Sort of silly to ask before even interviewing, but what are the policies of most schools for deferring? Are they more or less lenient than MD Schools? Has anyone deferred/plan to defer this year? I would like to do some kind of service work in Africa or Latin America during a year off, but it would likely not be medically related.
Defer DO School
- Thread starter ReApper24
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People definitely defer. I don't know, personally, if I would defer a year to do service work in another country. I know you probably feel very passionate about it, and that is really respectable, but you may want to just hit the ground running with med school and figure out international rotations and service trips during the summer between 1st/2nd year. Will the schools share my feelings??? Who knows? Maybe not. However, all I can really say about deferring is that if you plan to defer, please intend on taking that seat next year. Otherwise you are holding seats from applicants who want to get into/attend that school.
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I was listening to some questions at our school's open house (PCOM) and a few students were told deferments weren't granted and reapplication was necessary.
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I know people who deferred at both allo and osteo schools. Not all schools will allow deferrals, but for the ones that do allow them, they all have different requirements on the circumstances needed to allow them. They also vary in the method by which you'll need to state your case and prove your worthiness of a very valuable guaranteed seat.
That being said, the common underlying factor that usually comes into play is that you generally need to prove to the dean/committee that you have a once in a lifetime opportunity that will benefit your patients or your medical education....or you have a finite situation that will keep you from performing adequately in medical school, but will be resolved by next year's start. Either way, it's also all but necessary to explain that you did not apply/interview/accept your acceptance while knowing that this would be the case.
Basically, tread carefully and think hard about this decision. It's a very important one.
That being said, the common underlying factor that usually comes into play is that you generally need to prove to the dean/committee that you have a once in a lifetime opportunity that will benefit your patients or your medical education....or you have a finite situation that will keep you from performing adequately in medical school, but will be resolved by next year's start. Either way, it's also all but necessary to explain that you did not apply/interview/accept your acceptance while knowing that this would be the case.
Basically, tread carefully and think hard about this decision. It's a very important one.
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I was accepted to DCOM last year and deferred because I had a health situation...so I know they let you.
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I agree with everyone that deferments are granted on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the school.
However, the time before medical school will the the last time in your life that you are able to take time off for an extended period of time. After school starts, you get a couple summers off and that is it. If you think an international rotation during school would satisfy what you want to do, then you might as well start school now. If you're planning on being international for more than a couple months or if you are going to multiple places or if you want to do non-medical related things there, then pitch your case to the school and live your life how you want to.
I'm a big advocate for time off between undergrad and med school to do things for yourself. Starting school 1 year later isn't going to matter a bit in the long run.
Good luck-
However, the time before medical school will the the last time in your life that you are able to take time off for an extended period of time. After school starts, you get a couple summers off and that is it. If you think an international rotation during school would satisfy what you want to do, then you might as well start school now. If you're planning on being international for more than a couple months or if you are going to multiple places or if you want to do non-medical related things there, then pitch your case to the school and live your life how you want to.
I'm a big advocate for time off between undergrad and med school to do things for yourself. Starting school 1 year later isn't going to matter a bit in the long run.
Good luck-
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Great post. This echoes many of the sentiments of several physicians I've talked to. One guy said that one summer he worked at a dude ranch. He says he still dreams about it. Another physician I know just traveled for a year. Basically, it comes down to whether you'll get this opportunity again.
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I don't think this sentiment is exclusive to medicine though. My Dad is an exec at a big company and did sales before that, and he hasn't had a summer since he was in college and I've never known him to take vacation from work longer than 2 weeks. I think it's just an unfortunate part about growing up ... you loose that freedom to move to Europe for 6 months or wake up at noon everyday between June and September.
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Solution: Let's never grow up. Reminds me of that episode of How I Met Your Mother where Barney did that awful list of things while Ted did all the old people stuff.
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Can you defer a year for the purpose of getting in-state tuition. I'm talking about schools like MSUCOM where it can make a big difference.
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They'll probably not allow that, unless you have some extraordinary opportunity in the state or you have some hardship that would prevent you from being successful as an M1.
In short, no.
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I suggest that you stay away from deferring. The reason for this is that the number of new DO programs has ballooned (there was 1 added this year (LECOM - Seaton Hill) and there is one added in Indiana for next year).
Meanwhile the number of residency spots has not been keeping pace. Basically the students who will be graduating in 2014+ will have much more competition simply due to the increased number of graduates. If you wait longer you may have your options limited simply by the competition.
Meanwhile the number of residency spots has not been keeping pace. Basically the students who will be graduating in 2014+ will have much more competition simply due to the increased number of graduates. If you wait longer you may have your options limited simply by the competition.
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And then reapplied. No offense, but that is shady.
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huh?
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