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Should one take a year off after college to participate in volunteer work in their field, instead of going straight into graduate school?

I am trying to decide future steps for my life. #volunteer

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Jenna’s Answer

I wish I had take a year off to work in the field before I had gone straight to graduate school. Circumstances didn't permit it, but I think an additional year of maturity and an exposure to day-to-day work would have been valuable. I also think I could have developed a good network to support me as well. If you can do it, I would recommend it, but if you can't, don't let that stop you!
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Fiona’s Answer

If this is something you want to do, then you should do it. It is hard to take time out once you start working.
This can be a great opportunity for you to learn and mature. It can be a very humbling experience. It can also be looked upon very favourably by future employers – it can show that keen to obtain experience and also may have developed soft skills.
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Linda’s Answer

In my 25 years as an undergraduate professor, I have had many students take one-to-two years to volunteer before going to graduate school. They did it for a number of reasons. They were passionate about serving others, they were using a volunteer placement to explore different career paths, and/or they were trying to figure out what graduate program interested them based on their volunteer and life experiences. Whatever your motivations, a year of volunteering will bring with it invaluable life lessons.
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