(S1) Would you take a year off before college if you were paid?

First off, you should consider why so many students end up taking a year off. One website, www.campusexplorer.com, gives 10 reasons why students should take a “gap year.” First of all, you have spent the last 13 years of your life in school. The majority of the last year has been spent not only completing the required courses, but taking time to apply, get accepted, and visit colleges. Campus Explorer says you need time to recharge your academic battery. The second reason is to continue your college search. Sometimes settling for the only college you applied to is not the best choice. The third reason is to decide on a major. Many students don’t know what they want to study. In most cases, students switch their major at least once. This may be easier to earn a degree that way. The fourth reason is to travel. Traveling during your gap year can help you broaden your horizons, as well as figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. The fifth reason is to mature a little more. A gap year can cause you to really grow up, without the sudden shock of college life. Adding to your resume is the sixth reason. You can really help yourself for college by adding volunteer work and other various jobs to your resume. For the seventh reason, Campus Explorer says, "For some students, entering the working world after college is a shock, after years spent in an academic environment. Learning about what’s out there, paying bills and forging your way outside of school will give you a leg up on other college graduates." Giving back is the eighth reason. Volunteering can not only add to your resume, but give you a sense of worth and accomplishment. Taking a risk is the ninth reason. Giving yourself time to grow and experience new things is a great thing to do before throwing yourself in the college world. Last not but least, the tenth reason would be to start an internship. Starting an internship in the field or major you're interested in can help steer you in the right direction. Some colleges even offer to pay for a gap year. FOX news says, “This ‘gap year’ program launching this fall will pay for housing, airfare and even visa fees, which can often add up to $30,000 or more. Although gap years are more popular in Europe, they have started to gain traction in the United States. About 40,000 Americans participated in gap year programs in 2013, an increase of nearly 20 percent since 2006, according to data gathered by a nonprofit called the American Gap Year Association.” Sometimes its hard to come back after a year. But doing a gap year means you need to come in having a plan. Blowing off a year before college without a direct plan may result in not attending college after all. Obviously you need to be committed to the school for four years after the gap year so the college can pay the fees.