Taking a Gap year in undergrad?

[Namie]

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I want to take a gap year in my undergrad, before I transfer into a university and right after my CC classes are over. I want to do what I wanted to do before my youth is all dried up and live my dream career (not going to do that forever though because youth is a requirement).

I rather get 2 years of college done before I take a gap year, so that's why I am going to college now, or else I may never go into it.

Has anyone took a gap year during undergrad?

 

[Morsetlis]

Take a gap year whenever you want, but be sure you can say something about it other than "I went skydiving and spear-fishing and made several new girlfriends."

 

[goldenwest]

Take a gap year whenever you want, but be sure you can say something about it other than "I went skydiving and spear-fishing and made several new girlfriends."

Actually I don't think it would be too bad to say just that. Explain that medicine is your passion but that you wanted to use your youth while you had it. People understand that and will think skydiving/spear-fishing/whatever else is interesting. I took a year off in undergrad and went on a cross-country road trip. As long as it isn't showing that you're lazy, undedicated, etc. then do whatever you want. It won't HURT you. Of course, it would HELP if you spent it doing something awesome that you could share like medical missions, research, EMT, or just something genuinely... awesome. "I wrote a book." "I traveled across Asia with my backpack and tent." "I started a non-profit." You know... whatevs.

 

[CattL]

Hey agreeing with the other posts here; a gap year should be fine but you'll need to show you did something worthwhile with it. I would say go and off and have some fun by all means but factor in something valuable like volunteering, a project like this http://www.realgap.co.uk/malawi-medical-volunteers would only take up a few weeks and would look great on your application, good luck!

 

[CodeBlu]

Actually I don't think it would be too bad to say just that. Explain that medicine is your passion but that you wanted to use your youth while you had it. People understand that and will think skydiving/spear-fishing/whatever else is interesting. I took a year off in undergrad and went on a cross-country road trip. As long as it isn't showing that you're lazy, undedicated, etc. then do whatever you want. It won't HURT you. Of course, it would HELP if you spent it doing something awesome that you could share like medical missions, research, EMT, or just something genuinely... awesome. "I wrote a book." "I traveled across Asia with my backpack and tent." "I started a non-profit." You know... whatevs.

I need to do this

 

[paul411]

Hey agreeing with the other posts here; a gap year should be fine but you'll need to show you did something worthwhile with it. I would say go and off and have some fun by all means but factor in something valuable like volunteering, a project like this http://www.realgap.co.uk/malawi-medical-volunteers would only take up a few weeks and would look great on your application, good luck!

Also consider helping out the needy right here in America by volunteering at free clinics.

 

[CodeBlu]

Also consider helping out the needy right here in America by volunteering at free clinics.

Yes.