Julianna MenendezSenior BIOSC major & pre-med student Walking into freshman year, it feels as though everyone has this strict time schedule they hope to adhere to for the next four years. While scheduling and making years-ahead plans is never a bad thing, life tends to jump in the way and plans do not always work out. My first year I had an eight-year plan that involved moving right from undergrad into medical school, and here I am preparing to graduate in a few months with absolutely no intention of starting med school in the fall. Whether or not you plan on continuing your education in any capacity after undergrad, changes to schedules are okay! But it is also great to plan on having a gap year from the beginning! Whether you are like me - adjusting as I am going - or planned a gap from the beginning, let’s explore some options on how to fill in that time with meaningful progress (while still allowing yourself a break). Financials are often a considerable concern when deciding to pursue more education. In this case, an option would be finding (or continuing) a job in the field you wish to continue studying. Remember, during your gap year you will have a degree (!!!), so look around or ask for referrals from previous employers or professors for jobs that encompass what you’ve learned. Depending on the field you want to go into, you can do research, clinical jobs, paid internships, tutoring/teaching positions, and so much more! If you have the privilege of financial stability, there are innumerable options for unpaid internships and volunteering both nationally and internationally. While you will gain experience working in your field of study, you also gain the opportunity to move to a new environment and work with new people. Furthermore, various forms of service to a community or population look very good on graduate/professional school applications. If neither of those interest you, many people choose to travel during their gap years to experience, interact with, and learn from different cultures. In doing so, students gain valuable experiences to take with them to their further education, or these different experiences may allow them to find a new path entirely!
Gap years can be an incredible opportunity to continue your education before continuing your education (stick with me here :)). Graduate and professional schools can be competitive to get into, and components such as GPA, GRE/MCAT scores, and experience can play a significant role in your entry into programs. If you struggled in undergrad or didn’t perform as well as you’d hoped on your exam, a gap year is a great time to retake courses, boost your GPA, or study and retake your exam. If you feel secure in those aspects but not as secure in your experience, a gap year provides you with ample time to gain the specific experiences you feel will bolster your applications. Ultimately, moving straight through is not for everyone in the same way that taking a gap year is not for everyone. However, gap years can provide valuable time to take it easy on yourself while also better-preparing yourself for the future.
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January 2022
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