Applying during my YEAR OFF!

[CA med app]

Any suggestions (besides the basic volunteering, tutoring, and working part time) during my year off??

I feel like I'm not doing anything productive during this time. I want to relax this year, but I feel like I can't. And, I'm also tired of only writing like one sentence on my secondaries when they ask what I have been doing if I took a year off.

Any advice from those who have taken a year off?


p.s. I don't like lab work, which is why I'm not torturing myself doing research.

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[Code Brown]

Any suggestions (besides the basic volunteering, tutoring, and working part time) during my year off??

I feel like I'm not doing anything productive during this time. I want to relax this year, but I feel like I can't. And, I'm also tired of only writing like one sentence on my secondaries when they ask what I have been doing if I took a year off.

Any advice from those who have taken a year off?


p.s. I don't like lab work, which is why I'm not torturing myself doing research.

I would recommend doing some travelling if you can afford it. It's really pretty easy to explain to the adcoms and will be an awesome experience. You tell them you wanted to explore the country/world before getting tied down for 10 years in med school and residency. See the world, experience new cultures, live life, etc.

 

[leechy]

I'm not doing anything impressive - not much I can tell adcoms about at least. If you have any hobbies you are pursuing during your time off - even reading books for instance - definitely tell them about that. Unfortunately one of my hobbies has been imbibing the liquor I missed out on during my intense pre-med years.

 

[brats800]

get a job you like and work it part time. it may or may not be medical related...mine is, because i didn't get much medical experience during college. i'm doing tissue recovery, which means i work with a team and go 'harvest' bones and tissues from organ donors who pass away. otherwise, yeah. relax and enjoy the time. this is my last deep breath before the big jump. i'm reading a lot and watching tv and playing nintendo more than during undergrad. i'm visiting friends on some weekends and spending more time with my family. if you can travel, do it! no better time than now. save up some $, but really if you are looking at $150,000 (plus or minus) of loans, what's really the difference between making like $8,000 or $10,000 this year? maybe some people think its a big deal, but i'd rather relax and enjoy the year off. don't feel like a slacker or that you should be doing a lot. you'll definitly be busy enough come next year once classes begin....

 

[CA med app]

Thanks for your responses, guys!


I definitely feel better about not being TOO productive this year.

 

[AsianDoc816]

This is my year off as well. I am currently taking one class for fun (Human Sexuality), working part time at a middle school, teaching Sunday School at my church (kindergarten), and doing research at my undergraduate institution. The middle school in which I work at has a high percentage of minority students. While the experience is not medically related, it has definitely made me a more patient, virtuous, and knowledgeable applicant. I'd recommend getting a job that you will be happy doing for a few months, even if the pay is not all that wonderful.

 

[PKP719]

watch a whole lot of pornos ..lol jk

go for EMT certification ..
Euro Trip .. Amsterdam/Berlin/London/Swiss
buy a season pass for snowboarding and free your mind
have a few affairs on the side before you leave lol

Thats my plans , If I bum around next year

 

[lulubean]

I defintiely agree with Code Brown. TRAVEL! It is a life changing experience and will definitely shape the kind of physician you want to be. It wouldn't hurt traveling to a Latin American country to learn Spanish too. (I highly recommend Guatemala from personal experience!

 

[funshine]

I defintiely agree with Code Brown. TRAVEL! It is a life changing experience and will definitely shape the kind of physician you want to be. It wouldn't hurt traveling to a Latin American country to learn Spanish too. (I highly recommend Guatemala from personal experience!

why guatemala? why not, say costa rica (which i've heard is beautiful)
i really want to practice my spanish, so that's something i;m looking into.

i'm pretty sure there are a ton of volunteer opportunities in latin aamerica, including health-care related ones. however, i'm not sure how "fun" they'll be. of course, visiting those countries for service groups is very diff from vacationing there as a tourist. i'm in the process of deciding for myself. anyone have any volunteer experiences abroad?

 

[lulubean]

if you want to really get to know a latin american country, outside of the touristy parts, I would recommend guatemala. its got amazing (and sad) history, the schools are affordable and great, and the country is very diverse - from beaches, to mountains, to jungle - all beautiful. the schools go beyond language instruction and delve into the social, political, and cultural background of Central Americans - it is also linked to a bunch of NGOs and volunteer opportunities.
the website of the school i went to is http://www.hermandad.com/

I've heard costa rica is beautiful too, but can't vouch for it (never been! ) I heard they have a medical spanish program tho...

 

[funshine]

if you want to really get to know a latin american country, outside of the touristy parts, I would recommend guatemala. its got amazing (and sad) history, the schools are affordable and great, and the country is very diverse - from beaches, to mountains, to jungle - all beautiful. the schools go beyond language instruction and delve into the social, political, and cultural background of Central Americans - it is also linked to a bunch of NGOs and volunteer opportunities.
the website of the school i went to is http://www.hermandad.com/

I've heard costa rica is beautiful too, but can't vouch for it (never been! ) I heard they have a medical spanish program tho...

ok..so you really enjoyed your time in guatemala? did you do other stuff (like clinical work) on the side while taking spanish classes?
b/c I do need to clinical/volunteer experience.

Also, was it an adjustment at all, living in guatemala? You may write me off as an insular ignorant american, but the one thing that is stopping me from going to latin america is my fear that it will be dirty, underdeveloped and i'll have a hard time adjusting. i know all countries are diff, and some worse/better than others, but i don't know which. Probably Costa Rica and Guatemala are two of the more developed, tourist-attracting countries.
See, my whole family is slightly neurotic about cleanliness, so it's unfortunately become a big inhibiting factor in my willingness to visit other countries. Not that the U.S. is clean--most of its big cities certainly aren't. But I know there is still a big diff.

thanks!!

 

[lulubean]

i personally didn't do any volunteer work while i was down there but there are a ton of places to do it. the school, because it is very focused on improving life for ppl in guatemala, have connections with lots of volunteer projects. you can either email the school ahead of time and tell them what you want to do or you can wait till you get down there. when i was there, they had opportunities in clinics, schools, orphanages, etc...

you can also look for international volunteer experience at www.idealist.org.

as for the adjustment, it is a drastic difference from life here. In Xela, where i stayed, you would stay with a family, the rooms are very simple and plain, you can only drink bottled water, and showers will be with cold water. the only thing that bothered me was the smog and dust. but that will be the worst of it if you stay in the city. also, the schools and families make a huge effort to make sure you are comfortable. but you definitely need to be sw adventurous. if you want somewhere a little cleaner or more westernized, a lot of people choose to study in Antigua. Its a really cute european looking town also in guatemala. i hope that helps!

i think what i took away from the experience, was that even though the trip required "roughing it" a bit, the people are gracious and you realize how little you actually need to get by in life.

wow this is long - okay i will shut up about it now!

 

[45408]

watch a whole lot of pornos ..lol jk

go for EMT certification ..
Euro Trip .. Amsterdam/Berlin/London/Swiss
buy a season pass for snowboarding and free your mind
have a few affairs on the side before you leave lol

Thats my plans , If I bum around next year

why get your EMT unless you're going to use it for something? it is kind of a fun class, but the adcoms might wonder what your reasoning was.

My friend is doing an as.sload of research (in like 3-4 labs), ER volunteering, and whatever else he feels like.

 

[dr_juvi]

You may write me off as an insular ignorant american, but the one thing that is stopping me from going to latin america is my fear that it will be dirty, underdeveloped and i'll have a hard time adjusting. i know all countries are diff, and some worse/better than others, but i don't know which. Probably Costa Rica and Guatemala are two of the more developed, tourist-attracting countries.
See, my whole family is slightly neurotic about cleanliness, so it's unfortunately become a big inhibiting factor in my willingness to visit other countries. Not that the U.S. is clean--most of its big cities certainly aren't. But I know there is still a big diff.

u are pretty right about being seen as an insular ignorant american, u'd be very surprised on how developed these so called "dirty and underdeveloped" countries really are...i speak from personal experience ( my parents are from the carribean and latin america, i go there all the time)...the only part that is difficult is probably the language, if ur not fluent..other than that, they are pretty clean, no different than seeing "good" areas in the U.S. and dirty areas where there is poverty. Guatemala is really not any better than say Ecuador, Peru, or any of the islands and neither is Coasta Rica ( what adds to its beauty is the fact that the ocean as all around.) Anyway..just my opinion.

 

[funshine]

u are pretty right about being seen as an insular ignorant american, u'd be very surprised on how developed these so called "dirty and underdeveloped" countries really are...i speak from personal experience ( my parents are from the carribean and latin america, i go there all the time)...the only part that is difficult is probably the language, if ur not fluent..other than that, they are pretty clean, no different than seeing "good" areas in the U.S. and dirty areas where there is poverty. Guatemala is really not any better than say Ecuador, Peru, or any of the islands and neither is Coasta Rica ( what adds to its beauty is the fact that the ocean as all around.) Anyway..just my opinion.

i know and i do feel bad about it ...it's not something i ever express.
but when you've grown up in the very cleanest places in the US, you start to take it for granted and don't see a reason why you would ever leave. i see you are from NYC, so you're probably used to a very diff sort of environment.
i'm not justifying the way i am, i'm just trying to present as accurate a picture of me as possible so you can tell me whether it's a good idea for me to go to latin america.

 

[funshine]

i personally didn't do any volunteer work while i was down there but there are a ton of places to do it. the school, because it is very focused on improving life for ppl in guatemala, have connections with lots of volunteer projects. you can either email the school ahead of time and tell them what you want to do or you can wait till you get down there. when i was there, they had opportunities in clinics, schools, orphanages, etc...

you can also look for international volunteer experience at www.idealist.org.

as for the adjustment, it is a drastic difference from life here. In Xela, where i stayed, you would stay with a family, the rooms are very simple and plain, you can only drink bottled water, and showers will be with cold water. the only thing that bothered me was the smog and dust. but that will be the worst of it if you stay in the city. also, the schools and families make a huge effort to make sure you are comfortable. but you definitely need to be sw adventurous. if you want somewhere a little cleaner or more westernized, a lot of people choose to study in Antigua. Its a really cute european looking town also in guatemala. i hope that helps!

i think what i took away from the experience, was that even though the trip required "roughing it" a bit, the people are gracious and you realize how little you actually need to get by in life.

wow this is long - okay i will shut up about it now!

THANK YOU. that did help, a lot =). i'll look into it, and let you know what i decide to do!!!!

 

[kdnysux]

if you want to really get to know a latin american country, outside of the touristy parts, I would recommend guatemala. its got amazing (and sad) history, the schools are affordable and great, and the country is very diverse - from beaches, to mountains, to jungle - all beautiful. the schools go beyond language instruction and delve into the social, political, and cultural background of Central Americans - it is also linked to a bunch of NGOs and volunteer opportunities.
the website of the school i went to is http://www.hermandad.com/

I've heard costa rica is beautiful too, but can't vouch for it (never been! ) I heard they have a medical spanish program tho...

How long did you stay in Guatemala? Im interested in doing a spanish study program again, and I must say the tuition in Guatemala is way cheaper than it cost in Spain. I've also been to Costa Rica, but only as a tourist. I liked the beaches, but the city where they have the schools was pretty dead and somewhat boring. Where there things to do (nightlife, etc) in Guatemala when you were there? Was it pretty safe? thanks

 

[lulubean]

How long did you stay in Guatemala? Im interested in doing a spanish study program again, and I must say the tuition in Guatemala is way cheaper than it cost in Spain. I've also been to Costa Rica, but only as a tourist. I liked the beaches, but the city where they have the schools was pretty dead and somewhat boring. Where there things to do (nightlife, etc) in Guatemala when you were there? Was it pretty safe? thanks

i was there for two months. xela is like a little college town except instead of college students you have spanish language students. its fun cuz you meet ppl from all over the world. lots of germans, canadians, and danes. anyway, there are a couple bars and nightclubs that ppl go to every night and salsa lessons galore. i felt totally safe there. the only place i would not recommend traveling alone to at night was guatemala city, the capital.

 

[CA med app]

did you guys travel during the application process or was it before??

I want to travel, but being as neurotic I am about this whole process.... I can barely leave home for a couple of hours before I start checking my mail.

Thank god for a T-mobile sidekick or else I'll be stuck to my home comp until I get that acceptance notification.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

watch a whole lot of pornos ..lol jk

go for EMT certification ..
Euro Trip .. Amsterdam/Berlin/London/Swiss
buy a season pass for snowboarding and free your mind
have a few affairs on the side before you leave lol

Thats my plans , If I bum around next year

Why would someone go for EMT certification if they are going to matriculate into medical school in 7 or 8 months? Seems like a hell of a waste of time and money.

 

[funshine]

So ppl who have been to Latin America, these are the cities/countries in which there are programs organized by my university:

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Provita, Boca de Rio
Margarita Island (nice name ^_^)
Caracas, Venezuela
Lima, Peru
San Jose, Costa Rica
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
La Paz, Bolivia
Santiago, Chile
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Anyone know anything about these cities/countries?
If I remember correctly, Bolivia is going thru some political upheaval and is not the safest place to be...right?

How is Caracas, Ven. I wonder...

Sorry I've been so annoying, but I'm starting to get excited about this =)

 

[PKP719]

Why would someone go for EMT certification if they are going to matriculate into medical school in 7 or 8 months? Seems like a hell of a waste of time and money.

maybe to pass time and gain some experience in doing soo ..

 

[brats800]

Why would someone go for EMT certification if they are going to matriculate into medical school in 7 or 8 months? Seems like a hell of a waste of time and money.

i did it cause i thought it'd be fun and a good thing to know, like learning CPR, but that much better. sure you'll be better equipped after medical school, but for now, i am certified as an emt. that's somethin. but yeah, it is a waste of time and $$ if you don't want to use it during your year off or during your undergrad, i'd say.

 

[CA med app]

bump

 

[acl3623]

AAHH!! whose talking sh+T about Guatemala!?!?!? im from there!!!
Funshine, dont worry about being an ignorant american...most are but what counts is that you actually want to experience life outside the great usa..

Anyways, plug for my country....it is absolutely beautiful...i mean it. ive been very lucky to have traveled all my life (i lived in pakistan and england and have traveled to india, thailand, malaysia, singapore, greece, spain, france, scotland, nepal, and alot all over central america...costa rica, nicaragua...dont mean to show off but seriously guatemala is very unique) i love guatemala with all of my heart and seriously wish that the political situation was better there so that the country would pick itself up. it has so much history...which the US had a large hand in by the way...and the people there are amazing, they love tourism and really go out of their way to make anyone feel comfortable. it is a great place to go learn spanish (like lulubean said, antigua is one of the best places to learn, personally i know thats where the u.s. state dept. and some of the top diplomats go to learn). the nightlife is great (but i wont lie, it is dangerous...and if you make a big deal that youre a foreigner and make an ass out of yourself, you can get in trouble real fast. but if youre just out for a good time, youll find really fun, not to mention, good looking people all over) some good places to visit: the city, xela, tikal, amatique bay, antigua, amatitlan...you will see landscapes like youve never seen before...its gorgeous.

as for volunteer work. i was lucky to have connections through my pediatrician who got his md at Umiami and he really hooked me up. i got to see a lot down there...and do a lot...i got to put in stitches, watch tons of surgeries, help give shots, intubate...it was really crazy but thats when i knew i had to become a doctor. i couldnt wait to go to "work" every day...and the people that i was working with made it all better. they really value education down there and are so incredibly grateful to have competent people come and help them out. thats why i think a lot of schools have made missions that concentrate on guatemala...

oh man i could go on forever...anyways i encourage you to explore traveling. i think it is the single most important thing people can do other than get an education. its expensive but the stuff you learn from different cultures/people you can never be taught in a few college courses...go out and have fun!!!

 

[CharlieVN]

Why would someone go for EMT certification if they are going to matriculate into medical school in 7 or 8 months? Seems like a hell of a waste of time and money.

Agreed. IF you're looking for a job either do somethign totally out of the ordinary or something that will rake in the big bucks regardless of if it is medically related. Because once you're in med school it seems to be like a 1 way trip towards the doctor life....so definitely try to experience other things , travel, etc...before matriculating (it may b ur last chance )

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

i did it cause i thought it'd be fun and a good thing to know, like learning CPR, but that much better. sure you'll be better equipped after medical school, but for now, i am certified as an emt. that's somethin. but yeah, it is a waste of time and $$ if you don't want to use it during your year off or during your undergrad, i'd say.

That's what I meant - if one started EMT training in August or September and finished the six-month course, they would have at most six months to work as an EMT before medical school starts. And lets not forget that many EMTs don't get picked up right away - some have to volunteer for a while before they will get paid.
It doesnt matter to me what people do in their time off, but I just don't see much logic in getting certified in something you wont do.

 

[DrTex?]

I've spent time in Guatamala, Costa Rica, and Mexico. I definately rank Guatamala near the bottom of the list. Mexico's big advantage is that you will learn the type of Spanish that is most spoken in the US. Costa Rica has beautiful beaches. Not that I am talking **** about Guatamala. The people there are wonderful and very friendly. The
As for school, anything that you will find in the US is likely to cost quite a bit more than just going there and finding what you can.
Having lived in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, I reccomend that you try to check out Asia. If you come to a country like Korea or Japan, (where I happen to live now,) you can see a new culture and make plenty of cash. American English is in style in Asia and it is easy to get a job, (unlike Europe where they all want British English.) When I first travelled to Latin America and Europe, I thought, "wow, this is really different from the US." But now, compared to Asia, Europe and Latin America aren't too different at all.
Also, if you are wanting to get your brain in shape before med school, Asian languages have interesting alphabets and grammar.

 

[Code Brown]

A great idea would be to get one of those round-the-world airline tickets that allow you to stop and stay at 4 or 5 places as you circle the globe. They start at around $1500. This way, you can visit South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, spending a couple of weeks at each place. It will make for one awesome interview conversation piece!

 

[funshine]

I've spent time in Guatamala, Costa Rica, and Mexico. I definately rank Guatamala near the bottom of the list. Mexico's big advantage is that you will learn the type of Spanish that is most spoken in the US. Costa Rica has beautiful beaches. Not that I am talking **** about Guatamala. The people there are wonderful and very friendly. The
As for school, anything that you will find in the US is likely to cost quite a bit more than just going there and finding what you can.
Having lived in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, I reccomend that you try to check out Asia. If you come to a country like Korea or Japan, (where I happen to live now,) you can see a new culture and make plenty of cash. American English is in style in Asia and it is easy to get a job, (unlike Europe where they all want British English.) When I first travelled to Latin America and Europe, I thought, "wow, this is really different from the US." But now, compared to Asia, Europe and Latin America aren't too different at all.
Also, if you are wanting to get your brain in shape before med school, Asian languages have interesting alphabets and grammar.

what program did you do in japan? yeah, i've thought about going to japan as well, simply b/c i heart heart heart japanese culture. But i'm asian myself, so going there seems less exotic.
also, i doubt there are many healthcare opportunities in japan...right? cuz they're hardly needy, prob better off than a lot of places in the US.

 

[CA med app]

A great idea would be to get one of those round-the-world airline tickets that allow you to stop and stay at 4 or 5 places as you circle the globe. They start at around $1500. This way, you can visit South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, spending a couple of weeks at each place. It will make for one awesome interview conversation piece!

I've never heard of those "round-the-world airline tickets" before. Do you know if it's offered by a travel agency?? Any info on that?

 

[Code Brown]

I've never heard of those "round-the-world airline tickets" before. Do you know if it's offered by a travel agency?? Any info on that?

Check out this website:

http://www.airtreks.com/

Also, most of the big international airlines sell tickets as well: British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines.

I've had a couple of friends do it and they loved it. Plus, it's not really that expensive if you travel on a budget (but still safe and comfortable). Apart from the ticket, my friend was gone for 6 months and it only cost him $8000 and he said he lived like a king.

 

[45408]

Why would someone go for EMT certification if they are going to matriculate into medical school in 7 or 8 months? Seems like a hell of a waste of time and money.

Joke's on you if you had to pay for an EMT certification.

1. Get sponsored.
2. Don't pay nothing.
3. ?????
4. Profit.

 

[CA med app]

Check out this website:

http://www.airtreks.com/

Also, most of the big international airlines sell tickets as well: British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines.

I've had a couple of friends do it and they loved it. Plus, it's not really that expensive if you travel on a budget (but still safe and comfortable). Apart from the ticket, my friend was gone for 6 months and it only cost him $8000 and he said he lived like a king.

Thanks for the tip! I'll look into it.

 

[lulubean]

AAHH!! whose talking sh+T about Guatemala!?!?!? im from there!!!
Funshine, dont worry about being an ignorant american...most are but what counts is that you actually want to experience life outside the great usa..

Anyways, plug for my country....it is absolutely beautiful...i mean it. ive been very lucky to have traveled all my life (i lived in pakistan and england and have traveled to india, thailand, malaysia, singapore, greece, spain, france, scotland, nepal, and alot all over central america...costa rica, nicaragua...dont mean to show off but seriously guatemala is very unique) i love guatemala with all of my heart and seriously wish that the political situation was better there so that the country would pick itself up. it has so much history...which the US had a large hand in by the way...and the people there are amazing, they love tourism and really go out of their way to make anyone feel comfortable. it is a great place to go learn spanish (like lulubean said, antigua is one of the best places to learn, personally i know thats where the u.s. state dept. and some of the top diplomats go to learn). the nightlife is great (but i wont lie, it is dangerous...and if you make a big deal that youre a foreigner and make an ass out of yourself, you can get in trouble real fast. but if youre just out for a good time, youll find really fun, not to mention, good looking people all over) some good places to visit: the city, xela, tikal, amatique bay, antigua, amatitlan...you will see landscapes like youve never seen before...its gorgeous.

as for volunteer work. i was lucky to have connections through my pediatrician who got his md at Umiami and he really hooked me up. i got to see a lot down there...and do a lot...i got to put in stitches, watch tons of surgeries, help give shots, intubate...it was really crazy but thats when i knew i had to become a doctor. i couldnt wait to go to "work" every day...and the people that i was working with made it all better. they really value education down there and are so incredibly grateful to have competent people come and help them out. thats why i think a lot of schools have made missions that concentrate on guatemala...

oh man i could go on forever...anyways i encourage you to explore traveling. i think it is the single most important thing people can do other than get an education. its expensive but the stuff you learn from different cultures/people you can never be taught in a few college courses...go out and have fun!!!

yay for guatemala!!! i can't wait to go back...

 

[brats800]

Joke's on you if you had to pay for an EMT certification.

1. Get sponsored.
2. Don't pay nothing.
3. ?????
4. Profit.

most emt companies that will sponsor you will also require you to work for them for a while...the company that hired me required you to work for them for like 3 years full time to have them pay for as much schooling as you could do in that time period...somethin like that. i didn't listen super close since i only wanted to work ~8 months and more for fun than anything.

 

[45408]

most emt companies that will sponsor you will also require you to work for them for a while...the company that hired me required you to work for them for like 3 years full time to have them pay for as much schooling as you could do in that time period...somethin like that. i didn't listen super close since i only wanted to work ~8 months and more for fun than anything.

That sucks then. Nobody in the area here will require a thing from you if they sponsor you. The gov't pays them all back anyways.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Any suggestions (besides the basic volunteering, tutoring, and working part time) during my year off??

You could found a non-profit corporation dedicated to addressing a pressing public health issue or social need. Believe me, with a full-time effort, it's not as difficult as you may think.

 

[leechy]

what program did you do in japan? yeah, i've thought about going to japan as well, simply b/c i heart heart heart japanese culture. But i'm asian myself, so going there seems less exotic.
also, i doubt there are many healthcare opportunities in japan...right? cuz they're hardly needy, prob better off than a lot of places in the US.

Funshine,
I relate to your concern about traveling to and living in a third-world country. I have lived in a third world country (not in Latin America) and felt strongly upon leaving there that I didn't want to set foot there again. It was dirty and crowded and living there was a daily struggle. Also, being female, there were safety concerns as well. Call me a wimp, but I didn't feel comfortable there. If you're heading to a third world country, be prepared to give up your creature comforts in a big way, and take a class on self-defense. Again, I agree that living in a third world country can be an amazing, life-changing experience, but it's not one I plan on seeking out ever again. Just a different perspective.