The Books
Time off can have a variety of effects on your return to the classroom. So while you're gone, no matter what your reason for being away, continue to challenge yourself intellectually. Keep up your reading on various subjects. Visit museums and cultural events, even catch some good educational programming. And before you hit campus again, start getting back into the school schedule. Wake up early most every morning. Do some writing to keep your skills sharp. Consider taking a community education class so the classroom setting doesn't completely jolt you.

For Eric S. who took a year off to get experience in the work world, "getting back into the academic mindset took a little while, but that was exactly what I wanted. The old study habits, both good and bad (mostly bad), weren't at my fingertips anymore, so it was the perfect time to change my approach to schoolwork."

If you know without a doubt that you'll be back, time away could recharge your knowledge-powered batteries and remind you why learning about the Periodic Table is indeed stimulating. In John B.'s case: "I had built up a huge amount of frustrated energy by the end of high school, without really being aware of it or how to deal with it. Funneling that energy into things that had nothing to do with school was a huge relief. I was ready to accept the concept of textbooks again." (John had taken a year off to try out various careers and live on his own.)

The Social Whirl
If you're highly attuned to what your friends are doing and running with the pack helps you stay on course, be aware that your peers will be taking steps that might appear, at least on paper, to be moving them ahead of you.

Throughout your scholastic career, there hasn't been a chance to step off the track and watch the world go by. Everyone has been sharing experiences and reaching milestones more or less simultaneously. In taking time off, it might feel odd to let the pack run ahead. On the other hand, a step sideways can lead to an avenue where the footing is far more secure. At the end of your time off, take stock of the ways you personally have moved ahead. You might need to remind yourself of these from time to time back at school.

Maturity
People "grow" at different rates. There's no shame in recognizing a need to add a layer of experience before taking the next step in life. You might find that time off allows you to settle into a place that suits you better. John was academically right on par with his classmates, but wasn't mature in other ways. "Going to college after my year off, I felt right at home alongside kids who had been in high school while I was working internships. I needed the time to catch up a little bit."

Catherine F. actually felt like she was a step ahead of her classmates when she returned to school after a year off that included a two-month, solo road trip. "We were all first-years, but the people I met seemed so young! Naïve… I was seasoned."

Cover Your Bases
Eric's parents insisted that he get accepted at a good school and then defer his admission, as opposed to delaying the whole process. This is a great way to relieve some of the "What if?" pressure of a year off. You'll know exactly where you're headed at the end of your stint. And in times of upheaval and uncertainty, that can be a very comfortable thing.