What did you/are you doing for your gap year?

[kkuhn]

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For all those who have taken, or are taking, a gap year: what are you doing? I'm just curious!

I'm spending next year in Denver as a Catholic missionary. (I'm a 2012 applicant.)

 

[glikegrandpa]

Who is there to convert in Denver? Why not do like the more gunner-type missionaries and come to a third-world country to brainwash its citizens by luring them in with promises of "well, all the developed nations are largely Christian and don't you want to be rich and developed"?

For all those who have taken, or are taking, a gap year: what are you doing? I'm just curious!

I'm spending next year in Denver as a Catholic missionary. (I'm a 2012 applicant.)

 

[PiBond]

I worked as an OR Tech and a teacher.

 

[FattySlug]

Working as an accountant to pay the bills and such. It pays better than some of the lab positions I could find in my area. Hopefully no one on admission committee would give me a hard time about this.

 

[Longshanks]

For all those who have taken, or are taking, a gap year: what are you doing? I'm just curious!

I'm spending next year in Denver as a Catholic missionary. (I'm a 2012 applicant.)

Who is there to convert in Denver? Why not do like the more gunner-type missionaries and come to a third-world country to brainwash its citizens by luring them in with promises of "well, all the developed nations are largely Christian and don't you want to be rich and developed"?

[youtube]jJSVwTEft7A[/youtube]

 

[mvenus929]

I worked as a phlebotomist, and took care of my little sisters.

 

[help2]

I worked as a medical assistant in a gynecologist's office- I took vitals, gave vaccines, ran some labs, but mostly I assisted the doctor with procedures and general visits. It was a full time job, and paid pretty well.

 

[Tapepsi]

If I didn't get in this year I was going to go on a trip with 2 friends to Italy. I also was going to live with my aunt and uncle for 2 months b/c I was given the opportunity to take an internship shadowing a very well known pediatrician (although things could have gotten messy if I received interviews). Kind of bummed I got in this cyclle actually...

Nah I'm kidding. After all of the money that me (and my parents!) had to put into this hellish application cycle, I'm glad I only had to do it once especially since I got into my top choice!!

Now off to med school in 2 months...

 

[Glazebrook]

Just finished the first of my 2 gap years as a high school bio teacher through Teach For America

 

[deleted307836]

Just finished the first of my 2 gap years as a high school bio teacher through Teach For America

How have you liked it so far?

 

[kansaskid]

I'm getting ready to start my second gap year as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. Woot!

 

[KLycos]

clinical research coordinator at Penn Medicine for 2 years

 

[Glazebrook]

How have you liked it so far?

I've personally had a really good experience with it. There are definitely hard times when you question whether you're making a difference or not. But there are also times when the students succeed and you know that you played a big role in making it happen. I'm also in a very rural region so my experience is different compared to other inner-city corps members.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

I'm working as a scribe in an ER up to 36 hours a week. It's great experience and I'm getting a few LOR out of it.

 

[235788]

special masters program. I want to prevent a second gap year.

 

[alexrgross]

I'm getting ready to start my second gap year as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. Woot!

Hey thats great! I am coming to Togo with Projects Abroad for teaching English. Ill be there June 15th let me know if you go to Togo. Ill do the same if I go to Benin.

 

[capn jazz]

I'm entering my 3rd gap year (applying this cycle) as an English teacher in Japan.

 

[gamerstud77]

I've personally had a really good experience with it. There are definitely hard times when you question whether you're making a difference or not. But there are also times when the students succeed and you know that you played a big role in making it happen. I'm also in a very rural region so my experience is difference compared to other inner-city corps members.

I realize this may be different per state. However, did you have to get any sort of teaching certificate?

 

[mnoon1]

for my TWO gap years 😀 I worked as a CNA, took grad/postbacc classes ~6-8hrs/semester, did research for a prof (paid-position), and shadowed. at reapplicant(waitlisted) workshop they said i was doing the right stuff and just keep doing what I was doing if I didnt get in this cycle.

 

[Glazebrook]

I realize this may be different per state. However, did you have to get any sort of teaching certificate?

In NC you enter as a "Lateral Entry" teacher, meaning you don't need any sort of preparation beforehand (although as a TFA corps member you do spend the previous summer at Institute.) While teaching, you must fulfill a certain number of classes to take towards your certification. Certification here takes 3 years, even though my TFA obligation is only 2 years. A lot of TFA CMs in my part of NC actually stay a 3rd year to pick up that certification, although I think I'll only be staying for 2 years. I take my courses online through a state university since I'm in a rural placement site, but I know that other regions (e.g. Atlanta) requires you to be there in person.

 

[Ursa]

Currently spending my gap year as an Americorps member. I'll be done on July 15th and am moving off to school that weekend! Americorps is definitely a great application builder and conversation topic for interviews.