Gap years: shall I mention marriage, traveling to another country, voluntary work?

[Hobaboba]

Hi,

1. What is gap years mean? Does it mean years I am not studying in university or not making something useful? I am not studying for two years but taking english and spanish classes and doing voluntary work

2. Can I justify this gap year by marriage and moving to another country, or I should avoid anything personal in personal of statement?

3. When to mention it? Sometimes POS does not ask me about gap years, but they appear anyway on Cv, shall I mention them voluntarily?

[ridofme]

It's hard to answer your questions without more information.

 

1) How long is the "gap" you are trying to explain away, and how recent? A 5-month gap in 2006 is a different beast than an 18-month gap in 2011 and 2012.

 

2) Were you doing anything productive during the gap? You mention studying English and Spanish -- was this formal- or self-study? If you were enrolled in classes, then this time period would not necessarily constitute a gap.

 

I would avoid mentioning any of this in your statement of purpose. If you feel you really need to address it (for example, if it was a long, recent gap in which you weren't taking any classes/volunteering, etc.), then I would write a very brief statement as an addendum, and keep it to-the-point.

Edited June 13, 2013 by ridofme

[Hobaboba]

It's hard to answer your questions without more information.

 

1) How long is the "gap" you are trying to explain away, and how recent? A 5-month gap in 2006 is a different beast than an 18-month gap in 2011 and 2012.

 

2) Were you doing anything productive during the gap? You mention studying English and Spanish -- was this formal- or self-study? If you were enrolled in classes, then this time period would not necessarily constitute a gap.

 

I would avoid mentioning any of this in your statement of purpose. If you feel you really need to address it (for example, if it was a long, recent gap in which you weren't taking any classes/volunteering, etc.), then I would write a very brief statement as an addendum, and keep it to-the-point.

Thank you. It was two and half years as I moved to life in another country, and married. English study was formal

[Hobaboba]

It's hard to answer your questions without more information.

 

1) How long is the "gap" you are trying to explain away, and how recent? A 5-month gap in 2006 is a different beast than an 18-month gap in 2011 and 2012.

 

2) Were you doing anything productive during the gap? You mention studying English and Spanish -- was this formal- or self-study? If you were enrolled in classes, then this time period would not necessarily constitute a gap.

 

I would avoid mentioning any of this in your statement of purpose. If you feel you really need to address it (for example, if it was a long, recent gap in which you weren't taking any classes/volunteering, etc.), then I would write a very brief statement as an addendum, and keep it to-the-point.

I forgot to say during this gap I studied for toefl, gre, and prepared for admission

[juilletmercredi]

For graduate school admissions, I don't think gaps in relevant work/study are an issue.  What they're most interested in hearing about is your preparation for graduate school and why you are a good fit for the program.  Discuss that in your statement.  You don't have to explain every moment that you were involved in doing something other than preparing for graduate school.

[nehs]

I agree with juilletmercredi. I did not mention anything about gaps, I had 2 years gap while I applied to graduate programs ( in 2010) because of marriage and then we both moving to a new country. Life happens. Infact, I did not even have trouble finding jobs because of the gap.

All you need to show is that you are a fit to the program and if it is a job then you need to show some relevant skills

 

Good Luck