. Idk about anyone else but personally I find that the idea that going to school later on is hard is bullshit. I did perfectly fine both academically and socially. I had a newfound appreciation for school and legitimately wanted to apply myself. I was a C student all through high school and found myself getting straight As in college. I had a good 3 semesters under my belt before COVID hit and then I decided that I wasn’t going back to school until it was over. I’m currently working in the trades again and the money is so good that I might honestly never go back to school.
Jan 15 2021 7:03PM
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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
270on420outIf I wouldn’t have taken a gap year I definitely would have flunked out first semester.

I spent my first gap year ski bumming out west. Then I got a girlfriend back home and moved back (bad call). After moving back I worked in the trades for about a year.

I had a bad breakup with that girl and ended up quitting my job and deciding to go back to college. Idk about anyone else but personally I find that the idea that going to school later on is hard is bullshit. I did perfectly fine both academically and socially. I had a newfound appreciation for school and legitimately wanted to apply myself. I was a C student all through high school and found myself getting straight As in college. I had a good 3 semesters under my belt before COVID hit and then I decided that I wasn’t going back to school until it was over. I’m currently working in the trades again and the money is so good that I might honestly never go back to school.


Yeah I get that and shit happens, I don’t hate school or despise it but I feel a little bit burnt out, and maybe you did too and when you did decide to go back you felt better about it.
Jan 15 2021 7:09PM
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thateastcoastski
Posts: 63 - Karma: 194
270on420outIf I wouldn’t have taken a gap year I definitely would have flunked out first semester.

I spent my first gap year ski bumming out west. Then I got a girlfriend back home and moved back (bad call). After moving back I worked in the trades for about a year.

I had a bad breakup with that girl and ended up quitting my job and deciding to go back to college. Idk about anyone else but personally I find that the idea that going to school later on is hard is bullshit. I did perfectly fine both academically and socially. I had a newfound appreciation for school and legitimately wanted to apply myself. I was a C student all through high school and found myself getting straight As in college. I had a good 3 semesters under my belt before COVID hit and then I decided that I wasn’t going back to school until it was over. I’m currently working in the trades again and the money is so good that I might honestly never go back to school.

just curious what trade are u in if u don’t mind me asking?
Jan 15 2021 7:21PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,354
SendyMcSendyfaceI would say do it, its fun as fuck, but you run the risk of falling so much in love with it that you end up not going to school. Trying to go back to school when you are older is pretty hard. Your best bet would be to go to school somewhere out west.


I agree with this, but specifically the second part. IMHO the earlier you can get comfortable being anywhere while accomplishing tasks necessary for your overall financial success AND having fun (skiing) then the better off you will be. There are a ton of great ski experiences I'm sure I missed out on due to school/work/whatever, but there's also significantly more time where I was just skiing to ski. Doing what you gotta do to pay the bills (whatever that means for you) and meticulously planning your next ski adventure means you're gonna have more fun when you do hit the slopes.
Jan 15 2021 7:38PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
mentholjuulpodjust curious what trade are u in if u don’t mind me asking?


I started out in plumbing but now I work as a maintenance guy for a property management company so I know a bit of each trade.
Jan 15 2021 7:49PM
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Casey
Posts: 7840 - Karma: 24,150
If you don’t want to go straight to work after college then don’t do it. I just think you are more established and more set up after college then right after high school, plus you can go to bars at night. Getting off schedule for college is kind of asking to never finish or never start. Idk
Jan 15 2021 8:06PM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6598 - Karma: 69,834
Do what you want. If you're burned out on school, don't go to school. If you want to go to school, then you'll go to school at some point.

Don't be a pussy and just do what you think you HAVE to do. You're a grown ass man, the world's your oyster.
Jan 15 2021 8:26PM
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,048
Yes definitely. I went to Thailand for a year after highschool it ruled
Jan 15 2021 9:08PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2716 - Karma: 22,871
EndoCrocThat’s what I’m afraid of. I could totally see myself just blowing off school. I’m looking at schools out west but I don’t know where yet. Going out west for school seems like one of the best options.


I should have gone west right off the bat, instead of doing a season right after hs, coming back east to my shithole hometown, for school, and then dropping out and going back out west for another season. All my friends are graduating this spring, and are headed off to real jobs, and I’m still here making minimum wage with few marketable skills. Going back to school (this time out west) next fall, so hopefully things will work out. Getting trapped in a ski town is a real danger, I’ve watched that happen to a few guys. Sure, its fun to work stupid jobs, party and ski all the time, but if you do it too long, you’re fucked. You’ll wake up at 40, realize that you’ve got no real skills, no savings or retirement plan, and all of your friends have moved away.
Jan 16 2021 12:39AM
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Bushdid9_11
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,208
EndoCrocYeah, I’m looking into engineering as well. What was it like going back after tho? Did you feel behind or like you missed anything?


Your def not missing anything, you get the same 4 years as everyone else just with maybe a lil more life experience (and you can buy booze a year sooner if your in N.A.)

I defiantly felt a little rusty on the more advanced math and physics I did in high school but I also didn't practice at all during my year off. Not relevant to my degree in any case but I'm sure you could do some kahn academy or equivalent thing and be totally up to speed and probably ahead if you go hard enough.

Like I said above, no regrets.
Jan 17 2021 2:06PM
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Lonely
Posts: 6737 - Karma: 61,596
If you're going into engineering, it's not the worst thing to take a gap year between high school and college, although a better option would be to get a co-op through your engineering school and spend 5 months working and living in an area you want. A co-op isn't easy to get but they aren't that hard to get either. Benefits of doing a bumming co-op are-

-You don't get put behind in your program
-You make money
-You get to test out living in one of these places. So you get to ski and do all the other shit without putting yourself a year behind the competition.
-You get work experience.
Jan 17 2021 2:21PM
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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
LonelyIf you're going into engineering, it's not the worst thing to take a gap year between high school and college, although a better option would be to get a co-op through your engineering school and spend 5 months working and living in an area you want. A co-op isn't easy to get but they aren't that hard to get either. Benefits of doing a bumming co-op are-

-You don't get put behind in your program
-You make money
-You get to test out living in one of these places. So you get to ski and do all the other shit without putting yourself a year behind the competition.
-You get work experience.


It’s funny you say that because the school I’m looking at requires a internship or co-op. Most of the students do both at some point in time. Thanks for the idea tho, I would have never thought of that.
Jan 17 2021 7:43PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
I thought that was only a European thing.
Jan 17 2021 8:29PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
I agree on the "do a gap year after college" idea. I did a gap year after college. I graduated, went to work at a job (wildland fire) where I could work a ton of overtime and hazard pay and saved up about $30k in 6 months. I then travelled for the better part of a year before eventually finding my way into the real world.

It was the best decision I have ever made. I spent a lot of time in NZ and backpacked Thailand, Nepal and India. That experience traveling lead to lifelong friends and I gained so much perspective from that trip. I became comfortable traveling and traveling to places that a lot of people in the corporate world don't want to go. That trait landed me a job where traveling Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa for 5+ years. That would not have happened had I not taken that gap year.
Jan 18 2021 12:32AM
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Chunderface
Posts: 2511 - Karma: 9,792
I dropped out senior year of high school, took 4 off years traveling all over the world, and became a top amateur endurance athlete. I then went to college and was in the right state of mind to crush academically and in my sport. Took a year off after undergrad to try to be a pro athlete, then went to law school and became a lawyer. If I hadn't taken time off, I never would have made it. But my path was weird. Looking back, I would advise going straight through to finishing undergrad. Get your shit lined up correctly, and get it in where you can. Going to a school out west where you can ski sounds like a great way to get it all done.
Jan 18 2021 2:18AM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4798 - Karma: -680
I dunno next year might be a good time to do it if schools are being crazy pussy about corona.

Fall 22 sounds like the ideal time to start college.

Remember getting in trouble is real. Its hard enough to avoid getting busted for drinking underage or weed smoking. Add in corona maks rules and its sketch. Gives you a year closer to being 21 as well.

I'd bump chairs and live in employee housing somewhere. Probably no J1s to compete with next winter either.
Jan 18 2021 10:42AM
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3562 - Karma: 28,714
I highly recommend a gap year, I mean I took one after my first year of college, but same intention.

I think its super important to go out and experience the world before starting college, not only is it fun, you'll also learn a lot about yourself. take time to slow down and appreciate everything before jumping back on the grind
Jan 18 2021 11:40AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13082 - Karma: 18,715
I went straight to college, took a trades, found a seasonal job that pays well and the I get to go skiing everyday since I was 22. Get the bullshit figured out quickly, then go have fun
Jan 18 2021 5:17PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37355 - Karma: 119,596
personally wish I did a gap year as well. I hit my head pretty hard in HS and it set me back a ways, barely graduated, and got rushed into picking a major + school, and eventually ended up dropping out a few times because it was all just a lot to take in. Relationships + academic success suffered and wish we just had more time to figure ourselves out before figuring that out, which is exactly what I am currently doing, and now have some plans on what id like to do. More time doesn't hurt but don't abuse it, and there is nothing wrong with pursuing education at a later age.

**This post was edited on Jan 18th 2021 at 5:36:38pm
Jan 18 2021 5:33PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,175
I unintentionally took a gap semester. Graduated a semester early from my community college where I got my generals done. Couldn't really transfer fluidly into my program that spring so I just skied. Saved a ton of money by going to that small school and graduating early. Got a job that I love now so I'm pro-gap.

**This post was edited on Jan 18th 2021 at 6:27:08pm
Jan 18 2021 6:26PM
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soup
Posts: 6343 - Karma: 4,415
I took my gap year 14 years ago and will never go to school. Do it just man up and tell your folks they will understand in five years I promise.
Jan 18 2021 9:28PM
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SirNigel
Posts: 46 - Karma: 130
soupI took my gap year 14 years ago and will never go to school. Do it just man up and tell your folks they will understand in five years I promise.


Lol, you don’t know my parents. I’m 18 and can only see my girlfriend once a week...
Jan 18 2021 9:49PM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4798 - Karma: -680
EndoCrocLol, you don’t know my parents. I’m 18 and can only see my girlfriend once a week...


Do they want to waste their money sending you to school right now?

Take a few bullshit pre reqs online via a community to save some cash and hit college in 2022 when the pandemic nonsense is over.
Jan 18 2021 10:33PM
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soup
Posts: 6343 - Karma: 4,415
EndoCrocLol, you don’t know my parents. I’m 18 and can only see my girlfriend once a week...


I never had a girlfriend and I was 18.

These are excuses you will always regret when you didn't do it and I promise you that you are going to waste their money going straight into school. Go ski.
Jan 18 2021 10:36PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,097
Do it. College is a liberal “nurture over nature” appeal to idiots who think reading a bunch of books is somehow going to nullify the reality that they failed in hs at the 3 most important indicators of intellectual worth— math, physics, and iq.

most of a persons adult ability to understand very difficult concepts is based on whichever grandparents they got their chromosomes from. The rest is by learning truly heady concepts that challenge you - math being the best for this role.
Jan 19 2021 1:03AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Just say you dont know what you want to major in yet. The absolute worst thing you can do is start college and go down a path you hate and start over. I know from experience.
However, I had 3 friends take a gap year to ski out west and never came back. They enjoyed it for a while, but eventually the lack of a career path will make things hard. So, if you do it, make sure you make it only a year or find something out there that is career worthy. College isnt always worth the money.
Jan 20 2021 1:41PM
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