01-05-2015, 10:47 PM
Hi, ii-AznGurlDream-ii. Are you an only child or the eldest child in your family?
If you are in the United States (because I am), it's perfectly fine not to know what you want to study. In fact, at most four-year colleges, you don't have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year or later. And trust me, a lot of people (I'd say a majority) will change majors at least once during their educational career!
The thing about many (I'd say most) four-year colleges is that they have core classes that you have to take in order to graduate. For people who are undeclared in their major, it often makes sense to just take those core classes and get them out of the way during their freshman or sophomore year. So, there is no pressure to already know what to major in as a first-year student.
To answer the question in your thread title, it is NOT a bad thing to take a gap year. I know many people who took a gap year before college to travel the world, focus on things they enjoyed, and refresh themselves before embarking on their four-year undergraduate adventure. Then, they started college a year later, sure, but they still hit the ball out of the park with their grades and are getting excellent job offers. Plus, they are slightly more mature than the rest of the grade.
The only thing is -- what would you do during this gap year? My friends who took gap years had specific ideas in mind -- and it didn't have to be related to their field of study at all! Sure, one person went and did an international internship, but most of them just traveled and enjoyed a year without studying. If you know that you want or need to chill for a year, go for it.
I would say: don't take a gap year if you only want to figure out what to major in. The core curriculum will expose you to all kinds of classes, and having upperclassmen and other peers mentoring you in a college environment can help you figure out what you want to do.
But if it's for your well-being, as you have mentioned, then I say go for it.
But no need to decide yet! Think about it, ask for all different opinions from family and friends and teachers, and get accepted into a college first. :) That way, you can figure things out once the stress of not having a college to attend goes away.
Please let us know of any questions you may have regarding college and such, if that will help!
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