Welcome back to Episode 7 of Undergrad Unhinged. Today, Ammiel and Saheb bring on two guests, Dev, and ex-KBC Vice-President Ata. We discuss gap years, our experiences and how we made the most of it.

Here are the timestamps for this episode:

(0:40) A 20 second summary of what Ammiel, Ata and Saheb did on their gap year 

(2:35) Ata’s need to make the most of his gap year, and how it led him to consulting post-grad

(4:31) How Saheb spent his gap year preparing himself again to apply for medical school

(5:57) How Ammiel’s almost 3 year gap years in the army

(7:45) Military service in Turkey vs Singapore 

(9:00) How did our gap years change us as people 

(9:10) Ata’s search for a purpose admits the freedom of a gap year 

(10:51) Ammiel’s on why the traditional high school path doesn’t directly lead to success in university 

(12:44) How Ata feels like a gap year forced him to consider his career choices 

(14:20) Dev’s take on why coming into uni at 18 is the best thing ever

(15:00) Saheb’s advice on dealing with failure and focusing on the process as a medic

(16:40) Ata on the importance of solitude 

(18:45) Ammiel on the importance of being comfortable with uncertainty 

(23:00) How Ata was featured on a YES THEORY Episode 

(27:40) Saheb and Ammiel’s time in Australia

(29:44) Ata on why a gap year may not be the best time of your life 

(31:50) Saheb getting through a gap year after reapplying for medicine

(31:20) Ammiel on the importance of intentionally taking time to rest

(32:55) Ata on why he would encourage most people to take gap years

(35:00) Ammiel on the unintentionally stumbling into careers

(37:00) Ammiel on collective skills

(38:00) Ata on American vs Nordic Happiness, and why the Americans may have it figured out 

(39:00) Pin-holing yourself into career at 17

(43:50) How universities would look upon a gap year 

(45:00) Our one regret from our gap year 

(48:10) Would we do our gap years again?

(50:30) Closing