What would YOU do with a year off?

[Operatin84]

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All,

Here's the rundown - my school of choice called and told me that they'll give me a full-scholarship... IF I defer a year (otherwise, I get nada for all 4 years). That said, it is a great opportunity to spend a year doing ANYTHING. I don't have to worry about how to make year of spelunking in the alps or being a folk dancing instructor in Thailand sound somehow related to medicine during an interview--I'm already in.

SO here's the question. IF you had a year to do anything at all, what would you do? I don't have enough money to fund a year of randomness without some form of income. I am looking only to make enough to exist. I am up for any suggestions at all, be it serving others abroad or home, or doing something crazy that I will never have the chance to do ever again....

 

[antspants]

A friend of mine traveled around the globe for about 6 months. He found odd jobs as a bartender or waiter in cities...which if you speak English in an American tourist area is pretty easy to do. Had the time of his life and generally enough money to get by. Also think of a full scholarship as saving about $160k in tuition, so spending a little bit of money for one year isn't so bad.

 

[Craigslist]

A friend of mine traveled around the globe for about 6 months. He found odd jobs as a bartender or waiter in cities...which if you speak English in an American tourist area is pretty easy to do.

This. My friend did it and is currently doing it in Europe.


Or you can go on 24/7/365 sexcapade.

 

[phospho]

what school would throw away 160K because they overaccepted someone, when it's so early in the process that the majority of applicants are holding more than one acceptance (it's not even May 15 yet)? It doesn't make sense for a school to say that they have overaccepted when so many people are getting ready to withdraw next week.

 

[Operatin84]

what school would throw away 160K because they overaccepted someone, when it's so early in the process that the majority of applicants are holding more than one acceptance (it's not even May 15 yet)? It doesn't make sense for a school to say that they have overaccepted when so many people are getting ready to withdraw next week.

No... I can matriculate this fall if I want and receive *some* recruitment money (as they call it). But they told me that they could give me a full scholarship if I signed on the dotted line, and deferred a year. I have other offers at other places, just throwing out that this is an interesting opportunity.

 

[Justins]

gotta agree with craigslist. 24/7/365 sexcapade.

 

[Perrotfish]

Travel or MPH

 

[Terpskins99]

what school would throw away 160K because they overaccepted someone, when it's so early in the process that the majority of applicants are holding more than one acceptance (it's not even May 15 yet)? It doesn't make sense for a school to say that they have overaccepted when so many people are getting ready to withdraw next week.

What don't you understand? They offered the OP a full ride next year because they already exhausted all of their scholarships for this year. That doesn't mean they "overaccepted".

 

[phospho]

just throwing out that this is an interesting opportunity.

I would definitely take it, even if it means all you're doing that year is getting drunk... With accrued interest, that is a lot of money. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to think of one good reason to not take that offer.

good luck!

 

[phospho]

What don't you understand? They offered the OP a full ride next year because they already exhausted all of their scholarships for this year. That doesn't mean they "overaccepted".

like i said, a lot of people are getting ready to withdraw (and a lot of them are people who may have gotten scholarship offers, since they're the ones who tend to have the most acceptances). For example, I'm getting ready to withdraw from two schools next week who have given me scholarship offers.

 

[Operatin84]

like i said, a lot of people are getting ready to withdraw (and a lot of them are people who may have gotten scholarship offers, since they're the ones who tend to have the most acceptances). For example, I'm getting ready to withdraw from two schools next week who have given me scholarship offers.

They definitely said that it *may* be possible that enough opens up by May 15 so that I can matriculate with full THIS year... but they can't promise that until May 14.99999

 

[badapplestix]

I would like to go to another country and learn another language (maybe Spanish).

 

[binko]

I'd spend a lot of time on my hobbies: organic gardening, darkroom photography, sewing, cooking, and electroacoustic music. I'd probably have an art show and/or release an album.

 

[mvenus929]

I'd spend time abroad, whether living in another country, or volunteering somewhere. Just doing something outside the US.

 

[WaterBird]

First, I would thank my lucky stars to have been given this gift from adcomm.

Then, I would work my butt off for four months to save up some cash (maybe living at home for optimal savings).

Then, I would buy one of those round the world tickets from STA where it's a flat rate as long as you keep going in one direction.

This still leaves you two months to sit on the couch and find an apartment near your new school.

 

[eman53007]

I'm currently on my year off, I found work in New York as a POA (physician office assistant) at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Didn't do a good job saving tho, even while living at home...

If you're looking for a job in NY, I would be able to refer...

 

[afugazzi]

Hey Operatin84, I saw your post so I signed up just so I could reply. I got the same offer the same day (so probably from the same school.) I plan on taking the deal, but I'm worried about how much I can trust it. They said they'd send something in writing that would "give me the scholarship," whatever that means, and then I would request a deferral. Have you seen what the contract or whatever they're sending looks like? I was thinking of showing it to a lawyer when I get it just to make sure. It sounds like an awesome deal, and it would be awful if it fell through.

 

[erskine]

i am just about to embark on a 2-3 year hiatus between undergrad and med school. In it i plan to become an amateur mixed martial arts fighter (and hopefully attain a low professional contract), release a rap album i've been working on for a few years, and go surfing every single morning i'm back home. I'm also looking to gain a commercial fishing license and do some deep sea fishing, maybe start a tourist business with some friends.

in other words, a lot of random crap that i've wanted to do all this time in undergrad, but didn't have to time or willpower to follow through.

 

[sarahg]

I'd find the best paying job I could and live like a pauper to save up for a few months, then spend the rest of the time traveling through some especially inexpensive part of the world. I'd probably pick central America (maybe start in Nicaragua and make my way down to Panama) but southeast Asia would be a good choice too. Work on my Spanish, surf a lot, maybe find a school to volunteer to teach English at. I do think that if you're traveling to a poor country it's better to work at home and save up rather than take a job from locals, even if you're able to get one because of your English skills (unless you are able to get a job as an English teacher which a local cannot do). If you're traveling in the developed world, though, taking jobs isn't unethical so long as you do it legally (I think Australia and New Zealand even have working holiday permits designed for this).

 

[MonkeyChow]

If I had another year to blow, I would work waaaaay less and travel waaaay more. I second Sarahg, work hard for a bit, save some money and spend it all traveling. Asia is very cheap, South/Central America...even parts of Europe. I am headed to Africa here in a bit and it is very cheap to backpack there.

 

[jackson1]

I'm taking next year off and will spend the first part working (waitressing, working at my dad's store, possibly substitute teaching) and volunteering at a local hospital. Then I plan on going on an extensive traveling trip for about 4 months starting in march or april, probably to south america. I've been on statravel.com a lot where you can plan your trip around the world it's amazing and the flights are super cheap (about 5000 dollars for 20 flights)!!! lonelyplanet.com is great for deciding which places would be cool to see as well! I'm SO excited! anyone want to be my travel buddy?🙂

 

[littlealex]

I took a year off and traveled far and wide, reaching 7 countries in 6 months. Best decision of my life. I don't think I will ever have such an opportunity until I retire.
Travel my young friend, travel. Take a guide book, a little bit of money, and make your way across different countries. Ask your parents for a 50K loan, store all your things at their place, end the lease on your apartment, and just go.

Travel around for a few months, stay in hostiles, eat cheaply, and see and experience as much as you can. When you like a place a lot, look around town for an odd job. Work hard, live life, then quit and move on.

Fall in love, break up, fall in love again.