5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Gap Semester
CGS sophomore Natalie Seara shares her advice for freshmen on how to spend their gap semester.
As an incoming freshmen last year, I spent my gap semester traveling, working, and taking classes. The gap semester was a time where I learned a lot about myself and what I want out of my time at Boston University. Having a gap semester is amazing, but it can also be intimidating if you don’t know how to approach it. So here’s my advice for how to make your gap semester the best it can be.
Natalie has been dancing with the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe since was four years old, so she counts them as family. She got to invest more time in the troupe during the gap semester—working as a teaching assistant, doing a solo, and taking a weekend trip to perform.
Plan your Semester
My number one recommendation is to take the time to sit down and decide what you want to do. Everything takes preparation and planning so think about what you want to get out of the gap semester. Whether it is just making some money or interning in a far away country, having a goal is critical to making sure you use your time to the fullest. For example, I wanted to do a little bit of everything—making money, traveling, taking classes—so I planned my schedule in a way where I had enough time to do all of these things. You never know what you can do unless you research! You could be eligible to go on a Semester at Sea or be able to get credit by taking online classes, so make sure to look into all of your options.
Take Classes
The best way to get ahead is to take classes! Make sure you set up a meeting with your academic advisor so that you can be sure to get credit for your work, and look into CGS’s transfer credit policy. The gap semester is also a good time to explore what you want to major in by taking classes at your local college. I took two classes, Film and Microeconomics, which helped me get course credit while also confirming that I’m interested in communications and business.
Plan a Trip
Your gap semester provides you a unique opportunity to travel throughout the fall, so why not take advantage! It can be a huge trip like visiting another country or a small trip like visiting a friend at a nearby college. I went to Iceland as a mother-daughter trip and was also able to visit a friend at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Not only was it nice to see my friend, but she was able to give me some tips on transitioning into college!
Intern or Work
Now is a great time to build your resume with a job or internship. An internship will give you another opportunity to learn about future career options. If you decide to work, making some extra money will help you during your summer semester in Boston or in London. I was able to work at Charlotte Russe and save money to put toward my study abroad semester!
Connect with Other CGS Students
Use the class Facebook page, or the BU CGS Instagram to keep up with what’s going on on campus, learn about how other students are spending their gap semester, and get to know some of your classmates and professors. You never know how close a fellow CGS student might be to you, so connecting through social media can be a great way to meet new people. I was very lucky to meet one of my friends by asking if anyone wanted to meet up in DC. She actually introduced me to most of my friend group! It is also very nice to talk to people and hear what they are doing for their gap semester.
Overall, having a gap semester is a great opportunity to either do a bit of everything or really focus on one goal. I definitely learned a lot about myself and it was a great time to prepare for college as well. Having that extra time gave me amazing memories with my family, (new and old) friends, and made me realize what I want out of my Boston University experience.
Be sure to post about your gap semester with #My100Days to share your awesome experiences!
— By Natalie Seara