The Gap Year Association (GYA), an accreditation and standards-setting organization for gap years, defines a gap year as “a structured period of time when a student takes an intentional break from formal education.” The association estimates about 40,000 Americans and Canadians participate in gap year experiences annually.
There are many reasons for taking a year off of school. You might be feeling burned out and need a breather, similar to 35% of the respondents of the Gap Year Alumni 2020 Survey. Or, you might need to work on getting funding or saving up for your MA, as 5% of the survey respondents answered. Whatever the reason, going on a gap year can be beneficial for you.
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Taking a break from school can result in good things. The recent GYA survey found that those who went on a gap year reaped the following benefits:
Aside from these, a gap year can also allow time for personal reflection without the demands of school life, provide an opportunity to expand your network and become a storehouse of interesting stories you can retell for life.
If you’ve decided to enroll in an MA when you return to school, a gap year provides an opportunity to prepare for it. Here’s how you can make the most of your gap year so that you’re confident and well-prepared once you begin your MA journey.
You need to have at least a basic, general roadmap, which is flexible enough for any unexpected changes. It’s also essential to establish some ground rules to guide you during your gap year and ensure it will be a transformative one.
Your plan should answer the following questions:
Another approach to planning your gap year is to break it into chunks. Or, you could talk to a specialist and ask for expert guidance.
Gap year experiences that allow you to learn new skills or other documentable personal development can positively influence your grad school application. Unlike your undergrad application, grad schools will do a more holistic review of your experiences. So, depending on your major, a volunteer stint at AmeriCorps, for instance, could set you apart from other applicants.
So as not to forget anything important, make an MA application checklist before taking the year off. This could include things such as:
Don’t forget to allot enough time to process all your application requirements.
Old habits die hard, so a gap year is the best time to review your behavior during your undergraduate days and change them for the better.
Changing any habit can be hard, so give yourself time to get rid of the old and adjust to the new. You’ll be thankful you revamped your unproductive habits once you begin your MA.
There are a lot of gap year experiences you can choose from. The Gap Year Alumni 2020 Survey found 246 different types of gap year experiences, with a majority of the respondents (89%) traveling outside the U.S. and Canada. Of these, 77% joined a structured program, including Carpe Diem and Adventures Cross Country. Aside from traveling, respondents also participated in volunteer or service work, learned a new language, did coursework, or worked for pay.
While traveling in and of itself is a rewarding experience, doing so with the purpose of gaining professional experience would be most beneficial to your future MA dream. Fellowships and volunteering can further you along this path.
This will not only add a nice career experience for your resume but also allow you to learn new skills. Ideally, you should choose one that’s in line with your chosen field, but you can also try out working in a different profession. Either way, you’ll gain knowledge and skills that will give you an edge over other MA students or the experience can provide insights into whether you’re pursuing the right path or not so you can coursecorrect early on.
The GYA 2020 survey found that the top 10 gap year programs included Carpe Diem Education, Adventures Cross Country and Where There Be Dragons. Other organizations, such as Americorps, FEMA Corps, Move for America, Public Allies and Teach for America, also offer fellowship programs worth checking out.
One big benefit you can gain from volunteering is getting immersed in different cultures and gaining insight into how they see the world. Some worthwhile volunteering opportunities include Peace Corps, WorldTeach and EarthCorps. You can browse other volunteering opportunities at Idealist and VolunteerMatch.
A gap year is a good time to do advanced reading of your course books. (At the very least, you’ll have enough time to find a cheap one for sale online.) You’ll find a list on your course’s website or you can email the school.
The goal is not to read everything but to be comfortable with the course content. Look at the list and pick a book or two that you find interesting. Get a copy and schedule a time for you to read them.
Take it a step further and conduct extra research so you can have a deeper understanding of the subject. Check out the latest essays and journals about your course or interesting subject area, and schedule time to read them regularly.
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Financial issues, i.e., potentially high cost of paying for the gap year, can be a drawback. But, if you don’t have the funds or if working won’t be able to finance your year off of school, there are organizations that offer scholarships.
The Gap Year Association lists scholarships, grants and other financial aid you can avail to go on a gap year domestically or abroad. GoAbroad also has a list of scholarships that focuses on studying abroad.
Organization is important in grad school because unlike your undergraduate years, MA is all about application. In other words, you’re expected to already know the information and the focus is on its application. A note-taking system can be as simple or detailed as you like using tools like Evernote or nested folders in Google Drive.
Going through grad school can be grueling but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Your MA class will most probably have an assortment of students, some with career experience you can glean from. So, if you see a familiar face, reach out and be helpful. You might find them to be a great source of advice and practical input. Plus, you’ll be making a network of intelligent people you can collaborate with in future.
Your social media profiles can be a great way to show off your achievements and help you build a professional network in your industry.
During your gap year, look through your online profiles. Clean your Twitter and Facebook so that it’s professional, and ensure your LinkedIn profile is comprehensive. Consolidate the information on them, so that those who might search for you online will see your experience and expertise.
Although there are many benefits to taking a year off of school, some people have experienced drawbacks.
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