Gina Errico

As someone who is currently in graduate school and took a year off in between my bachelor’s and master’s, I get asked this question a lot. The short answer is, if you think you need some time before jumping from one education into the next, then take time off.

Personally, I knew going into my senior year of college that I still wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to study in graduate school and that I should take time off. I was pretty burnt out and knew that I wanted to take some time to gain some experience outside of academia and research. I also wanted to take the proper time to focus on my applications, which I knew I wouldn’t be able to do in the fall of my senior year while writing my senior theses and being a full time college student.

Although there is a stigma against those who decide to take a year (or more) in between their bachelor’s and graduate school (usually by those who didn’t take time off), I think it can be extremely beneficial. I knew that by taking a year off, I would have more time to really focus on figuring out what I wanted to research/study in graduate school. I was also able to spend time building on my professional development skills and working in environmental outreach and science communication. I think taking time off can be a great opportunity to develop your skills outside of academia, help you figure out what it is you really want to study by spending time in different research settings, or just experience life outside of academia.

For me, I took one year in between my bachelor’s and my master’s and I spent it in Iowa, where I was a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member working as the Marketing and Communications Support for Trees Forever. As an AmeriCorps member, I had the opportunity to volunteer at different environmentally focused non-profits, where I helped plant trees, tended to community gardens and learned the ins and outs of the environmental non-profit world, while making some life long friends and connections. As a member of the Trees Forever family, I developed my skills in website design and development, worked on social media campaigns and coordinated various outreach programs to help educate the community about trees and the Trees Forever mission. You can check out some of the projects I created here.

Ultimately the choice is yours and yours alone. If you feel it in your gut that you may not be ready to start graduate school, then you probably shouldn’t. Graduate school is a lot of commitment that is worth while, but can be difficult if you are not mentally ready for it.

On the other hand, if you are feeling confident and ready to go, then go for it! Again, the decision is yours– don’t let others sway your decision because at the end of the day, it is you that will have to go through the journey.

Whatever your decision is, enjoy the experience! Life is all about learning new things and exploring different experiences. As the fall semester approaches, I will work on posting more blogs about the graduate school experience and application process– if there is a topic you would like to cover, let me know!

Best,
Gina

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