I've been looking into taking a gap year after H.S before going to uni. I think I need the time to decompress from 14 years of government education... But it seems that universities don't really like to defer admissions. On york and McGill websites i've seen they are only granted in "exceptional circumstances" (wanting to *swan* off abroad for a year doesn't seem exceptional...).

In the UK it seems gap years are encouraged by unis... But in Canada its the typical rat race BS...

Does anyone have actual experience with doing it? Any additional risks in applying a year later instead of bothering with deferred admissions?

My son has deferred for a year, to have a gap year. You can use financial need as the reason, they accepted it in his case........say that you need to work for the year to fund university (which these days, is often the truth anyway).
Alternatively, you can apply a year after graduation, still a simple process, but some scholarships are only applicable if applying whilst in Grade 11 or 12.

Thanks kindly, that is right, I could use that. And it won't be a lie either as I will be working whilst away.

Can you not just take the year off, and apply when you are ready to go?

I have no idea so I'll ask, what is the big thing with applying for it in HS if your not planning to go right from high school in the fall? Is there any particular reason to apply and then defer?

The only big reason I can see is the comfort in knowing you have a place in uni to come back to. Other than that I don't really know

There is always a university who will accept you. May not be a fancy one, but even I can get into some of the smaller one's with just basic upgrading....

(I've been out of high school nearly 20 years now, so my education is basically considered worthless in the eyes of universities, so have to take a whole slew of things over, grade 11 this, grade 12 that, basically high school over again minus the electives, and BS classes.)

I've been looking into taking a gap year after H.S before going to uni. I think I need the time to decompress from 14 years of government education.

You're being a bit of a drama queen, don't you think?

Why not ask the universities how many gap year students they accepted last year? If your grades are good and you use your time off productively I can't imagine it would be a problem.

However don't get too hung up on the 14 years education. Going straight in and having great summer holidays would work very well too.

Try going somewhere you absolutely hate, every day, 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year for 14 years of your life. Then come back and talk about "being a drama queen". That obviously isn't the majority of people's experience with school but it is/has been mine. The education system needs huge reform and there are studies done to back that up but the government still does nothing.

Thats also a good idea... I suspect i'll get in touch with them closer to graduation. Summer holidays will probably be great regardless , but like I said I need a bit of time. A sabbatical of sorts. I think it will help with my motivation, self esteem and general contentedness.

You are sounding like a forty year old having a mid life crisis. University is great, way different from school, you learn so much and are surrounded by other motivated people. You're treated as an adult and can be as socially active or wonkish as you want. Think about it positively. If you're as negative on Canada as you often purport to be (and I have my doubts) your best bet would be to aim to study overseas on graduation. IMHO.

Oh yes i'm looking forward to uni The courses I want to take sound brilliant and I want to take them. Its the HS courses that are a drag. As for Canada, the negativity comes and goes depending on how many degrees below freezing it is

In all seriousness its probably better for me to do uni closer to parents and then after graduation from uni go abroad. But if the opportunity knocks to take a program that is similar to the one I want here, i'd take it in a second.

Gozit, stop playing the cocky kid routine

That said, I would first speak with your parents since they're the ones footing all of your expenses, do they know what you're thinking of doing?

Also, a year GAP then applying when you get back after the year is a no brainer, that is if you have the marks, because there are people in their twenties, thirties , forties even in their seventies that go to university for the first time, others have done the first year - stopped, then gone back later in life.

There is the option to take three years - five years off, then apply as a mature student

http://www.mcgill.ca/newstudents/tim...aturestudents/

http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/mature

As someone posted up thread ... you are a "drama queen"

If i took a gap year I would be footing the expense so no one else but me would be involved in the decision, thank you very much.

In this case your likely correct, but I hope you don't assume parents pay the cost of education for their kids, many a parents do not provide anything beyond a place to live and food, the student has to figure out how to pay for tuition.

Hate to break it to you, but welcome to the adult world, but add on a few weeks since your not likely to have 12 weeks off per year, but the rest is pretty accurate.

HS is just the start....lol

As much as I hated high school and the bullying, if I could go back with the knowledge of real life I have now, I'd probably rock high school, but we lack the real life knowledge while there.

I've only gone the community college route and it's basically just an adult version of high school, 90% of my classmates where 18/19, I was late 20's, but it felt just like HS.

Aren't you still in Grade 10? Perhaps you should wait another couple of years before you stress about this too much.