Go – Go - Gap Year!

We are big fans of gap years here at LAS Career Services.

A gap year or three may not be feasible for everyone. We get that. Where it is an option, though, we see a lot of advantages to taking some time out between your undergraduate education and a graduate program. Here’s why:

  1. For most of your life, you have been a student. The external validation of grades and academic success has defined you up until now. A gap year can help you figure out who you are when your life isn’t shaped by academic pressures and expectations.
  2. In some cases, a gap year can give you the opportunity to work in the field that you are considering for graduate school, to ensure that the graduate credential you seek will get you somewhere you want to go.
  3. The decision to go directly to grad school is often informed by fear of the post-college job search or belief (usually wrong) that one doesn’t have any good alternatives to graduate school. Taking time to assess one’s skills and strengths, explore potential career paths, and gain some work experience makes it possible to choose grad school with a sense of purpose rather than desperation.

What to Do During a Gap Year

  1. Get a regular job! If you are mostly thinking about grad school because you don’t have any better ideas, finding a full-time professional job (the same as you would do if you weren’t headed to grad school) can help you build confidence in your skills and gain clarity about what you want your professional life to look like. It can also give you time and space to explore exactly what kind of graduate credential you want to pursue.
  2. Get a job related to the kind of grad school you’re thinking about! Paraprofessional roles exist in many professions, so that you can get some exposure to field you are interested in and confirm that the credential you are pursuing will take you in a direction that you want. Alternatively, you may discover that the path you have in mind is not a good fit. Here are some possibilities – note that some require additional certification/training and some do not require a BA/BS:
  • Medical school -- lab technician, certified nurse assistant, phlebotomist, hospital office support or clerk.
  • Law school -- paralegal, law office support, administrative assistant for a nonprofit related to your legal interests
  • PsyD, MSW -- intake coordinator, case manager, night staff for a residential facility  
  • MSLIS/MLIS -- library clerk
  • Master’s in human resources -- HR generalist, recruiter, entry-level business role
  • Master’s in public health or public policy -- administrative support role for state or local agency or health/policy nonprofit.
  • Master’s in education – office support in higher ed, teacher’s aide, after school program staff
  1. Find service opportunities: Peace Corps, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, City Year, Americorps, Teach for America, various programs for teaching English abroad, etc. Some of these require a two-year commitment and an extensive application process, some do not. They all offer remuneration – some more livable than others. All will give you valuable experience relevant for a wide range of potential future paths.

What about Getting Recommendations?

If grad school will be in your future, it’s good to let the faculty members you will be asking for recommendations know about intentions. Build a relationship with them by asking for advice on grad school programs and gap year ideas, and ask if they will be willing to write for you in future. Try to keep copies of any graded work that you did in their class (with the professor’s comments, if possible). Check in every six months or so after you graduate to let them know what you’re doing and when you will be applying.

When you are finally ready to start the application process, write a detailed email about your plans, and include documents that will help the faculty member remember who you are and write a stronger letter: that graded work you kept, your resume, a draft of your personal statement, and any other relevant materials. Provide clear instructions about where the letter should go, including links and deadlines.

 

For more ideas on navigating your future career path, visit our LAS Career Services Blog. 

By Kirstin Wilcox, Director of LAS Career Services