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So I am deferring for a year from UVA. I will be working at a litigation law firm for the year, nothing to exciting. I want to do something VERY interesting in my year off. To the point where if I graduate median or just below, I will have something awesome to talk about in my interview. Something to help me connect with the interviewer, or stand out from other students/resumes.

Has anyone done anything they think would/did make a difference?

Ideas so far: Climbing Mount kilimanjaro (Everest is to damn expensive), playing in the world series of poker, or trying to intern at a high court in a different country for a summer.

Would none of this (or anything else) make any difference?

Fly to Italy and hang with Berlusconi when he goes to bungabunga parties

gabbagabba wrote:Fly to Italy and hang with Berlusconi when he goes to bungabunga parties

Hmm, the sad thing is im being serious. I want to do something fun and different this year. And it cannot be a job since I already have one lined up. When I spoke with an attorney at a specific firm I would love to work at, he told me in the year off not to worry about what I do exactly, but do something fun and different that would be a good conversation starter in an interview. Or something that sets me apart besides academics.

smoke a lot of pot

So basically i am just wasting my time thinking about this?

If you've got the money, do what you want. I dunno why you're asking a forum where you should go for a year-long vacation

become an electrical engineer

I think any new hobbies that you get involved with could be cool. Maybe learn to golf or road bike, run a marathon, do a triathlon. That kind of stuff is both cool to bring up and there seems to be a bond between runners/triathletes (at least in my experience). Plus it's fun and you would be in great shape!

gabbagabba wrote:If you've got the money, do what you want. I dunno why you're asking a forum where you should go for a year-long vacation

It would not be a year. I will be working full time for the year. Trying to gain some experience. I am looking for something that lasts less than 2 months. Something that will be fun, but also interesting to others and something that might start interesting conversations in the case of having an otherwise boring resume

Hike the Appalachian Trail? I'm interested in that kinda stuff, or maybe cycle cross-country.

akili wrote:I think any new hobbies that you get involved with could be cool. Maybe learn to golf or road bike, run a marathon, do a triathlon. That kind of stuff is both cool to bring up and there seems to be a bond between runners/triathletes (at least in my experience). Plus it's fun and you would be in great shape!

Thank you for the first real reply. I already love to run, and basically live in the gym. I am looking for one adventure that would be a rarity and something people would be shocked to see. I have always wanted to climb everest (very into rock climbing) but its about 65,000 dollars for that adventure. Mount kilimanjaro is only about $2,000 (not including the travel expenses to get there). But would this even really set me apart? or would it just be for personal adventure

AssumptionRequired wrote:

gabbagabba wrote:If you've got the money, do what you want. I dunno why you're asking a forum where you should go for a year-long vacation

It would not be a year. I will be working full time for the year. Trying to gain some experience. I am looking for something that lasts less than 2 months. Something that will be fun, but also interesting to others and something that might start interesting conversations in the case of having an otherwise boring resume

Go to Europe, go to Mexico, go to Africa, volunteer somewhere, learn a language, etc. If you don't need the money and are looking for conversation starters, it's still pretty much a vacation.

Go to Burning Man

glacierfrost wrote:Go to Burning Man

?

AssumptionRequired wrote:

akili wrote:I think any new hobbies that you get involved with could be cool. Maybe learn to golf or road bike, run a marathon, do a triathlon. That kind of stuff is both cool to bring up and there seems to be a bond between runners/triathletes (at least in my experience). Plus it's fun and you would be in great shape!

Thank you for the first real reply. I already love to run, and basically live in the gym. I am looking for one adventure that would be a rarity and something people would be shocked to see. I have always wanted to climb everest (very into rock climbing) but its about 65,000 dollars for that adventure. Mount kilimanjaro is only about $2,000 (not including the travel expenses to get there). But would this even really set me apart? or would it just be for personal adventure

If it's something you want to do anyways, do it! Especially since you are already in to rock climbing. Who knows when you might get a chance like it again!

the mountain would be fun, and definately be something to talk about. how you go about doing this is another story( you have to smoothly transition into this convo or you sound awkward). Do whatever you want, but interviewers will be interested in your work experiences more than your hobbies. This could be a great story to tell at a bar or social scene, but i dont know how far it will go in an interview other than being an icebreaker. Have some fun, save some money, and stay out of trouble and you willl be allright.

northwood wrote:the mountain would be fun, and definately be something to talk about. how you go about doing this is another story( you have to smoothly transition into this convo or you sound awkward). Do whatever you want, but interviewers will be interested in your work experiences more than your hobbies. This could be a great story to tell at a bar or social scene, but i dont know how far it will go in an interview other than being an icebreaker. Have some fun, save some money, and stay out of trouble and you willl be allright.

This is true, thanks!

I deferred for a year. I continued working at my current job (got a promotion in December 2010 too), re-took the LSAT, and got into a better school so now I'm going to withdraw from the one I deferred. Not exactly "fun" stuff, but I'm still glad I deferred.

AssumptionRequired wrote:

glacierfrost wrote:Go to Burning Man

?

Its like the world's biggest party, rave, hippie fest, art show all rolled into one week.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_man

HWS08 wrote:I deferred for a year. I continued working at my current job (got a promotion in December 2010 too), re-took the LSAT, and got into a better school so now I'm going to withdraw from the one I deferred. Not exactly "fun" stuff, but I'm still glad I deferred.

Hmm I thought about re-taking the LSAT, just for scholarship reasons though. I am binded to the school and would not want to withdraw, even if i didnt get the scholly.

AssumptionRequired wrote:So I am deferring for a year from UVA. I will be working at a litigation law firm for the year, nothing to exciting. I want to do something VERY interesting in my year off. To the point where if I graduate median or just below, I will have something awesome to talk about in my interview. Something to help me connect with the interviewer, or stand out from other students/resumes.

Has anyone done anything they think would/did make a difference?

Ideas so far: Climbing Mount kilimanjaro (Everest is to damn expensive), playing in the world series of poker, or trying to intern at a high court in a different country for a summer.

Would none of this (or anything else) make any difference?

I deferred UVA last year (going to be attending this august). I went to southeast asia for 3 months; was alot of fun. Also managed to play a few wsop events, so you can fit that in early in the summer and use profits for traveling for the rest of the year. For the 65k (or 22k) you mentioned as a budget for climbing everest, you can travel the world for a whole year if you budget.

When I asked the forum, the consensus was to have as much as possible during your gap year, and come prepared to work mad hard for 1L.

glacierfrost wrote:

AssumptionRequired wrote:

glacierfrost wrote:Go to Burning Man

?

Its like the world's biggest party, rave, hippie fest, art show all rolled into one week.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_man

Haha looks awesome

How about just join a country club and play alot of golf ?

YOUNGHOVA616 wrote:How about just join a country club and play alot of golf ?

One sport I dont like :/

though I should probably learn to like it lol

johnnysweet wrote:smoke a lot of pot

Fun and actually cheap, but not the best conversation starter.