Right now, I am honestly seriously considering the prospect of taking a gap year.
I don't believe that I would be disadvantaged in any manner by resuming studies a year later than the rest of the girls. I don't want my life to be consumed by a fixed and limited syllabus so quickly.
There are simply so many things I'd like to delve into and study on my own before having to make a decision on a specific area of study. I want to at least make sure I know what it is I am talking about when I write my personal statement. Right now, it would probably consist of bullshit and hastily researched facts. Not quite my style.
The recent "verbal sparring" session I had with Zhu Lin really revealed the extent of my ignorance. I claim to be interested in political science, but I wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between Socialism Communism Fascism Trotskyism Leninism etc etc. And there I was trying to prove my case against democracy when I know balls about any democracy outside of the US. Useless.
There are many many books I'd like to have time to read and study. I don't think up to next September is sufficient time.
But I'll have a hard time convincing my parents, I think. But increasingly I am coming to believe that taking a gap year will help me more than plunging headfirst into college will.
Whatever I still have some time to think this over. Gotta ace them As first though.