taking some years off

tommo · #1 10-03-2007, 05:06 PM

so I am graduating this december and did fairly well in school (3.7 gpa in theoretical math and applied physics, definitely near the top of my class)

I am planning on taking some years off to work on some business ideas. Do some serious investing. and play poker (I'm pretty good at poker).

eventually I think I'd like to come back to academia for math. What sorts of things should I be doing to make coming back to school easier before I graduate? Especially considering I will not have a boss when I leave.

miss_set_flopper · #2 10-04-2007, 12:10 AM

keep your mini fridge ~ really what are you asking about here, what jobs ?

recondite7 · #3 10-04-2007, 11:13 AM

Keep in contact with a professor for references and give yourself 6 months to study and prepare for any standardized test you'll need for grad school.

1 or 2 years off before going back to school is a great way to recharge your batteries and realize if it's something you want to do so don't worry too much and take some risks doing something you'll love.

tommo · #4 10-04-2007, 01:16 PM

I guess I'm mainly asking if taking 2-3 years off is going to seriously detract from my potential in the academic world. I kind of think I'd like to be a professor someday, but I'm not really sure.

Wyman · #5 10-04-2007, 03:06 PM

Trust me (or ask many others here/elsewhere). If you're not sure you want to be in grad school, you probably shouldn't be in grad school (for a PhD). If it's at all hard to get motivated, you'll probably never finish.

That said, if you want to be a professor (math?), you've gotta get a PhD -- definitely a more-than-full-time job though.

So, do your thing until you're sure you want to be there. Then your application essays, etc. will write themselves.

Quicksilvre · #6 10-04-2007, 08:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
(3.7 gpa in theoretical math and applied physics, definitely near the top of my class)

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy crap, how? I'm a math major and I'll be lucky to leave with a 3.0.

rivermetimbers · #7 10-04-2007, 11:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I guess I'm mainly asking if taking 2-3 years off is going to seriously detract from my potential in the academic world. I kind of think I'd like to be a professor someday, but I'm not really sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

im graduating this year and not sure what to do either (tho as of now poker definitely wont financially support me...) and my grades aren't nearly as good. my feeling tho is that if im out of school for more than 2 years, i probably wont ever return. also most older people ive talked to have expressed similar reasons for not returning to school, just to let you know.