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I have a good GPA (>3.8) and my adviser only noted that I lacked shadowing, which he differentiated from volunteering. I know someone who've I've shadowed before for a few weeks but stopped. I can shadow them again - that's not too big of a deal. And if that doesn't work out somehow I could take a course at my university which, upon completion, grants you an opportunity to shadow someone.
The thing is I can't go straight into D-school. My brain is fried from schoolwork and involvement. I basically know I need a gap year. However, I don't know what exactly I should do for my gap year. I asked my adviser and he said that teaching is a good option, and it's something I've been thinking about. These are the things I have in mind:
1) Teach in the school district I graduated from. They are hurting for teachers. My former teachers also promised to put in a good word for me should I choose to apply there.
Pros: I can live with my parents and save on rent. I can also choose the amount of time I want to commit to teaching - I can teach for one year or two since teachers are all on yearly contracts. There are also several hospitals in the area my parents are in and I know I can shadow a dentist there. Cons: I have to live with my parents (this is a big deal for me).
2) Join TFA or City Year.
Pros: I can go somewhere else. I'm bored of where I am. I'm bored of home too.
Cons: I'm probably not going to a vacation destination. Yeah I'll be somewhere new and novel but I keep hearing horror stories of how teachers in TFA are swamped with stuff to do. TFA also has a two-year commitment.
3) Get a minor in stats. This is something that has been suggested to me and it makes sense ... but I don't think I can handle it. I'm burned out and I'm not particularly interested in stats. However, bio degrees are useless by themselves, but it seems that bio + stats is in vogue.
So what are good gap year activities? I enjoy teaching and it's something I know I am going to emphasize on my application (I've been an undergraduate TA for several science courses; I've been hired by the university to tutor students in various sciences; I work with underprivileged kids at schools near my university, etc.)
The thing is I can't go straight into D-school. My brain is fried from schoolwork and involvement. I basically know I need a gap year. However, I don't know what exactly I should do for my gap year. I asked my adviser and he said that teaching is a good option, and it's something I've been thinking about. These are the things I have in mind:
1) Teach in the school district I graduated from. They are hurting for teachers. My former teachers also promised to put in a good word for me should I choose to apply there.
Pros: I can live with my parents and save on rent. I can also choose the amount of time I want to commit to teaching - I can teach for one year or two since teachers are all on yearly contracts. There are also several hospitals in the area my parents are in and I know I can shadow a dentist there. Cons: I have to live with my parents (this is a big deal for me).
2) Join TFA or City Year.
Pros: I can go somewhere else. I'm bored of where I am. I'm bored of home too.
Cons: I'm probably not going to a vacation destination. Yeah I'll be somewhere new and novel but I keep hearing horror stories of how teachers in TFA are swamped with stuff to do. TFA also has a two-year commitment.
3) Get a minor in stats. This is something that has been suggested to me and it makes sense ... but I don't think I can handle it. I'm burned out and I'm not particularly interested in stats. However, bio degrees are useless by themselves, but it seems that bio + stats is in vogue.
So what are good gap year activities? I enjoy teaching and it's something I know I am going to emphasize on my application (I've been an undergraduate TA for several science courses; I've been hired by the university to tutor students in various sciences; I work with underprivileged kids at schools near my university, etc.)
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