Schools Working before applying to grad school

AI Thread Summary
Entering the final year of undergraduate studies often leads students to consider applying to graduate school. However, taking a couple of years to work before applying can be beneficial. Gaining work experience allows for more time to research and visit potential graduate schools, while also enhancing resumes with practical experience. This can be particularly advantageous for fields like engineering, where relevant work experience can provide a competitive edge over recent graduates. Although there is a risk of losing some academic skills during a gap, the benefits of additional experience and improved application materials, such as updated grades and stronger recommendation letters, can outweigh this concern. It is advisable not to wait too long to apply, as both professors and students may forget important details over time.
Leland
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I am entering the final year of my undergraduate studies. From what I understand, it is fairly common for students to apply to grad school halfway through their final year.

However, I am thinking of working for a couple of years before applying to grad school. Would that hamper my chances of getting admitted into grad school?
 
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No not at all. It actually may be a smarter idea because you will have more time to research and visit the schools. In addition you will be able to add work to your resume. The only drawback is that you may lose some of the skills you've acquired in school.
 
I guess it depends on the job you do during those years. For example, if you are majoring in engineering, and then you work for a few years as an engineer. I believe you would have a huge advantage over those fresh-graduates.
 
I worked for a year, and I think it helped: when I applied I had an extra semester's worth of grades and material for professors to write letters. I wouldn't want to go much longer than that. Your professors will begin to forget, and worse, you'll begin to forget.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

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