The only consequence is that you'll be a year older if you graduate. My LA came up with up the fees - eventually, I even got a grant, but those blagging days are long gone.

Careful with top up fees next year, three was a chick in my office who was considering taking a second year out to work and asked to defer her diploma at the Bartlett. The theory is that she shouldnt have to pay them but since she's a transfer student the Bartlett said that she might have to if she didn't join this year, in any case it seems like it's a massive gray area and nobody was willing to give her some firm commitments in writing with regard to her fees. So she decided to go back to school in september to avoid getting screwed financially next year. In my opinion, the danger of taking too many years out is that you will get increasingly drawn into work, be given more and more responsabilities and end up being completely disconnected from school and unable to go back. Good luck whatever you chose to do.

Thanks, guys.

I'm kinda enjoying the whole junior level thing right now, which has relatively little responsibility. I came from the UK to the US to work, which is where I am now, and have found attitudes quite different. In the UK architectural education seems pretty linear and straight-forward; whereas, in the US it seems people's paths tend to be more organic and meandering, and graduate school is much more about personal exploration than professional qualifications. As I see it.

Anyway, the point being that I've become a little infected with the attitude I've felt in the US. And so, shouldn't I go back when I'm ready, or really want to, and not just when I can? Especially when I'm enjoying myself, and especially when I look around those 10 years ahead of me and see that there's really not much need to rush?