The Gap Year 101: Debunking 5 Common Misconceptions
If you think your gap year is an excuse to take it easy before graduate school, think again
I began my gap year kicking and screaming. You see, I did not find out until February of my senior year in college that I would not be heading back to a classroom in the fall. Having not gained admission into a PhD program in Clinical Psychology, I felt a gap year was an impediment to fulfilling my dream to become a doctor. I imagined spending the year watching the clock as I waited for the next application cycle to roll around, and that when I did, I would craft a much stronger application based on my last semester of research and employment. I had no idea what I would be doing for an entire year that I hadn't already done. As an undergraduate, I was highly involved in my university's research scene. I had conducted my own projects both domestically and abroad, published an article, and worked full-time as a research assistant my last semester...what more could I possibly do? To be honest, my ego was significantly bruised and for a while, I contemplated if psychology was worth my continued pursuit after giving it my all and being knocked down. Feeling like I had completely failed, I was reluctant to initiate the job search because it symbolized the idea that my dreams would be temporarily halted. At least, that's what I thought at the time.
5 Misconceptions about the Gap Year
“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley
Admittedly, there was a lot wrong with my thinking and it would take approximately 6 months post-graduation for me to realize that my gap year would serve as perhaps the most crucial part of my application and readiness for a graduate program. Underlying my disdain, were common misconceptions about a gap year. These included:
Taking a gap year is for lazy people
Taking a gap year will make you lazy
Taking a gap year signifies you are unqualified for graduate school
Taking a gap year is a waste of time and will set you back
Taking a gap year is looked down upon by society and admissions
Whether you are like me and planned to go straight back to school or if you had banked on taking a gap year all along, these misconceptions can creep up on you. My views regarding taking a gap year or gap year(s) changed immensely as I began to immerse myself in my own. There are many options for a gap year. Some choose to travel the world via independent trips or non-profits. Others choose to complete formal post-baccalaureate programs and take coursework in their desired field. I chose to seek a meaningful job that would allow me to grow in my skills as a researcher. After 120 applications, I landed a job as an entry-level public health analyst 2 weeks before graduation. I would be working at RTI International, a major non-profit research organization which houses over 5,000 employees across 29 domestic and international offices. The experience has been a positive one and I want to share with you all through this series what I did to craft a meaningful gap year.
There are obvious reasons I love my gap year. For starters, I managed to land a job directly in the field I wish to get my next degree in. I knew that choosing to work at my company would prepare me for a research-oriented career in clinical psychology. I am publishing articles, presenting at national conferences, and managing 4-6 projects surrounding mental health, trauma, and resilience. Being engaged in psychological science for 8+ hours of my day has increased my skill-level and confidence in the field. It's also assured me that this is something I could do for a lifetime.
What I didn't know is that this job would give me the opportunities to refine (and expand) my interests, improve my soft skills such as time management and communication, and inspire me to dream bigger. After talking with many people at my job, I was shocked to learn that nearly everyone above me had taken at least one year off between undergraduate and graduate studies. I learned that we are all on our own timeline and that in order to truly succeed, we have to play by our own rules and trust the uncertainty of our life paths. I realized one of the reasons I loved school was because it was predictable and fixed- everyone going through the same timetable with the same ultimate goal- a degree. My gap year gave me freedom. I've explored volunteering and become involved in my community. There weren't clubs begging for members or sign-ups on every bathroom stall. I had to actively seek opportunities that meant something to me. Having work end at 5pm was vastly different from the never-ending stress of being a student. No longer was I up at 2am working on vocabulary cards or papers about the revolutionary war. I now have the time to work on my dreams and build a routine that allows me to be the most productive in order to reach my goals. My gap year has made me far from lazy- in fact, I'm more active and focused now than I ever was in college. I don't believe I was unqualified for graduate school, but I do believe I am much more prepared now.
To be frank, I'm not sure I'm meant for 8 hours under a fluorescent light and the most exciting thing that happened to me this week is my coffee mug got stolen (let me know if you've seen it!). This year has allowed me to discover my passions...and my dislikes. My gap year has challenged my independence- each day I have a team depending on me to complete my share of the work or take on new tasks that seem impossible. I have a fixed income and a budget to adhere to and there are no club meetings with free food. My friends now have their own work lives and dynamics regarding friendships are constantly evolving. Finally, I have had to redefine myself apart from the student identity I had held for so long. For years I had let my school work, major, and class year define me when asked: "So tell me about yourself." Now I am a real adult, with real interests and goals that do not just involve graduating and finding a job. College had allowed me to continuously refer to my dreams and goals as "someday"- now that day is every day.
My goal of this series isn't to persuade you to take a gap year if you're going thinking about going straight into grad school. My goal also isn't to make myself feel better after being forced into a plan B via rejection letters. The gap year is a wonderful time of personal growth and career development that I believe can only be beneficial for someone considering an advanced degree. To the anxious college senior and the exhausted recent graduate- I see you. It gets better! Trust your instinct and follow the desires of your heart. Continue reading the next couple weeks as I outline 5 truths about the gap year, explain options for what to do during a gap year, and share fun tidbits about my own experience
