Page 1 of 1
Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 4:16 am
by JCDante
I'm graduating in June and wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do for a year (or two) after graduation. I know for certain that I do not want to go to law school right away, but I feel my opportunities are limited. I have a 3.94 GPA so far in a liberal arts major from a T50 undergrad and limited leadership experience. My softs are a bit scatterbrained: I've been involved throughout college, mostly in journalism and politics with the occasional part-time job in retail or at a restaurant, but I transferred schools a couple times and never got to establish myself in any leadership positions.
My original plan was to work with Americorps through their City Year program, but I got waitlisted. Trying to find a plan B in case it doesn't go through.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:19 am
by Mack.Hambleton
Try to find a job that pays better than americorps (aka at least minimum wage) imo
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:06 am
by ihenry
You still have several months till graduation. Apply to a variety of jobs to see your options.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:40 pm
by goldenflash19
Travel as much as you can.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:50 pm
by Traynor Brah
Do fun things.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:15 pm
by TheSpanishMain
Join the military for three years. Save some money while you drill LSAT until you're breaking 170. Get a bad tattoo. Go to an elite law school for free on the GI Bill.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:17 pm
by my prole called life
If you're asking how to make the most out of your gap year, my advice is have fun
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:26 pm
by maracuya
Study for the LSAT and find a job doing something you're interested in. A law related job is ideal because you'll get to see what the law practice is really like and if you even like it.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:12 am
by JCDante
TheSpanishMain wrote:Join the military for three years. Save some money while you drill LSAT until you're breaking 170. Get a bad tattoo. Go to an elite law school for free on the GI Bill.
Actually, the military would interest me if it were a two to three year deal, but you have to serve four years active duty and can get called back after another four.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:41 am
by Dog
I got a job, moved to a new city, saved up $$, got some semi-law exp that I can use as a talking point, and learned a language. I quit a few weeks early to go to Europe. It was mostly practical but I got to have fun too.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 6:27 pm
by TheSpanishMain
JCDante wrote:TheSpanishMain wrote:Join the military for three years. Save some money while you drill LSAT until you're breaking 170. Get a bad tattoo. Go to an elite law school for free on the GI Bill.
Actually, the military would interest me if it were a two to three year deal, but you have to serve four years active duty and can get called back after another four.
Unless things have changed dramatically, you can do a 3 year active duty contract. But yes, then you'd have to spend 5 years in the IRR.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 11:45 pm
by WatchClosely
.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:50 am
by hubertkeeth
One friend of my work at
http://paperswhite.com as freelance writer and he is always able to combine things that we don't. He's traveling all the time, he has money and opportunity for it. You need just internet access and inspiration! Try to find similar position and enjoy your life. It's not necessary at a writer, nowadays is easy to work outsource, just find your way.

Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:53 am
by ihenry
Well that doesn't seem like a good business.
Re: Gap year advice?
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:35 am
by Dcc617
TheSpanishMain wrote:JCDante wrote:TheSpanishMain wrote:Join the military for three years. Save some money while you drill LSAT until you're breaking 170. Get a bad tattoo. Go to an elite law school for free on the GI Bill.
Actually, the military would interest me if it were a two to three year deal, but you have to serve four years active duty and can get called back after another four.
Unless things have changed dramatically, you can do a 3 year active duty contract. But yes, then you'd have to spend 5 years in the IRR.
For officers, only people who were on scholarship in college owe 4 years. Non scholarship owe three.
For enlisted I'm pretty sure you can do three, but I think you have to ask, otherwise the recruiter will just slip you into four.
But being an officer is a better lifestyle if you can get it. I think OCS is really competitive right now though.
ETA Also, if you're seriously considering it then look at Coast Guard, Air Force, or Navy. They have way cooler duty stations and don't suck as much as the Army or (I imagine) the Marines.