Hi,
I was wondering what would be a productive way to spend a gap year. I recognize that this is a very personalized question, but I'd like some insights or perhaps some personal anecdotes. I intend to apply in June. My main worry is if I do not gain an acceptance, I don't want to have "wasted" my year doing stuff that wouldn't help me in a reapplication.
I was considering taking a 12 week RDA course over the summer and working as one until matriculation, assuming acceptance. However, entry level assistants of course don't make much, esp here in Cali. I'm also not entirely sure this would boost a reapplication because I've worked as an unregistered assistant/sterilization before. I could instead try to find a position as an unreg assistant to save time/money if it doesn't matter as much.
Alternatively, I could take up a job at a nonprofit I used to work for, this would pay better but is entirely unrelated to dentistry, it has to do with mental health. This is a remote position and I could technically work both here and part time as a DA.
I could also of course do some kind of self-exploration or whatever, but that sounds like a bit of a waste.
Basically my question boils down to whether it is worth tailoring my gap year to assuming I don't get an acceptance. I feel that I have a competitive application, but you never know, of course.
I was wondering what would be a productive way to spend a gap year. I recognize that this is a very personalized question, but I'd like some insights or perhaps some personal anecdotes. I intend to apply in June. My main worry is if I do not gain an acceptance, I don't want to have "wasted" my year doing stuff that wouldn't help me in a reapplication.
I was considering taking a 12 week RDA course over the summer and working as one until matriculation, assuming acceptance. However, entry level assistants of course don't make much, esp here in Cali. I'm also not entirely sure this would boost a reapplication because I've worked as an unregistered assistant/sterilization before. I could instead try to find a position as an unreg assistant to save time/money if it doesn't matter as much.
Alternatively, I could take up a job at a nonprofit I used to work for, this would pay better but is entirely unrelated to dentistry, it has to do with mental health. This is a remote position and I could technically work both here and part time as a DA.
I could also of course do some kind of self-exploration or whatever, but that sounds like a bit of a waste.
Basically my question boils down to whether it is worth tailoring my gap year to assuming I don't get an acceptance. I feel that I have a competitive application, but you never know, of course.
