Although a good concept in theory, core class exploration does not solve all of the issues. Just because a student enjoys a class or not, does not determine their fit for that particular work environment. A student may be interested in a science field, but classes are more specific than just science. The science field breaks down into a number of different subjects, such as anatomy, physiology, biotech, genetics, biology, etc. In order to narrow the options down, students need to take quite a few of these classes, which essentially is costing the student more money and time. Rather, students can gain valuable work or volunteer experience in a field(s) of their choice, while potentially earning money to pay for college later on. Gap years can …show more content…
Rutten could not decide between machining and engineering before entering his post-secondary education. Reluctantly, he decided to pursue machining and chose a technical degree in machining at North Dakota State College of Science. Upon getting to campus, he quickly regretted his decision. After his first year at NDSCS, he transferred to North Dakota State University for engineering where he struggled with the difficult curriculum. Rutten finally decided to take a gap year in the form of a machining internship after a year and a half of schooling. Here, he learned that engineering was not what he wanted to do. Ultimately, he went back to NDSCS and finished his technical degree. According to Fred Sailer, a recruiter for KLN Family Brands, “it is wise to take the time you need to build your resources, decide what you want to do in life, and take the time to grow up” (2015). He says this because of the “increasing cost of post-secondary education and dwindling job prospects and low entry level salaries” (2015). Had Rutten known this first, he would have taken taken a gap year to explore the machining field before going on to complete his education in …show more content…
Students may be surprised when professors are tough and much more impersonal than their high school teachers. College professors are there to do their job and treat everyone as an adult. Oftentimes, professors, come from countries outside of the United States, which could mean a language barrier that students have to overcome as well. Peers will also be a distraction in the learning process. Out on their own for the first time, they will put off homework to have fun and be a distraction to others in the process. Making sure to stay on task will be a hard obstacle to overcome. However, students learn valuable lessons on how to manage time, to be more tolerant of other personalities and cultures, and stay
Furthermore, the committed student, even with a busy agenda, can succeed by prioritizing his/her daily activities by importance in his/her academic and personal
Colombo explains that “Beginning college can be disconcerting experience” (Colombo, p.1). That there will be more peer pressure from your peers and an increase expectations that you have never faced during your high school days. “In the dorms you may find yourself among people whose backgrounds make them seem foreign and unapproachable” (Colombo, p.1). Colombo also states “If you commute, you may be struggling against a feeling of isolation that you’ve never faced before” (Colombo, p. 1).
Coming to college as an adult, we have many expectations and preconceptions of what college will or will not be. The expectations we have can influence our college life for the better or the worse. My experience since starting college has been an interesting one. People have misconceptions about college because they do not know what to expect. After doing some research, I have concluded that there are three major factors that are often misunderstood about college life. The first is the financial aspect of college. Second, is the relationship between the professors and students. Third is time management. These three factors play an important role in why people are afraid to go down the path to college.
It’s easier for students to develop a relationship with a high school teacher rather than a college professor since they are liable for far less students. Most high school teachers put together a lesson plan, lecture it and expect their students to recall it properly when a test is given. For the most part, a student is able to approach the teacher and address his or her concerns, unlike a typical college professor. Teachers of the high school level are teaching for one reason and one reason only, to prepare you for both college and life. They are willing to put forth their best effort while assisting you because they know your future depends on the quality of education in which you received. There has been multiple instances in which I had questions regarding either an assignment or project, so I went to the designated teacher. Nine times out of ten the given teacher will assist you and answer your questions to the best of their abilities. When teachers took time out of there day to assist me time and time again, it made me realize that help is available, you just have to be willing to receive it. Assignments and projects always went smoothly for me because teachers always clarified information if it needed clarification. If a student wants to have a relationship with a teacher, they need to commit and go after it! Many high school teachers are willing to make your lives
First, what must be established is the distinction of higher education and college. Blake Boles, author of Better Than College, writes in his book the distinction between the two. He points out that college is one path to a higher education that ,essentially, is a prescribed path to success, but it does not guarantee higher education. Furthermore, he writes that: “a higher education is first and foremost the capacity to self-direct your life. Someone who has a higher education can define her own vision of success and pursue it, even in the face of difficulty”(Boles 4). There is a common misconception that college is the higher education path that leads to success. This is why parents hesitate to support their children in taking a gap year. They fear that their children will not be as productive or responsible for assignments. In contrast to that popular notion, gap years require more responsibility, if not more. However, in his book, Blake Boles answers the question of how to pursue higher education without college: “instead of following someone else 's curriculum, self-directed learners begin by asking themselves what fascinates and drives them.Their journey begins- and ends -with self-knowledge. Instead of taking full time classes, self-directed learners give themselves assignments that they find interesting, eye-opening and challenging” (Boles 5). With the absence of the responsibility to turn in assignments , prepare for presentation, comes a responsibility to construct one 's own curriculum. This leaves time for pursuing activities of interest. Instead of relying on professors to instruct one on how to go about learning, one must strive to network with people in the field of interest. They must seek mentorship in order to replace the guidance given by a professor. This takes a considerable amount of responsibility, which becomes very achievable since one understand the value
But do kids really belong in college after twelve years of schooling? “The National Association for College Admission counseling has suggested that the practice of taking a gap year is on the rise.” (collegeparents.org) A gap year, is when students take a year off college. What the student decides to do in this case, is completely up to them. This topic is debatable for me. I think that students will slack off if they get that one year off. The gap year is just like a summer vacation, only extended. Students struggle to get back into the habit of going to high school, so I believe they would do the same even if the situation was going to college. A year off may be a good thing for some, just as it probably would have been for Linda’s son. However, I do believe that taking so much time off would be a huge problem for most of
Before understanding the consequences of a gap year, it is important to understand why people take a Gap Year. Senior year can be tense and come with several unanswered questions. Seniors are given four options when leaving High School. Those choices are either joining the army, going straight to work, applying to college, or taking a Gap Year. In a journal by Sunny Niu and Marta Tienda, “Delayed Enrollment and College Plans: Is There a Postponement Penalty?” explains some of the reasons why high school graduates tend to not go directly to a four year university. One of the main reasons high school graduates are hesitant to attend co...
Obviously, there is a major difference in the level of academic responsibilities between high school and college. In terms of expectations and responsibilities placed upon you in high school, they are more of a guideline and carefree, whereas college it is more complex and is individually based. What I mean by this is that in high school you can count on parents and your teacher in order to guide you in setting priorities and remind you of your responsibilities. It was part of your parents’ and teachers’ responsibility to make sure that you succeed in high school. Students have fewer duties to worry about, and fewer requirements where they could depend on others for help. In class, you are usually told by the teacher about what you need to study and how you are doing with your grades and attendance. Furthermore, in high school, many of the classes are assigned to you, and you are supplied with many of the materials and books. It’s an entirely different story once you enter college. In college, you have to set your own priorities and have much more responsibilities to carry out. Students ar...
A gap year is a time for teens to take off between high school and college. A gap year is used to travel, work, volunteer or study. In general, a gap year has many advantages. This year out of a school is a good time for students to explore the world and gain valuable life skills and experience while learning to be independent. Teens in the U.S. should adopt the British custom of taking a gap year between high school and college in order to gain perspective on personal values and career goals as well as gaining needed life experiences without the pressure and expectations of a school environment. A gap year is a time for students to become independent and learn a sense of responsibility before entering into university life.
Thus according to me looking at all these options, GAP year is indeed a really good option for students. It thus gives them an option to do things, experience it, which they probably won’t do again in their lives. Also different venues get open, choice of their majors, minors, their future becomes clear. The students realise what they what to do, how they are and what is their motto in life. GAP year indeed makes a student educated not only in one way but touches upon several different things.
A gap year is a period, typically one academic year, taken by a student as a break between secondary school and higher education. Many students consider taking a gap year because they are longing to get work experience and be sure of a career path before they make the decision to head off to college. During those one or two years off before heading to college, students have the opportunity to travel the world, work, experience different jobs, or simply take a break from school. Some parents do not agree with their young adults taking a break from school because they worry that their child will not do something productive with their free time. Although students taking a gap year run the risk of becoming inattentive or accustomed to making some quick cash, and not returning to school, there are numerous benefits for a young adults. young adults to take a gap year off before heading to college; for instance, many colleges want students that are mature and have some work experience.
With so many students and so many faces in each class, college professors don’t personally get to know their students. A professor wouldn’t even notice if a student didn’t attend class one day, or if that person was taking that class at all. In big classes, the professor won’t even know a students’ name by the last day of class. In high school, teachers get to know their students on a first and last name basis within at least the first couple of weeks. High School teachers know each students personality, study habits, and grades by the end of each y...
An opposition brought up about students taking a gap year after high school is that they will fall behind and get stressed trying to play catch up after a long
Shellenbarger, Sue. “More Students Taking” Gap Year" Before College – WSJ.com." WSJ Online Article. 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. This source includes some statics, including some testimonials from college students about taking a gap year and how that prepared them for college and the workforce.
Students who take a gap year regularly go on to be successful in college. Even though people might not go back after that year is over, everybody should think about the idea of taking a year off because it has a many amount of benefits and 90 percent of students who take a year off go back to college and graduate and it gives you a fresh start entering college.