I'll be graduating in December with a B.S. in Geology and I know that I want to go to grad school, but I'm feeling burned out. I've been in college straight through since Fall '02, working full time in the summer, and I'm tired. If I take some time off, get a job, travel, whatever, will that hurt my chances of getting into grad school later? I'm worried that if I go while I feel burned out, I won't do well, but if I wait maybe I won't get in and/or I'll forget everything I've learned thus far.
Advice? :-)
2007-06-19 12:08:55 · 7 answers · asked by Ayame 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Taking time off, per se, is not what kills the return to school. Usually the problem is that you become addicted to the lifestyle of having a job and ready cash, so that you find giving up the cash and returning to the student lifestyle an unpleasant concept.
Lots of grad schools would actually prefer for students to take some time off to work before returning to school. Life can teach people as much or more than school can, and often after working people have a much greater appreciation for what they are learning.
I went through undergrad and law school straight through, and passed the bar and was practicing law a couple of months after turning 25. I lived in the dorm the first year: the guy next door was from Texas and had spent time in Japan, the next room was a grad student in poli sci, the next room a black guy straight out of Illinois State, the end guy was returning to school after five years of working for a Big 6 accounting firm. The other side of the hall had a grad student in something; then a legally blind PhD in computer something who was a first year law student; a physics grad student from Purdue; a goth style first year from Arizona; a frat boy from Illinois who took a year off to work; and it goes on. No one was particularly better off than anyone else. Of course, everyone gets depressed by Thanksgiving in law school, so we were the normal bunch.
How long do you want to take off? Is graduating in December and then starting grad school in August long enough? Or do you want to take a year and a half off? As long as you do not become accustomed to having cash in your pocket, taking time off is fine.
2007-06-19 12:54:20 · answer #1 · answered by David B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take time off!!! Most graduate schools look more favorably on applicants that have work experience. It also allows you to contribute more to your classes because you have real world experience. I graduated from undergrad in 2000. I worked for 3 years, and then went to grad school part time in 2003. I'm glad that I did because I feel like I got more out of my grad courses because I could apply the principles to my job. Plus most grad schools actually gave priority to applicants with a minimum of 3 years of work experience. I actually got rejected from a school because they felt I didn't have enough work experience! Taking time off will only improve your chances of getting into grad school.
2007-06-19 14:15:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I went straight from undergrad to law school, and I wish I'd taken about 6 months-1 year off to just breathe. It's a big undertaking going through it all at once. Plus, the "real world" experience always looks good on a resume. Just don't talk yourself out of your dream of that higher education. Set a reasonable goal time to get back into school (say, 1 year or 2 years) and stick to your plan.
Good luck!
2007-06-19 12:24:51 · answer #3 · answered by December2006Bride 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well from what I have been hearing, make sure you can get all your letters of recommendation before you leave! Since you'll be graduating in December, why not just take off the Spring & Summer semesters off and go back in Fall?
2007-06-27 11:38:45 · answer #4 · answered by Miss 6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd take time off if you feel burned out. It wont hurt your chances later on. Heck, you might even decide that your original plans are not what you want to do anymore in the future. Nothing wrong with that.
2007-06-19 19:09:59 · answer #5 · answered by iSpeakTheTruth 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most MBA programs insist you have several years of real-world experience before you apply. Take a cue from that.
2007-06-26 02:38:10 · answer #6 · answered by merrybodner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-18 02:01:16 · answer #7 · answered by bondieumatre 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋