Doing something interesting in a deferred year! Forum

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:18 pm

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?

gabbagabba · Post by **gabbagabba** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:21 pm

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

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:49 pm

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.

johnnysweet · Post by **johnnysweet** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:50 pm

smoke a lot of pot

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:52 pm

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

gabbagabba · Post by **gabbagabba** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:55 pm

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

DallasCowboy · Post by **DallasCowboy** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:55 pm

become an electrical engineer

akili · Post by **akili** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:57 pm

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!

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:57 pm

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

aliarrow · Post by **aliarrow** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:59 pm

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

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:01 pm

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

gabbagabba · Post by **gabbagabba** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:02 pm

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.

glacierfrost · Post by **glacierfrost** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:04 pm

Go to Burning Man

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:07 pm

glacierfrost wrote:Go to Burning Man

?

akili · Post by **akili** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:07 pm

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!

northwood · Post by **northwood** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:08 pm

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.

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:19 pm

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!

HWS08 · Post by **HWS08** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:20 pm

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.

glacierfrost · Post by **glacierfrost** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:24 pm

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

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:24 pm

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.

ZiggyPink · Post by **ZiggyPink** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:27 pm

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.

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:28 pm

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

YOUNGHOVA616 · Post by **YOUNGHOVA616** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:35 pm

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

005618502 · Post by **005618502** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:36 pm

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

Pricer · Post by **Pricer** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:34 pm

johnnysweet wrote:smoke a lot of pot

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

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