Does it matter I took a year off after my BA to work in a completely unrelated field? Or will that hurt my chances of getting into grad school? Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-03-15 19:15:05 · 5 answers · asked by Gwen. 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Working for a year after college will have absolutely no bearing on your chances for graduate admission, especially if you are considering graduate study in the humanities or social sciences.
If you worked in the field you intend to study, it will certainly bolster your application (especially in the sciences).
The most important factors in admission will be your GREs, your undergraduate GPA in your major (if it is your intended field of study), your letters of recommendation, and your personal statement.
(Note that I mentioned GREs, because you did not specify whether you are considering graduate level study in business, medicine, or law. My answer would be quite different if you were considering an MBA, for instance.)
I wish you success!
2007-03-15 19:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by X 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most schools look for your cumulative GPA since they get people from all walks of life (at least that's what I was told at my school). Something tells me that you went to a traditional 4-year university because if you look at even the state universities, people often do not walk the straight path. However, if you were forced to take a year off by the university for whatever the reason, that's a different story.
I know that this is not a discussion forum but someone mentioned about criminal record. I was not aware that graduate schools, except law schools, actually did background checks on people. The reason the law schools do checks is because they want their students to be eligible to take the bar exam after they graduate. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
2007-03-16 02:53:32 · answer #2 · answered by gradjimbo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I took a year off after my BA and worked as a bartender. I still got in and am one year done with my Graduate school. Mind you my field is History. It shows that you have real life experience. It is not going to adversely affect you depending on the program and your grades in Undergraduate and everything else. I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-03-16 02:36:37 · answer #3 · answered by Hawaiisweetie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably won't hurt you. When getting into grad. school the two things that really matters is grades and criminal background. Your grades makes them look good and the criminal background shows you won't be a pain in their rear. Actaully taking a year off could help and some areas like law encourage you to take a year off so you are likely to be more mature when you start grad. school. I mentioned law because that's what I had to apply for. The bottom line is the school wants greades to make them look good for U.S. news reports.
2007-03-16 02:27:10 · answer #4 · answered by Don 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Chrssiy snow, is that you.
2007-03-16 02:26:02 · answer #5 · answered by ihate c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋