I can't shake this guilty feelings that I should be doing something more...

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Gilbird

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I realize this belongs in #firstworldproblems
But last week I was accepted to one of my top choices (I still have a few schools I'm holding out on and 1 more interview to attend in January) and now...

...I can't shake this guilty feeling like I should be out doing something resume-worthy. When my gap year plans (read: I was fired) fell through a few weeks ago, I thought I was screwed, then lo and behold I got this windfall acceptance.

Can someone validate my using the next 8 months to complete my bucket list of random stuff (learn to surf! shoot a gun! finally lose 10 pounds!) + travel?

Does anyone think I should get a steady job? Or something else that I can put on my resume and/or will contribute to my general competence as a human?

Sorry if this post makes anyone roll their eyes or get super mad. I'm just a neurotic freak--if I wasn't, would I be on SDN?
 
Get a job. Enjoy your last ~year of freedom. And congrats
 
Gilbird said:
Can someone validate my using the next 8 months to complete my bucket list of random stuff (learn to surf! shoot a gun! finally lose 10 pounds!) + travel?

Does anyone think I should get a steady job? Or something else that I can put on my resume and/or will contribute to my general competence as a human?
Click to expand...

Go and be free. The next 9 months belong to you. By the sound of it you need to spend about half of that relaxing on a deserted island to help you unwind a bit. Take a break from SDN and med school application hell. Congratulation but seriously go...just go.
 
This is what basically every single person I've talked to in medical school has said to me now that I've gotten acceptances:

- Enjoy your last truly free period in life
- Get a steady job to make a little money so you can take out a little less in loans
- Spend time with people and things that make you happy
- Complete 'bucket list' things you'd like to do (Gun, Lifting, Travel, etc)
- Find your 'zen' place. This will be one of that last times you can sit back and relax, do it so you can avoid burning out later. Use this as your 'gap year,' so to speak.
 
Oo Cipher oO said:
Go and be free. The next 9 months belong to you. By the sound of it you need to spend about half of that relaxing on a deserted island to help you unwind a bit. Take a break from SDN and med school application hell. Congratulation but seriously go...just go.
Click to expand...

Hahaha ok. I hear you. Thanks 🙂
I guess its just hard to shake the mentality.
But you're 100% right, I need to go be a real person now. 🙂
 
I think you should do your bucket list, but if you can get a position in research or something related to medicine, that is preferable, even if does not pay or pays very little. So it won't be like you wasted your time. Whenever there is a time gap, licensing and malpractice want to know what you were doing during that time.
 
GroverPsychMD said:
Whenever there is a time gap, licensing and malpractice want to know what you were doing during that time.
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28941891.jpg
 
GroverPsychMD said:
I think you should do your bucket list, but if you can get a position in research or something related to medicine, that is preferable, even if does not pay or pays very little. So it won't be like you wasted your time. Whenever there is a time gap, licensing and malpractice want to know what you were doing during that time.
Click to expand...

Hey Grover, how does one get a "probationary status?"
 
Your bucket list is lacking for 8 months. You can shoot a gun in an hour and learn to surf in a week.
 
Go enjoy yourself, do the things that you actually enjoy (for real this time, not the stuff you need to "pretend" to enjoy). In hindsight, I wish I enjoyed my last few months more instead of working full-time.
 
Just live it up. I struggled a lot with a similar feeling of this need to get out and do more things. But becoming a doctor means that I'll have a job that serves others full-time... so I see no reason why I can't just relax and do the things that I enjoy with this time off.
 
I know, I'm feeling guilty because after my acceptances two weeks ago I got a job (which required me to cut back on volunteering) but I need the money more than ever! Is this unethical?
 
Same here. I know I should drop all work and go enjoy myself buttttttt I can't. So ingrained in me now to keep working towards the next goal...
 
speakwhales said:
Same here. I know I should drop all work and go enjoy myself buttttttt I can't. So ingrained in me now to keep working towards the next goal...
Click to expand...

Yeah... It feels very strange. No structure. Can't hang. WHAT IS THIS. lol.

If I had a job right now, I would have kept it through the year. I just... don't have one right now. I had one for a few months after graduation but lost that a few weeks ago.

At this point, I'm thinking I might just get a part-time job like waiting tables or whatever, and use the rest of my time to travel around doing fun things and trying out new sports or whatever. Basically, get away from my house/desk/computer. I'm lucky in that my stepdad is going to pay my way thru med school, so it's not really about making money for me this year. It's just about figuring out what I actually want to do.
 
Travel somewhere exotic and (relatively) affordable. ie. South America, Southeast Asia.
You won't have another chance to travel as a young, unencumbered person.
 
Gilbird said:
Yeah... It feels very strange. No structure. Can't hang. WHAT IS THIS. lol.

If I had a job right now, I would have kept it through the year. I just... don't have one right now. I had one for a few months after graduation but lost that a few weeks ago.

At this point, I'm thinking I might just get a part-time job like waiting tables or whatever, and use the rest of my time to travel around doing fun things and trying out new sports or whatever. Basically, get away from my house/desk/computer. I'm lucky in that my stepdad is going to pay my way thru med school, so it's not really about making money for me this year. It's just about figuring out what I actually want to do.
Click to expand...

Same exact situation! But hard to find a job when you can only work for a few month if you're intent to travel...
 
speakwhales said:
Same exact situation! But hard to find a job when you can only work for a few month if you're intent to travel...
Click to expand...

Yeah, definitely no "legit" job is going to hire me for just a few months... Only a service job where they have high turnover. Er, at least I think..

So did you recently get accepted as well, speakwhales? What kind of work have you/are you doing?
 
Praefectus said:
What the hell kind of gun are you using? A musket?
Click to expand...

Oh boy, that made me laugh. I meant the entire process of going to a range, renting a gun, loading up a few clips, firing and returning the gun will take about an hour.

Besides, a trained British imperial soldier can fire off an ole Brown Bess 3 or 4 times a minute if they're top notch. Now if you're referring to the more dated arquebus, then you might have a little less fun shooting since you'll only be able to fire off a shot a minute or two.
 
speakwhales said:
Same exact situation! But hard to find a job when you can only work for a few month if you're intent to travel...
Click to expand...

Gilbird said:
Yeah, definitely no "legit" job is going to hire me for just a few months... Only a service job where they have high turnover. Er, at least I think..

So did you recently get accepted as well, speakwhales? What kind of work have you/are you doing?
Click to expand...

I want to travel but I took a full time job where I feel like I have made a commitment to stay until I leave for medical school...🙁 I enjoy the job but feel like I am not making the most of my year off.
 
Gilbird said:
I realize this belongs in #firstworldproblems
But last week I was accepted to one of my top choices (I still have a few schools I'm holding out on and 1 more interview to attend in January) and now...

...I can't shake this guilty feeling like I should be out doing something resume-worthy. When my gap year plans (read: I was fired) fell through a few weeks ago, I thought I was screwed, then lo and behold I got this windfall acceptance.

Can someone validate my using the next 8 months to complete my bucket list of random stuff (learn to surf! shoot a gun! finally lose 10 pounds!) + travel?

Does anyone think I should get a steady job? Or something else that I can put on my resume and/or will contribute to my general competence as a human?

Sorry if this post makes anyone roll their eyes or get super mad. I'm just a neurotic freak--if I wasn't, would I be on SDN?
Click to expand...
I am in my second gap year. I did clinical research last year to pay for my undergrad and to save up. First few months of quitting my job I felt incompetent, guilty and I felt like a free loader. I have to admit, it has been hard to get out of bed knowing that I really didn't have to. No purpose for me = bad. I have lived a busy life prior; involved myself in research while working part-time through undergrad.

I must say though, after you get over that guilty feeling, everything just starts being normal again. Beyond normal actually. No responsibility means you can pursue anything that you want. It's still hard to accept the fact that I have until next year to bum around. It's something that I will never get used to. Maybe you can travel abroad, find a hobby or volunteer.

I was supposed to teach English in the Republic of Georgia, but after all the warning signs about security, I decided not to. I had to withdraw everything weeks before my departure. Be smart about organizations and locations. Travel smart.

I involved myself more in music, art, cooking and writing in the meanwhile. Find your niche.

It's hard to get a job these days with pre-med stats. It's either you're underqualified or overqualified. Plus, it's hard to find a program/job that will only last for 8 months. I nearly got into clinical research program until they found out that I couldn't stay for 4 yrs because I'm a pre-med. I'm terrible at lying so I didn't disagree with them. So if you're applying for a job, NEVER mention that you're a pre-med.
 
Tots said:
I want to travel but I took a full time job where I feel like I have made a commitment to stay until I leave for medical school...🙁 I enjoy the job but feel like I am not making the most of my year off.
Click to expand...

Same. I'm facing the decision of taking a job that requires at least a five-month commitment. I had signed up for a cross country bike trip for next summer and so need adequate time in the states to train before that. So if I want to really travel abroad, I have to start in mid-February at the latest...

This is really the ultimate #firstworldproblems thread in pre-med world.
 
There's no reason to feel guilty, you're going to med school next year! That's when you start your career. For now, any job you do is inconsequential to your future career (unless you are making strides in research and close to getting a publication). Since you are currently unemployed, I wouldn't bother finding another job for a few months that I didn't like. My suggestion is to do whatever you want, but make sure it is financially reasonable (aka don't go to Vegas and blow 20 grand just because you got in lol). Maybe get a job that you would enjoy doing, regardless of pay or "prestige". In my opinion, there's nothing you "should" be doing right now, it's all up to you.
 
Tots said:
I want to travel but I took a full time job where I feel like I have made a commitment to stay until I leave for medical school...🙁 I enjoy the job but feel like I am not making the most of my year off.
Click to expand...

Hey, at least you are moderating on sdn too!
 
Bangersandmash said:
Oh boy, that made me laugh. I meant the entire process of going to a range, renting a gun, loading up a few clips, firing and returning the gun will take about an hour.

Besides, a trained British imperial soldier can fire off an ole Brown Bess 3 or 4 times a minute if they're top notch. Now if you're referring to the more dated arquebus, then you might have a little less fun shooting since you'll only be able to fire off a shot a minute or two.
Click to expand...

I'm just ruffling your feathers a little. 😉

Also, screw the British empire. Their taxation and illegal quartering are growing intolerable. I heard that some Injuns dumped a ton of their cargo (I think it might have been tea) into the Boston harbor the other day. Serves them right!
 
Do what makes you happy. Take a week or two off and complete some of those tasks (and if you have a sugar daddy or parents willing to support you, take more time off). After that, fight crime and bring justice. Oh wait, that's my bucket list...
 
Praefectus said:
I'm just ruffling your feathers a little. 😉

Also, screw the British empire. Their taxation and illegal quartering are growing intolerable. I heard that some Injuns dumped a ton of their cargo (I think it might have been tea) into the Boston harbor the other day. Serves them right!
Click to expand...

Nothing like election day for American revolution posts!
 
is that one of the ones that sounds like a fax machine?
 
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