DANIEL LIPPITT
The e Generation
More Than
Recess
Taking time out between undergrad and grad
school can be a rewarding intermission.
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
H
r
1
Calendar
September 15 - October 9
Thursday, September 15
Break the Fast Dance. 9 p.m.
at the Maple/Drake Jewish
Community Center. There is
a charge. Call 661-7678.
Sunday, September 25
Volunteer Impact is sponsor-
ing a hayride, bonfire and
square dancing with JARC
clients. 6 p.m. at Domino's
Farms. Call 546-0886.
Tuesday, October 4
The United Jewish Appeal
Young Leadership Cabinet
will tour the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum and visit
Capitol Hill. Call 642-4260.
THE DETROI T . IFWISH NFWq
Sunday, October 9
82
A young adult pre-glow will
precede a JARC fund-raiser,
"25 Years of the Magic of
Broadway," hosted by Joel
Grey. Call 352-JARC.
Do you have an item for our
young adult 1 singles calen-
dar? Send it to Jennifer Fin-
er at The Jewish News
27676 Franklin Rd.
Southfield, MI 48034
L
e calls himself a victim of the sys-
tem.: West Bloomfield resident
David Tessler wanted to attend
medical school the fall after he
graduated from the University of
Michigan. But due to circum-
stances beyond his control — re-
jection letters — this 1993 college
graduate spent last year work-
ing and taking classes.
His second attempt at medical
school yielded better results. Two
weeks ago, he moved to Chicago
to begin classes at Midwestern
University School of Osteopath-
ic Medicine.
"If I had it to do over again, I
would still take a year off and
travel and work," Mr. Tessler
said. "A lot of people, including
myself at one time, had the same
stereotypical drive that you had
to go straight through school.
There is no reason to be ashamed
of taking a year off."
For young adults today, tak-
ing time off— anywhere between
a year and a number of years —
is gaining acceptance. Some like
Mr. Tessler sat out because they
had to. Others wanted to travel
or gain work experience before
continuing their education. Of-
ten, graduate business schools
will only accept students who
have work experience.
Lauren Green, 26, who is en-
rolled in the master of business
administration program at
Emory University in Atlanta said
the average student in her class
has four years of post-college
work experience.
"I think it was helpful to work,"
said Ms. Green, who recently
moved from Northville to Atlanta
with her husband, Fred. He also
took time off before going to law
school.
Ms. Green said, "Having
worked for a number of years,
what we learn in class seems
more valid because of work
experience. Not only can I
apply my own experiences
but I can learn from others
who have their own varied
experiences."
With five years of post-col-
lege work experience under
his belt, Ed Lowenfeld, of
Farmington Hills, went to
the Kellogg Graduate School
of Management at North- Alan Cooper was a law clerk and held odd jobs before going to law school.
western University for an
MBA.
wanted to experience other career in the media. Two-and-a-
After-completing his under- things.
half years after his graduation
graduate program at Duke Uni-
"I'm glad I had a year off to from the University of Arizona,
versity, Mr. Lowenfeld, 30, play and not take life seriously," he was back in class as a student
worked in corporate lending at a said Fred Green, 26, who began at Cooley Law School in Lansing.
Baltimore bank.
"Once I made the final decision
University of Detroit Law School
When the banking industry after a year of working as a bar- to attend law school, I had my
became stagnant and the econ- tender. "It was a thoughtless, mind set on getting accepted,"
omy was not in the best of shape, mindless year, which was good Mr. Cooper said. 'When I did get
Mr. Lowenfeld, who is now a fi- for me. On the other hand, my in, I had so much anxiety it fu-
nancial analyst for Ford, decided friends who went straight eled the discipline I needed to get
to apply to graduate schools.
through now have jobs while I'm through, especially during my
"I wanted to attend a top still looking."
first term."
school that would really separate
Mr. Millman had other wor-
me from the crowd after I grad-
ries. He was concerned that he
uated," he said. "I was at a point
forgot how to study and that get-
in my career where if I did not go,
ting back into the school routine
I never would. If I waited I might
would be difficult.
be too old and making too much
`The first month or two, it took
money. The fact that I got into
time to adjust to medical school,"
Kellogg made my decision that
Bruce Millman
Mr. Millman said. "I'm not sure
much easier."
if it was because I took a year off
Bruce Millman, 25, went the
from studying or because of the
Mr. Green's original post-col- challenges of med school or both."
travel route between schools. He
spent six months of his hiatus in lege intentions were to work for
Mr. Lowenfeld took classes
Israel and Europe and worked at the family business. But it was while working at the bank to "see
Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the re- sold, and he had to come up with if I could consider being in school
alternative plans.
mainder of the year.
again."
These young adults all said
Today, Mr. Millman is in his
His first term at Northwestern
third year at Michigan State Uni- that returning to the classroom was an adjustment, but Mr.
versity's College of Osteopathic after a longer-than-usual peri- Lowenfeld still believes it's bet-
od of time had a few minor hitch- ter to work between degrees.
Medicine.
"I knew what I wanted to do es — mainly the first term — but
"When you go to school from
and taking a year off would not was not too difficult.
the age of 5 until the time you are
Alan Cooper, 27, worked for about 21, a year off is a good
throw me too far off-track," Mr.
Millman said. "I knew what my a television and a radio station thing," Mr. Green said. El
focus was but at the same time I before deciding not to pursue a
"Taking a year off
would not throw me
too far off track."