I am going to have to take a gap year as going for my Master won't happen due to a couple of rejections but mainly money issues. I just finished my Bachelors in Poly Sci at the Univ of Louisville with a 3.7 GPA. I can't go anywhere right now due to having a son in high school but he graduates in 2028. Will taking time off hurt my chances when I apply for Ph.D. positions? Seeing as I live in a very rural area how can I get research done during my gap year to have a paper or two written when I apply. I'm rather bummed due to having my Masters degree fall though right now but I don't want to give up quite yet.