I’m currently really unhappy at my current institution. I’ve been here for two years but have been unable to come by any jobs, research positions, volunteer work, etc. that are related to my field either because they’re positions tailored to upperclassmen/grad students or the work they expect of me is too much (the hospital wanted me to do night shifts but I don’t even have a car to get back to the dorm). Basically I’m attending school in the middle of nowhere so there aren’t that many opportunities.
I was thinking of taking a gap year to get my EMT certification and then start working, and also taking the GRE. I need healthcare hours to apply to the PA grad program which is why I would be doing this. I have not had a break from school since I started college so I’m also really burned out (I took summer quarter). But I’m wondering if this would hurt me in any way, maybe credits-wise because my EMT class would technically be worth 12 credits (quarter system) which goes over the 2 year max unless they only have a limit on transferrable credits and not the number of years I’ve actually been taking college classes…Can anyone help me on this?
Take the time off. It looks like you are ready for a break from school for a while. Do it as a leave of absence, so you can go back of your transfer applications don’t work out.
You need to took at each target, and check their transfer policies. Some don’t like applicants with more than two years of credit, but even then the 12 credits of EMT might not be a problem as that is usually considered career training rather than academic. Many places don’t particularly care about credits over 60. Your overall GPA will matter, and they will only accept the credits up to a total of sixty that they consider equivalent to their own program of studies. Of your something like 72 credits with the EMT coursework, it is possible (but unlikely) that they won’t take any.
Absolutely take the year off! There’s probably just a credit max, not a year max like you said but I’d look into it to confirm. A year can be very beneficial! Like the other poster said, take a leave of absence because you never know what the year will bring you.
@happymomof1 @OhWhatsHerName Thank you two for your input! I’ve asked my parents and they’re okay with it since I need to do these things at some point anyway.