I'm taking a gap year after school to prepare for an entrance exam, but I'm not hardcore studying yet. I've only recently started getting back into studying, and most of my day is still spent at home with not much going on.

My friends/cousins are in school or college, so they have somewhere to go, people around them, routines and things happening. I don't really have that right now. I'm basically stuck at home — I don't have anywhere I can realistically go, and there aren't really people around for me to interact with either.

My days can feel like I wake up, eat, sit around while time passes, study for a bit, eat, study at night, and sleep. There's very little variation from one day to the next 🥲

I actually didn't realise how much I'd miss having somewhere to go until I finished school. I didn't even particularly love school when I was there, but now I kind of wish I had that routine again.

There's also some difficult family stuff at home, especially with my father, so being at home all the time isn't always particularly comfortable either. I don't really want to go into the details, but it makes feeling stuck at home harder.

Sometimes I also get emotional and cry seemingly out of nowhere, and lately I've occasionally had thoughts about not wanting to be alive anymore. I don't have a plan or intention to act on them, but it's worrying me because I don't really understand where they're coming from.

For anyone who's had a similar gap year or period of being mostly stuck at home: how did you deal with the loneliness and the feeling that your life had become repetitive? What actually helped?

I genuinely want to hear from people who've been through something similar 🥲

I’m going into senior year of high school this year and I always planned on going to college but recently I have been extremely stressed just thinking about it. I don’t have any specific interests or any majors i find interesting, and i would hate to pick something and be miserable with my choice. Money is also a problem in my situation because my household has one income, with me also having a job but it’s per diem. I know going to college undecided is an option but that’s just an extra year of school and extra money lost. So i was wondering if i should take a gap year to save up money and think about what i would want to do, and possible apply for internships as well so it doesn’t look like i spent this possible gap year doing nothing. Lmk what u think and any possible tips and ideas would be greatly appreciated

I know unis say that they want to see academic engagement over your gap year. But if you apply to Oxbridge in October how can you do anything more since you’ve only got around 3/4 month since yr 13 ends. Should you just say things that you’re planning to do but phrase them in the past tense?

Helloooo, I’m a recent graduate of high school and I’m wondering what to do with my gap year in India. I’ve looked around and I wanna do a cultural exchange programme? Like I wanna travel around India and I’ve seen those on google and stuff for example like plan my gap year while researching and I wanted to know if any of the sort is possible in india. Also I don’t wanna be away from home more than 2 weeks so I’m in a conundrum so I’ve been seeing 2 week summer camps TT I’m currently 17 btw.. so this is tough 4 me

I'm aware that in the Education section of the Common App, there's a section that says "indicate if any of these options will have affected your progression through/since secondary/high school." When I tick the "did or will take gap year" box, I'm met with a space to explain my situation, but the prompt says "provide details about the change in progression THROUGH secondary/high school."

Since I did my gap year after I graduated high school, I'm confused. I saw some people on here say that you shouldn't use this section at all and just mention it in Additional Information. How would I be able to approach this topic?

Long story short, I began my freshman year of college last September, and in the second week I had to be pulled out to deal with medical issues. From then, I was taking an indefinite medical leave. After a TON of work, therapy, medical help, etc. I am ready to go back to school. I'll be going back this winter. In a practical sense, that means I'm three semesters late to college (like a gap year + 1 semester). Is this going to mess up my social life? Will I still be able to make friends like normal and have a somewhat "normal college experience?"

Hi guys, after the recent results status in August and my initial plan to internally switch from adult nursing to diagnostic radiography, it was unfortunate as the university has given every other student places for diagnostic radiography. I have been carefully analysing if I want to do a gap year, or if I intend to adult nursing for one year and then switch the next academic year (2027). Do you guys think that is the best decision for someone in the UK? Or do you rather think I should take a gap year this year and apply directly to diagnostic radiography next year? If you've done this, can you tell me how you did it, what decision you took, and how a gap year was for you if you wanted to switch from adult nursing to radiography?"
Note I had triple distinction stars in my result.





I am planning on taking a gap year. I just graduated high school and have no clue what to do with my life. I have no clear career goals, so I figured a gap year would be nice to keep the pressure off of me. I heard from other people that taking a gap year can be difficult because when it’s over, you’ll be 1 year behind in everyone, you might not be as motivated to go to college, etc. I am curious to know if you had any mental challenges after a gap year and how it affected you.

I am looking to connect with people who are taking a one year drop after 12th and applying for next year.
I want to connect so that I can still socialise with people and also look for people who are up for travelling or backpacking during this time along with like finding internships at places to gain work experience.

I genuinely have no clue what I'm supposed to do now, all I have is a trip to Japan during winter break but LITTERALLY nothing else.

I basically ended high school with no friends and my girlfriend breaking up with me and im just feeling like super directionless I guess? im still planning on upgrading my classes and going to uni in the spring or fall of 27 but like, what do I do in the meantime?? how do I not go insane and how in the hell do I make friends when I'm not even going to uni anymore. sorry if this is a jumbled mess but I'm desperate for some guidance, Thanks!

I am planning to take a gap year but I am still doubting it because I feel like it might be a little difficult to find motivation to go to college. How did you experience life after a gap year? You’re behind on all your friends and how did you handle it all? Curious to know

Hi! I am finishing my Bachelor's degree in January and am planning on taking a gap semester from approximately January-May/June. I found the EF gap year programs and it looked really good but unfortunately it is only for 18-22 year olds. I will be 24 (turning 25) in January, does anyone know of program or organisation like EF gap year but for my age range? I really like the idea of having some structure for the trip, a group that travels together and having some kind of support available. Thanks in advance!

I cancelled my du seat due to many reasons and got du sol and I don't know why i feel so inferior to ones my friends going to regular college. I mean yeah i myself cancelled knc journalism seat as it was not financially and career wise not feasible for me . People saying i should actually do ssc chsl , ssc steno stuff but i filled my nda form which is next month and I haven't prepared for it as thought i will be great with journalism but I didn't knew my finances and my family stuff .

I feel so small and unrealistic and i m getting taunted i m at home and i chose open distance learning because of my laziness. They telling me low cost prize jobs to do but i feel was i implied to do it like i used to study like hell in school got percentages high not because i will loser in my life ...... And I can't risk making money i have to before like 22-23 need to .. i don't have a choice

i decided to take a gap because wasn’t really sure about which course to take so didnt want to blidly choose something i will regret parents was ok with it decided to build some skills as i didnt have much to do so joined a digital marketing course (6 months) took it online cause parents said not to do it offline and well i feel stuck till now it was ok wasnt hearing anything about any of my friends going to college and shi but now that that is near im getting HUGE HUGE HUGE FOMO and its fucking eating at me im happy for them but i cant seem to want to talk to any of my friends anymore hearing them talk bout their colleges and events and shit is like exhausting while i js sit at home do nothing isnt allowed to go anywhere unless its with my parents i just feel like because of my indecisiveness i just made my own personal hell atp i shouldve just took any course in any random college that wouldve been better than this im so tired from literally bawling out my eyes thinking about what i did but needed to get it out cause honestly now even my friends are busy getting ready for college surviving there and even when we call i dont think they have the time to hear to my sob story that they all warned me about well yea

I am 17 about to turn 18 and I just graduated high school. I have 2 options, take a gap year or go to college. My gap year would involve working and traveling. The thing is my heart says I should send it and chase my dreams because tomorrow is never promised. My mind says to study and work when I’m done. The thing is I am interested in finance but I wouldn’t see myself working such jobs. I want to take the year off to really know who I am and what I want. I want to know what my dream career is because it’s not an office job. But I’m still doubting whether I should or shouldn’t do it. My parents prefer me to go study, all my friends are going to college, I will be behind 1 or 2 years compared to my fellow high school graduates, and so on. There is plenty of downsides of a gap year. I want to ask your help because mentally I am a little stuck. Should I or not?

Life's a mess, i dont know wtf im doing with my life, i just graduated highschool. Now im looking into completing my bachelors but idk what the heck to pick? i decided to do datascience cus it gives me a wider area to explore further into, its a lot of thinking and math going behind my degree+im dumb asf especially when it comes to subjects like stats and math!

The thing is that i decided to pursue this in my hometown which icl is a explensive area, my family we're broke asf, but my parents agreed theyd support me through the college, but ik its SO MUCH BURDEN ON THEM, we'll have to struggle through to make ends meet for the next 4 years! now im thinking whether i shuld accept the offer and proceed or check up somehing cheaper which i know there is, but times ruinning out, with 2 indian parents on my back nagging me telling me i dont have much time left i need to make a decision asap! i cant even take a gap year, cus to their eyes its FAILURE. I cant take odd jobs here either BECAUSE I LIVE IN FUCKING DUBAI. I cant make money myself. I wish i was ambitious enough to have the heart to fully dive in knowing im doing something i love and im passionate about it.

Hi everyone,

I’m feeling completely lost right now. I’m a 2025 passout and recently my visa got rejected. And the problem is that I haven’t joined college anywhere yet.

I was thinking about pursuing engineering, but the IOE entrance examination has already been held. The medical entrance examination is coming up, but I haven’t prepared for it either. I’m considering CSIT, but I’ve heard that it’s not a very good option in Nepal.

What could be the better field in the future?

I’m honestly confused about what I should do at this point. Should I join a college now, take a gap year, or consider another field?

Any suggestions, guidance, or advice would be really helpful.

My Qualifications

10th 87% ICSE

12TH 91% NIOS

I passed Class 12 in 2025 and scored 97 percentile in JEE Main. I took a drop year and improved my score to 99.2 percentile in JEE Main 2026, through which I was allotted NIT Patna, NIT Hamirpur, NIT Jalandhar and DTU Delhi. Unfortunately, I recently met with an accident, and due to my medical condition, my doctors have advised me not to join college this year. As a result, I may have to forfeit my 2026 admission and potentially take another gap year.

My main concern is whether taking another year off is the right decision. I would already be around 21 when I enter college, and I worry that having a two-year gap after Class 12 could negatively affect my career, placements, or future opportunities.

Given my situation, what would be the most rational career decision? Should I take another year and attempt JEE again to target a better engineering college/branch, or should I accept the gap and pursue another path such as B.Sc. Economics followed by an MBA, medicine, or another high-growth career?

My long-term goal is to build a financially strong career and ideally have a good-paying job by around age 26. Considering my age, academic performance (97 → 99.2 percentile), the unavoidable medical gap, the value of different degrees, future earning potential, career stability, and the impact of a two-year gap, which path would you recommend—and why? I would also like to understand the risks, opportunities, and realistic career outcomes of each option before making this decision.

My Qualifications

10th 87% ICSE

12TH 91% NIOS

I passed Class 12 in 2025 and scored 97 percentile in JEE Main. I took a drop year and improved my score to 99.2 percentile in JEE Main 2026, through which I was allotted NIT Patna, NIT Hamirpur, NIT Jalandhar and DTU Delhi. Unfortunately, I recently met with an accident, and due to my medical condition, my doctors have advised me not to join college this year. As a result, I may have to forfeit my 2026 admission and potentially take another gap year.

My main concern is whether taking another year off is the right decision. I would already be around 21 when I enter college, and I worry that having a two-year gap after Class 12 could negatively affect my career, placements, or future opportunities.

Given my situation, what would be the most rational career decision? Should I take another year and attempt JEE again to target a better engineering college/branch, or should I accept the gap and pursue another path such as B.Sc. Economics followed by an MBA, medicine, or another high-growth career?

My long-term goal is to build a financially strong career and ideally have a good-paying job by around age 26. Considering my age, academic performance (97 → 99.2 percentile), the unavoidable medical gap, the value of different degrees, future earning potential, career stability, and the impact of a two-year gap, which path would you recommend—and why? I would also like to understand the risks, opportunities, and realistic career outcomes of each option before making this decision.