Is it okay to check out second semester senior year?

waitingforivy
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:08:48 +0000

Wow! So many responses!

I want to start by clearing up some misconceptions. First of all, I’d like to ask you not to judge me. You really don’t know anything about me, and I don’t need to justify anything.

I love to learn; I would hate going on a gap year because I am looking forward to the academic part of colleges.
However, classes in school are not just learning. They are busywork, and catering to teachers wishes, and a million other things. I have done very well so far; a slight break is not a ridiculous idea.

I am not looking for anyone’s permission, except perhaps my parents. My parents, who know me very well, unlike certain others.
I have always been very independent and made my own decisions. But any decision should be informed. This is one way of obtaining information, and the different views on the issue. That is appreciated.

I might have exaggerated in my post, which could be a source of misunderstanding. I do not intend to go from A’s to C’s. I just want to not obsess over my grades, because they do not reflect my learning. so if that A slips into an A- or a B+, so be it.
Very few of my classes count for college credit as they are IB classes. The ones which count are cumulative, and therefore are dependent on much more than a couple months of class. I will study for them, and I do aim to do well on tests, because I take pride in that.

Interestingly enough, I am much more interested and excited about my extracurricular activities such as science research, lit mag, and some volunteering I do , and would be delighted to have this time to focus on them as well.