Advice for a gap year?

[dftba_csphd]

Howdy y'all!

 

I applied to PhD programs for this coming year, and if I get into one I'll be going into it. However, my chances look slim, due to some extenuating circumstances. My letters of rec weren't terribly good, when applying I had no real idea of what to apply for, and I don't have any research experience in the field I am going into (note: I do have research experience in CS).

 

I was wondering what you all thought would be the best thing to do if I didn't get in this year. My options:

 

1) Get the masters. 

Pros:

 - Stay in school, super in touch with faculty

 - Help show I am actually a good student - undegrad GPA ~3.5

Cons

 - Money will be a big thing.

 - Might take 2 years.

 - Will eat up a lot of my time - won't leave me much time to work on research.

 

2) Don't get the masters (do postbac research, sit in on classes)

Pros

 - Lets me work on what I want to work on

 - Very self motivated, so I can actually do a lot of research

 - Will hopefully give me more 1 on 1 with professors I work with

Cons

 - If I'm out of school, I might not be as important to the professors as their actual students

 - I can't take classes for credit, obvi.

 - Without publications, it may not seem like I'm accomplishing much (may seem like I just took a year off)

 - Costs less than masters obviously, but not making any money

 

3) Try to get a teaching job either as a TA or at a local high school

Pros

 - Teaching experience

 - Actually getting money

Cons

 - reduces time to do independent research

 

4) Try to get a job

Pros

 - Actually getting money

 - Work experience - I was actually doing things

Cons

 - I doubt I'll get a job that lends to doing research or proving my potential in the field I'm going into

 

At the moment I'm leaning towards 2. I feel like given the opportunity independent of the masters I can get some good research done and prove my worth to some professors, thus giving me credentials and good letters of rec (my two biggest problems). If I do #1, I will want to finish in a year which will give me little time to do research independent of my coursework. That being said, I fear an admissions committee might frown upon taking a year off.

 

Let me know your thoughts!

[ssk2]

2 is your best bet if you can do some meaningful research in your year off.

 

4 won't give you much spare time to do anything research-related - and it might look bad to leave a job after just a year.

 

Are you able to get a RA job somehow? That'd be the best option I think.

[dftba_csphd]

I'm on the look for one! That'd definitely be my best bet. 

 

Thanks for the input!