Will a year off college to work in NGO's be helpful to application?

[silly641]

Hi, everyone.

I am thinking of taking a gap year after my second year in college. Will that me of great help for getting into top-tier public policy schools like Harvard or Princeton?

Thanks.

[surefire]

Hi there!

I'm in a different discipline and had my sights set on different schools, but I did do the "time off for NGO" thing, which I leveraged during my app season to get in to a top program/institution in Canada.

First, I think your inquiry might be better served in the Professional Programs forum, specifically, I think, in Governmental Affairs... just a thought, you might want to do some reading there to inform your expectations.

As well, I think that the utility of the experience depends on what your doing and what your goal programs are receptive to. In the two years that I've been doing work for NGOs, I worked on only two projects that, specifically, generated interest with prospective supervisors with regards to the content/scope of the projects. Mostly, however, I used my NGO experience very generally as pragmatic experience in the social justice realm; some program people just enjoyed hearing about the fact that I was PAID to conduct research in a sector that, by design, must be very tight and scrupulous with their money, which I guess spoke to the bank-able-ness of my research potential.

As well, I would be concerned about your plan if you don't already have something lined up that's a sure thing. It can take quite a bit of time to "break into" the NGO realm, especially if you don't have a degree in hand! After 2 months of looking, I secured a 4-month, part-time, UNPAID internship with an NGO. It was only after proving my gumption there that I secured something with a prominent international NGO; and even THEN, I've been working on no-benefit 3 to 6 month contract arrangements (which, I hear, is largely the norm these days). Consider, as well, that I had an honours BA and an MA in hand when I started looking...

This is just my experience, and I don't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy my time working with NGOs but, man, it's tough out here! I was only able to make the job hunt/internship thing work because I was juggling a handful of other contracts related to my degrees. I wonder about the wisdom of taking time in the middle of your program to get this experience... Could you not volunteer with an organization during the school year, and then hit them up for structured 3-month positions in your remaining summers? (I'm being presumtuous and imposing a Western-style college scheduling, sorry if this is not apt).

Anyway, I would suggest hunting on the Professional Programs/Government Affairs forum, it might give you some discipline -specific ideas! I would definitely suggest more research on your part before taking a leave from school! Those gaps can be very tough to come back from!