Category Archives: Gap Year

Senior seeks advice from alums who took several years off before MD/PhD program.

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Hi!  I’ve always wanted to do a MD/PhD program and go into clinical research, but I’m planning to take a few years off first so that I can have some experience with clinical research and know that’s what I want to do.  I’d like to talk to someone who’s been down this path before, about how to pursue short-term research jobs (I’m just starting my search) and who to make the most of this time before pursing graduate school.

Name: Leila “Rubi” Fettig
Email: lfettig@brandeis.edu
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: Worcester, MA
View Leila’s LinkedIn profile.

Aspiring social worker seeking opportunities to gain experience

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I’m a graduating senior looking for advice from professionals about the human services field. I major in psychology (but lately have gained more of an interest in a sociological world view) with minors in Hispanic studies and creativity, the arts, and social change. I am interested in going to graduate school for social work (to be a licensed clinical social worker) in a year or two, but it seems there are many paths to gain experience in the field including non-profit work, working as direct care staff in a mental health facility, etc. I am unsure of how to identify positions and job functions that allow for upward mobility, perhaps heading towards case management experience. I would love to hear more about beginning a career in the field of serving communities and marginalized populations and how to break in and get professional experience starting from zero. Activism is very important to me and some of my specific population interests include at-risk women (such as BARCC or Battered Women’s shelters), queer youth and young adults, and adults with disabilities.

Name: Morgan Winters ’17
Email: mwinters@brandeis.edu
Major: Psychology; minors in Hispanic studies, and creativity, the arts and social transformation
View Morgan’s LinkedIn profile.
To reply to this ad, email Morgan directly at mwinters@brandeis.edu and cc: wisdomwanted@brandeis.edu for tracking purposes.

Archived Ad: Advice on temporary jobs before med school

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I’m a senior pre-med student majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. I’ve always known that I want to be a doctor and my experiences during my years at Brandeis have only reinforced that desire. In the last 10 years or so, it has become clear that taking a year or two off between being an undergraduate student and enrolling in a medical school is a path that these institutions prefer to see their applicants take. Therefore, I have recently begun a job search for gap year opportunities in clinical research or public health service projects. However, I have found the process of searching for a job that I know I will likely only hold for a short period of time to be somewhat awkward and difficult to approach. It has been challenging to express my interest in potential jobs while being perfectly honest about my intended path in life because most employers don’t want to hire someone who they know is there temporarily. That being said, does anyone have advice for an appropriate way that pre-med students can earnestly express interest in jobs they plan on holding for only a year or two?

Name: Alex Landau ’17
Major: Biology
Hometown: Fairfield, CT

Archived Ad: Gap year advice for graduating pre-med senior

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I am a senior on the pre-med track, but before medical school I will be taking a gap year to enhance my academic and clinical experience. Since coming to Brandeis I have not had the chance to explore all of my interests in healthcare, and this is where I am seeking advice. I have a keen interest in public health, and specifically increasing access to mental health education in minority communities. Within my gap year, I would love to explore the public health sector but I am having some difficulty figuring out how to do that. I would be extremely appreciative if anyone could offer advice on their gap year before medical school and what opportunities there are for students like me. Thank you!

Name: Megan Boateng ’17
Majors: Neuroscience and Biology
Hometown: Worcester, MA

Archived Ad: Seeking Dentistry Gap Year Advice and Insight

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Hi, I’m a career changer trying to make my way into dentistry from social work. I will be completing my postbac predental program at Brandeis University by May, 2016 and start my application cycle for dental school from there. I’ve been shadowing 2 general dentists and 1 orthodontics and learned some assisting skills. It will be a great honor to receive advice from you about dentistry in general as well as how to wisely spend the gap year. Thank you!

Name: Zheqing Jiang ’16
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Quzhou, China

Archived Ad: Politics Major Seeks Gap Year Experience

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My name is Brandon Odze and I am a senior considering a gap year before law school. I have a job offer from the political consulting firm I interned with over the summer in Washington D.C., but my contract would end in November after the 2016 election cycle. I would like to go to law school the next fall, August 2017. I am looking to gain insight on law-related or politics-related work for the 7 to 8 months before I enter law school. Thank you.

Name: Brandon Odze ’16
Majors: Politics, Economics
Hometown: Melville, NY

Archived Ad: Pre-Health Advising Staff Seeks Brandeis Alumni for Mentor List

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The Brandeis pre-health advising team is compiling a list of Brandeis alumni who are currently enrolled or have graduated from medical, dental or veterinary school to connect with current undergraduate and post-bac Brandeis students embarking on the application process. While pre-health staff members function as the primary advisors, we are looking to connect students with an additional resource in the health care field. If you are interested in serving as a mentor (primarily over email), please email phaalumni@brandeis.edu for more information.

Archived Ad: Recent grad seeking research assistant leads

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My name is Clifton Masdea. This past May I received my Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Mathematics. My goal is to work as either a research assistant or a technical assistant in the Greater Boston area before I begin applying for graduate programs. I was wondering if anybody knows of any laboratories that are currently looking for a research assistant?

 

Archived Ad: Senior Seeking Advice on Gap Year Research

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I’m a graduating senior majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy and Biology. Eventually I would like to go to med school but for the moment I’m interested in research positions in the South Florida area. If any alums have advice on how to make the most of research during a gap year or what I should try to look for during my search I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Archived Ad: Location Questions for Neurology Geared Gap Year

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I am currently a senior in my last semester at Brandeis. At the moment, I’m trying to figure out something to do in a gap year (or two) and currently I’m leaning towards positions in healthcare or in clinical research, specifically neurology if possible. I’ve tried my best to look through research labs in Boston and keep tabs on the job search boards for MGH and Beth Israel, as I would like to stay in Boston for my gap year. None of the applications have yielded any results, so, I’m asking for advice about other locations I should look into or if, perhaps, I should just look in my hometown. Thank you for your time!

 

Archived Ad: Senior Looking for Cause-Driven Organization Internships/Career Advice

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Senior graduating in May with degree on Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and International and Global Studies looking for summer internship in the Boston area. Will be staying at Brandeis for another year to complete a Master’s in Women’s Gender and Sexualities and Public Policy. Experience interning in feminist non-profits such as The Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights (research – international armed conflict) and Rosie’s Place (direct services – homelessness). Interested in any cause-driven organization providing good learning opportunities and/or speaking with any alumni in the area who may be able to provide advice. Thank you.

 

Archived Ad: Pre-Med Senior Looking for Gap Year Recommendations

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As a senior on the pre-med track, I am excited to pursue research opportunities in the medical field during my upcoming gap year. I am passionate about patient care, in particular the field of pediatrics. I have been looking for positions in the Philadelphia area, but am struggling to find opportunities appropriate for recent graduates. Ideally, I hope to build on my clinical and research experience before entering medical school. I would greatly appreciate any guidance or advice about how best to find a valuable experience for next year. Thank you!

Archived Ad: Law School Bound Sophomore Seeking Advice on Planning Effective Gap Years

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Hi, My name is Brandon Odze and I am a current junior looking to take two gap years between graduating from Brandeis and going to Law School. I would like to work in public finance, but was wondering if it would look better or make me look more appealing if I worked for a government agency or non-profit. I would eventually like to end up in business law but I also want to make my resume appealing to law schools and show that I used my gap years extremely efficiently. If you have any advice for me, please contact me. Thank you for taking the time to look at my Wisdom Wanted ad.

 

Archived Ad: English/Political Science December Grad Looking to Make Most of Gap Year

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My name is Gina Gkoulgkountina, I am a senior graduating in December. I am finishing up my majors in English and Political Science and my minor in Legal Studies. I am currently looking into finding a paralegal position for a firm that’s going to help me figure out what type of law I’m passionate about, and whether law school is the best next step for me. I would love to hear from you if you have advice for how to make the most of my gap year, or if you have any advice for this transitional period. Should I be studying for the LSATs? Should I focus on getting a legal job or would any job do?I look forward to hearing back from you!

 

Archived Ad: Graduating Neuroscience Major Looking to Learn about Chronic Pain/Stress Management Careers

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I am a graduating Neuroscience major looking to learn more about chronic pain and/or stress management, and what careers I could pursue in this field, clinical or otherwise. Working alongside a chiropractor this summer helped me realize that I want to help people to lead functional and productive lives despite their health issues. However, I do not think I am ready to become a clinician just yet, so I would like to know more about types of positions where I could gain practical experience in the interim between now and graduate school. I am particularly interested in the use of complementary therapies, but I would appreciate any type of information or advice that you could offer. If you work in this field, I would love to hear about the steps that you took to get where you are now, and what you would recommend I do in the next few years. Thanks!

Archived Ad: Psych major seeks grad school, gap year advice

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I am a rising senior studying Psychology at Brandeis, hoping to do clinical work someday. I would like to talk to someone about the process of applying to a graduate program for Psychology, taking the GREs, whether I should first pursue a master’s and then a doctoral degree, and anyone who has gotten a master’s degree in Psychology at Brandeis. I am very confused about this whole process and any insight would be helpful! I would love to talk to anyone who has pursued a PsyD and what their path was to graduate school. I am considering taking the GREs this fall and applying to grad school, but possibly taking a year or two off before going. Any advice on jobs I could get in between college and grad school would be excellent, or just hearing about your own personal path. Thank you!

 

Archived Ad: Pre-med Grad Seeks Gap Year Experience

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I am currently applying to medical school, and looking for a gap year job (in research or a hospital setting) before I hopefully matriculate in Fall 2015. Do any alumni have suggestions as to where I could look for such a job? Thank you for your time and any thoughts!

Name: Elizabeth Allen ’14
Major(s): Biology, Classical Studies
Hometown: Norfolk, MA
View Elizabeth’s LinkedIn profile.

Archived Ad: IT Jobs in Higher Ed Before Grad School

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I am a graduating senior with a double major in Classical Studies and HSSP and a minor in Anthropology. I am considering working towards a PhD in Ancient History to eventually become a professor, focusing on ancient medical practices. Before I go into graduate school, however, I wanted to work in IT for higher education.  I have worked four years at the Brandeis International Business School where I have done general help desk work, installed new systems for classrooms and professors, and helped maintain media systems within classrooms. I am hoping to use these skills and experiences to work in the Boston area. I am also hoping to take classes to prepare myself for graduate school. If anyone has worked in Higher Education while taking classes, I would love to hear about the path you took to get there and if you think it was worth it. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Name: Joshua Yankell ’14
Major(s): Classical Studies; HSSP
Hometown: Moorestown, NJ
View Joshua’s LinkedIn profile.

Archived Ad: Social Work Experience Before Grad School

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I am a graduating senior majoring in Psychology. I’m considering pursuing a career in clinical psychology or psychiatry, but am planning to take a year or two off before applying to graduate school. Currently, I’m searching for a job as a research assistant or for a position in the social work field. I’m specifically interested in working with children and adolescents, and am also interested in exploring a career in forensic psychology or psychiatry. Any advice from those who have experience in the above mentioned fields would be much appreciated. Thanks so much, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Name: Claire Fishman ’14
Major: Psychology
Hometown: New York, NY
View Claire’s LinkedIn profile.

Archived Ad: Clinical Psych Experience Before Grad School

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I am graduating Brandeis this May with a degree in psychology and I am hoping to pursue a career in clinical psychology. I am looking to find some more experience in the field before going to graduate school for a PsyD. I have had experience working with many populations, such as the Columbia Psyc ER and at a group home for individuals with mental disabilities. I am looking to get more hands-on experience and would love any career advice on how to go about finding such work. Thank you for your time!

Name: Gabriella Podolski ’14
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Teaneck, NJ
View Gabriella’s LinkedIn profile.

Archived Ad: Clinical Research / Gap Year Ideas Before Med School

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Biology and business double major seeks advice on gap year between graduation and medical school. I am graduating in May and would like advice on clinical research opportunities close to home in Southern California. I have done research for a semester at Brandeis in a project lab course and would love to have more experience in clinical research before applying to medical school. Any advice ranging from clinical research opportunities to general gap year advice would be much appreciated!

Name: Jessica Jiwon Yang ’14
Major(s): Biology & Business
Hometown: Corona, CA
View Jessica’s LinkedIn profile.