Find the Gap: CGS Gap Semester Resources

Your gap semester is a time of limitless opportunity. Whether you choose to focus on you, focus on learning, focus on experience, or any combination of the above, we are here to help you make the most of your gap semester. This article contains tips, resources, and helpful links to get you started on your journey.

FOCUS ON YOU

During the gap semester, we encourage you to think deeply about personal goals and interests. The next #My100Days have the potential to rock your world!

Tackle challenges, strengthen abilities, try something new, (or improve an existing talent), cross off a few things on your bucket list!

Here are some tools to help in your planning:

CliftonStrengths: The CliftonStrengths assessment tool is available to all incoming CGS students. This valuable tool will help you identify and articulate your top strengths as you begin setting your academic goals, applying to internships, and planning your future. We strongly encourage you to explore the tool and use it in discussions with your advisor. You can access CliftonStrengths by clicking this link.

 

FOCUS ON LEARNING

Your gap semester is highly individual—there is not one way to spend your 100 days. If you want to pursue some learning opportunities during the gap semester, you can learn for college credit or for your own personal enrichment and growth.

Learning for Personal Enrichment and Growth

You do not have to take a course for college credit. You may wish to learn for the sake of learning!

Gain life skills. Check your local community colleges for adult education courses in cooking, the arts, or life skills such as personal finance or sewing. Many of these courses are enjoyable and can teach valuable skills that can help you in everyday situations.

Take a free course. Websites such as Khan Academy or EdX offer free online courses in the humanities, history, math, and more. This can be a free or low-cost way to explore academic interests without taking a formal class during the gap semester.

Learn on your own time. Seek out a reading challenge or join an online book club on Goodreads or Instagram. Websites such as Ted Talks have short lectures where you can learn about extraordinary accomplishments, overcoming adversity, and building resilience.

Look at the resources in your hometown. During the summer many local libraries, state and local government, area colleges, or local nonprofits may offer lecture series, courses, and events that can be attended for free or at a low cost.

Find a podcast series about an area that you wish to learn more about. Podcasts are a terrific way to learn something new while you are commuting, working out, or just hanging out! Podcasts such as How Stuff Works, Invisibilia, and others are a great starting place to learn about topics that you may know only a little about or nothing at all.

Push yourself. Fitness classes at your local gym or YMCA can be a terrific way to learn new skills for personal growth. If you have always wanted to learn to swim, play tennis, or learn yoga—now’s your chance!

Learn on your phone. Phone and tablet applications such as Duolingo can be used to learn a new language, Grasshopper is a terrific way to learn the basics of coding, and Headspace can introduce you to mindfulness and meditation.

Learning for College Credit

Reflect on your goals

Before selecting a course, you want to reflect on your personal goals and the reason you want to take a course.

Do you want to take a class that will count toward your major? This is not necessary for all majors but for some majors—such as business, computer science, engineering, STEM majors, or hospitality administration—taking a course during the gap semester is helpful.

Do you want to explore your academic interests? You are undecided about your major. No problem! Many students are undecided when they first arrive to college. You may wish to use your gap semester as a time to explore your academic interests or learn about a topic that was not part of your high school curriculum. You can use this time to explore your diverse academic interests by taking a course for college credit.

Discuss with your academic advisor

Whatever your goal may be, your academic advisor can give guidance and work with you to help you choose the right course. Your advisor will help you understand Boston University resources such as the Pathways to a BU Degree, the Transfer Equivalency Site, and the transfer credit process.

Register for the course

After you have consulted with your academic advisor!

 

Complete the course for college credit

You will need to follow Boston University’s transfer credit policy for the course to count toward your degree. Speak with your academic advisor to make sure you understand the process.

 

FOCUS ON EXPERIENCE

Internships & Volunteering: What is the Difference?

Experiential Learning International defines it: “An internship is something that you choose to do to develop your skills in a profession. Volunteering can also serve this purpose, but the driving force is your desire to help.”

Four Reasons You Should Consider Volunteer Job Positions

Adapted from an article by Kat Boogaard, originally published on The Muse

It Presents an Opportunity to Meet New People

No, networking does not just need to be done on LinkedIn or at a formal networking event. And, it does not need to be forced, uncomfortable, and filled with awkward pauses. So, this is where volunteering comes in. It is an easy and completely natural way to meet some new connections in your area.

Volunteer opportunities have a friendly, low-pressure environment. This means that you can have genuine, engaging conversations with people who share your interests—without that awkward air of expectations. Chances are, you will make more meaningful connections doing this than you ever have around the appetizer table at a networking event.

It Helps You Determine Your Career Goals

Donating your time to volunteer is also a terrific way to gather information and find out a little bit more about what exactly you are looking for regarding your career. You have always worked for a large company and are curious about what life is like with a smaller nonprofit. Or you are itching to find out a little bit more about what it is like to work in a startup environment.

Beyond company size, volunteering is also an effective way to discover other important tidbits about how you function. Do you like working independently, or as part of a team? Do you enjoy getting your hands dirty, or do you prefer to do the coordination and administrative tasks? Does working with a certain type of organization make you feel especially inspired and fulfilled?

Volunteering presents a non-threatening opportunity for you to figure all that stuff out. And, that information is undoubtedly valuable when determining your next career move.

It Allows You to Develop and Refine New Skills

You have mastered your current position. And, while it is great to feel confident and secure in your job, that does not mean you want to be completely done trying and experiencing new things.

When you volunteer, you can try your hand at tons of different skills and challenges, without any threat to your reputation or current job standing. Whether you’ve always wanted to dip your toes into the world of coding or you have been meaning to learn a little bit more about marketing, you should have no trouble finding a volunteer opportunity that allows you to do so.

Plus, I do not need to tell you that volunteering is also an effective way to polish your teamwork skills—which is a quality that every employer looks for.

It Makes You More Confident

An expanded network. Increased knowledge. Improved skills. They all help you to present yourself as a more impressive and well-rounded candidate. And strolling into an interview feeling qualified and competent? Well, it is a nice boost to your confidence.

Plus, your experiences also give you a few different talking points to answer some of those common interview questions. Not only can you provide details on your various skills, but you can also share how you applied them in a real-world setting while simultaneously benefitting your community—which makes you look even more amazing.

We all know that approaching an interview with confidence is never a terrible thing. Plus, your self-assured- ness just gets you one step closer to your dream job.

Yes, volunteering is a great and powerful thing. Not only does it get you off the couch to do something positive with your time, but it can also have a significant impact on your career and job search. So, keep these benefits in mind and get out there and do something! You will not regret it.

More Resources

Volunteering Opportunities for Teens – Nationwide Blog
blog.nationwide.com/volunteering-opportunities-for-teens/

You Majored in What?: Designing Your Path from College to Career
By Katherine Brooks, Ed.D.

Whatever your reason for pursuing your major, you, like many others, are struggling with THE QUESTION: What do I do with this degree? Where is my linear path?

To help you envision such a path, here is a list of the actual careers of some recent graduates, drawn from alumni surveys from three institutions. Note the direct relationship between their majors and careers.

Major Job
Art Cartoonist
Asian American Studies Teaching English as a second language in Korea
Chemistry Veterinarian
Classics/Archaeology Latin teacher
Dramatic Arts MTV program developer
Economics Bond trader on Wall Street
English Editor, major publishing house
French and Spanish Foreign service officer
Geography High school geography teacher
Government Special prosecutor, district attorney’s office
Government Republican National Committee PR staff
Psychology Psychotherapist
Religion Minister, single adults program

 

Can you see the linear relationship that exists between a major and a career? The symmetry between the job duties and the use of the graduates’ skills? The English major is using her writing skills. The psychology major is helping people. The economics major is working on Wall Street. It is reassuring, isn’t it? Not only can you get a job, but your job can also be related to your major.

There is only one problem with the list: it is all wrong.

These are the actual careers of graduates with these majors:

Major Job
Art Special prosecutor, district attorney’s office
Asian American Studies Bond trader on Wall Street
Chemistry Teaching English as a second language in Korea
Classics/Archaeology Foreign service officer
Dramatic Arts Republican National Committee PR staff
Economics Veterinarian
English Psychotherapist
French and Spanish Latin teacher
Geography Editor, major publishing house
Government Minister, single adults program
Government High school geography teacher
Psychology Cartoonist
Religion MTV program developer

Oops.

Is something wrong here? No, something is right. Reality does not always match up to that traditional linear career path. These graduates, whether by design or by accident, have channeled the real, deep value of their academic and life experiences, and taken them beyond traditional thinking.

The linear career path has not disappeared. Some psychology majors do become psychologists and some English majors become English professors. But linear thinking can keep you from thinking broadly about your options and being open-minded to new opportunities.

#MY100DAYS

Every year Boston-London Program students share their gap semester experiences with us through the hashtag #My100Days. Make sure to follow along on Instagram and post your own picture about how you will spend your 100 days with CGS!

See How Your Peers Have Spent #My100Days…

  • Self-Reflection: An interview with Phoebe Bobola (CGS’18, CAS’20) on using the gap semester for self-improvement and reflection
  • Quality Time: Using the gap semester to spend more time with family and friends
  • Focusing on your passions: Using the gap semester to try something new, spend more time on a hobby or activity you love, or follow a passion
  • Professional skills: Using the gap semester to build your professional skills in a job or an internship
  • Traveling the world: Using the gap semester to see new places
  • Making a difference: Using the gap semester to have a positive impact, at home and around the world

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Connect with your CGS Academic Advisor

Your CGS academic advisor is a valuable resource to help you navigate your time as a CGS student. They’ll get to know your goals and aspirations, and you’ll work with them to help develop your own personalized growth plan for your time at BU.

Your academic advisor’s name is available on the MyBU Student Portal under the “Academic Advising” link in “Academics.”

To set-up an appointment with your CGS Academic Advisor you must first create your BU Email Account. Then you can access their advising calendar on AdvisorTrac to book an appointment.

Connect with CGS Social Media Accounts

Instagram: @BUCGS, @BUCGSSGA, @CGSArts

Facebook: @BUCGS Page, Class of 2027 Facebook Group

Twitter: @BUCGS

Your Class Page on CGS Website

Connect to helpful online websites and resources

The Boston University Center for Career Development (CCD) offers an abundance of resources for you at every stage of college-life. There are tools on the CCD website that will help you acquire the knowledge to be able to select a major, find internships or volunteer opportunities, as well as explore your values, strengths, and interests. Below are just a few of the resources you may want to explore now. In January, you will officially join Handshake, the CCD student portal, which will give you access to additional resources and tools, as well as workshops that the CCD offers every semester.

Explore BU Center for Career Development Tools:

Major and Career Resources:

Articles and Videos by BU Today:

Additional Articles on Gaining Experience: Internships, Volunteer Work, New Skills:

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