I'm assuming that you are talking about a situation where you're in the middle of a college degree, and the only reason for taking a year off would be financial, to make some money to reduce debt.

My thoughts on that...

- If you're in financial trouble, go talk to the relevant people at your college. They may have funds to help students in serious trouble, and even if not they can probably offer good advice.

- Consider whether the work you'd de doing would actually enhance the value of your degree. Some degrees have a year out built into their structure, because with degrees like business, computing and engineering getting practical experience can enhance your learning, and your ultimate value to an employer.

- If that might be a fit for you, talk to your tutors. They may have helpful ideas.

- In other subject areas, it's like taking a year out of playing a sport, you will take a while to get back to the level you were playing at before. Especially true for math and some sciences, if you're not using the skills in your job.

- If the jobs you could get in your year off are low-payng, not related to your degree, and not part of your the career you intend to pursue, it's probably a bad idea to take the year out.

- This year is not the best of times to be looking for a job of any kinds! There are top firms out there that are hiring graduates and doing things like giving them six months unpaid leave, and telling them to start work next year. It's a good year to be in college!

- What you gain in money this year, unless the year actually enhances your value, you will way more than lose by the delay in starting your "proper" career

Basically unless you can get a job doing something very degree and career related, it's worth doing what it takes to stay in college.

That's a tough question, but I would have to say finish it up now and get it over with. If you drop out now and try to get a job to pay off the debt, you may lose the motivation to go back. I agree with the person above, once you have the degree, you will be able to get a higher paying job. Once you do that you can pay off the debt.

I think this depends on the person. I would rather take year off and pay off debt because I know I will always have the desire to learn. Even if took a year off (or more) my motivation for learning will always be there.

If you are even considering if you will not be motivated or not, then go to college right away. After student loans you will be in debt again anyways.

You're more likely to get out of debt quicker with the higher income you will have with the degree. Plus you won't get sidetracked and will be less likely to loose motivation.

I've watched several friends get sidetracked. For most of them it did not turn out well. One of them finally went back and ended up getting a different degree, but he ended up with more debt because of not finishing the first one.

One should continue with studies even if debt are there . Loss of year can show negative impression on your profile plus you can loose the motivation in due course