What are popular/good options for a "gap year"? Forum

[SLS_AMG]

So I've decided to take a year off before graduating and am not quite sure what to do in this time period. I've thought about teaching English abroad somewhere in Europe, going back to school to add one more major in the fall, or looking for a job (which might be hard considering it would only be for ~9 months).

What are some popular options for those taking a year off between their studies but not looking to start some different career path before law school? How important will that 1-year activity be in my application cycle next year?

[fathergoose]

I taught standardized test prep for my gap year. Surprisingly a lot of fun to teach SAT prep to high schoolers. The hours were great, the pay was good, and nobody micro manages you.

[SLS_AMG]

Cool, how did you get involved in that?

And, anyone else?

[math101]

I guess mine is more than a year, but...

I did a master's program in the UK (they are 9 months long there and no need to take the GRE, also no app fees) after I graduated from my undergrad.
Then, I moved to NYC for just over a year. Did not do anything 'professional'. Instead, I waitressed at a Midtown restaurant and basically just had an awesome blast of a time.
And finally, I am now in Russia for 4 months teaching English.
Sometime in there is also about 4 months of traveling in the US and in Europe.

Basically, I did everything I could possibly think of doing before going to law school. I can honestly say that it has been the best decision on my part. If I went straight through to law school after graduating from college (something I thought about doing), I would not only be going to a much more regional school (first LSAT score: 162, June 2007; second LSAT score: 169, Feb 2010, taken while living in NYC), I would always be wondering 'what if?'

So, basically, I think you're on the right path. Take the time to do whatever it is that you really want to do, and you will never regret it.

[math101]

How important will that 1-year activity be in my application cycle next year?

To answer this part, almost everything I did in my time off made it into my personal statement, which Dean Z made a note on my (super-fast) acceptance as being well written (I realize the personal notes aren't really that personal, but still), not because it was 'resume-padding stuff' but because it honestly shaped me into the person who now genuinely wants to attend law school.

So, along with your numbers, you have something interesting to add in the way of softs.