Taking Off

[OhHeyItsTy]

Ok, so I'm a senior, and the upcoming date of graduation has me kinda freaked out. Everyone seems to know where they're going for college, and they're getting acceptance letters left and right, and I haven't even taken the ACT yet. I just really have no idea what I want to do after high school. The only things I know are:

-Going to France.
-Mom's moving into an apartment.
-Me and some friends might be keeping the house.

As for college, all I know is that I want to study film. I've known this since I was twelve. Lately I've been thinking about taking a year, or even a semester off after I graduate to find myself and try and make a decision, and in the process I'd have lots of time to work and make money, which I'll need to help pay rent and utilities and crap.

And I know some people worry that when you take time off you don't go back, but I know that I will. I've wanted to study film for almost six years.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is: Is taking time off completely stupid?

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

It's not completely stupid, you just need to know yourself well enough to know that you will go back to school. It's possible to get a perfectly fine job for the rest of your life without going to college... but those are getting harder and harder to find these days and I wouldn't bank on it unless you're planning to go to a trade school instead. Just be certain that you're taking the break to work as a temporary thing, and don't let yourself forget about going back to school.

As far as not knowing where you're going with school, starting off at a community or junior college is a good idea. You get your general ed requirements out of the way, take a few classes in subjects you're interested in so you can be sure it's what you want, and then transfer to a four-year to finish your degree. It's a lot cheaper than doing those first two years at a university, and you get the same education. That way you end up spending less money and you get more time to look at potential schools to transfer to. I'd definitely recommend going the community college route, especially since you're uncertain about where you really want to go and what you want to do.

[delete.please]

Shes right. Taking classes at a community college could help you keep on track for your college degree while allowing you to pursue other things like work in the meantime. As for taking time off, it's not an entirely bad idea. Harvard even suggests to its admitted freshmen to take some time off to travel or expand their minds before starting. Honestly, though, I like the community college idea more.