Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I went to college right out of high school but if I had to do it over again I would have waited a year. I went to a very prestigious and demanding private school in CT. I was practically able to "major" in biology and human science while in high school. I was taking college classes starting my Junior year. I graduated #5 in my class with a GPA of 3.92. I got accepted and a full scholarship to ALL of the schools I appled to including Boston College, Villanova and bunch more "prestigious" schools. But let me tell you " I WAS BURNT OUT!" I got to school not interested in my studies and constantly re-thinking my major.
I think I should have taken a year off, and stayed in Spain with my mother's side of the family and relaxed for a year. My grades in college would have been better and I would have been more focused. I think it really depends on the individual. I think it can be a great thing if the person has the drive to go back to school after a year. The problem is that a lot of people don't have the drive and ambition to go back to school once they are out, especially a teenager.

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I left school in 1986 and didn't go to college until 1996. When I left school I wanted to be a nurse, and in Ireland nursing training was different. I went to classes for 2 months, took a test and went onto a ward rotation for three months, then back into the classroom again for another 2 months followed by tests and ward experience again.

I didn't like nursing and left after a year. I then went to secretarial school (commercial college) for a few months and got a job right away. I worked at a large corporation for 4 years and then moved to the UK for year. When I returned to Ireland I started working at my old company but wanted to find something more challenging. I realized that I was up against people who were younger than me and had better qualifications.

I started a degree in finance at night time, going 3 nights a week and all day Saturday while working 9-5. A year before I finished my degree I did get a great job as a financial analyst and then I moved to the US.

I'm not sure if it was better to be a mature student. My lecturers all said that mature students get better grades and apply themselves more to their work. I'm just glad that I did eventually have the experience of college, even if it was exhausting at the time.

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I did and think it was a good decision. I was bartending and evrything that goes along with it-getting home at 5AM, partying etc. I went to Farmingdale for a semster but was not into it. When I was 20 I decided to go to school and ended up moving to AZ to go to ASU-which was GREAT. I was a little older than the other people but it was a great experience and since I had seen what the "real world" was like I was more motivated.

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I was a horrible student in Jr. High and HS. Barely making passing grades. I did not study and hated school. I was just bored. I had no motivation. It did not matter what my parents told me. I was doing the bare minimum to pass. Totally satisfied with myself. I could not motivate myself to do more and a huge procrastinator (still a procrastinator to this day but a "smarter" one!!!!).

Went to college and failed miserably. Got admitted to Law School (somehow!!!) and left after 1 year because I was bored. Went back to college to get an BA. I could not wait to go to work.

YEARS later (like 15 years!!)...I decided to go back to school to do something totally different. I loved everything. Was an A student. Aced the NY state board. I loved what I was studying and was never bored.

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I went straight to college, I knew that if I took time off, I would not be going back

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I teach college and have a lot of freshmen - and I really think it would be the best thing if EVERYONE had to spend a year or two doing some sort of national service before college. I have loads of really great, smart, motivated students - but I also have had some kids who just weren't ready. They needed some time to work, to figure out what they wanted to do, etc.

I went straight to college after HS but one of the best things I did was take 2 years off in the middle of my PhD program and worked in an office. I liked the job a lot - but I was able to return to school so much more motivated.

Honestly, if your stepdaughter isn't ready for college, the best thing is for her to work for a bit.

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

while I went straight to college after high school- I don't think it was necessarliy the right thing to do

it took me 3 years and 2 colleges to figure out what I wanted to - then I had to start over at FIT

which then took me another 4 years

I went to a very expensive school at first - so I really wasted a ton of money figuring out what I want to do

I am just glad I don't have to pay for it-

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I didn't and it was the best and worst decision I could have made. I wasn't ready for college, but looking back I wish I would have just gone right to nursing school. But if I would have I never would have been an emt and I wouldn't have found out that being a Paramedic is what I LOVE to do!

Re: Anyone here not go to college right after HS?

I took one year off after highschool. My daughter was born over the summer between graduation & when I should've started college. I wanted a year off for adjusting & speding with her.

It was a good & bad decision. I love that I had that time to spend with my baby in her first year, but it ***** now that I am over a year behind where I would've been since I want nothing more than to graduate & be done with college as quickly as possible. I'm so over school.