Best way to spend 1 year before match

[RN1]

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I have to wait 1 year after graduation before matching (I am IMG).
What is the best way to spend this year so that you can become more competitive?
Research?
Observership?
Internship outside the US?
Other?

 

[RN1]

Does any one have any suggestions? How bad is it to just take 1 year of vacation?

 

[gutonc]

Does any one have any suggestions? How bad is it to just take 1 year of vacation?

There is no "best" way. A lot of it depends on why you're delaying for a year. IIRC it's because you didn't get Step 2 done in time.

If you're an actual foreign grad and not a Carib IMG, doing some sort of internship/national service thing might not be a bad idea. Observerships are marginally useful but only if you don't already have some USCE. Research is a decent way to spend your time but it can be difficult to find paying positions for just a year.

And yes, a 1 year vacation is a horrible idea if you are already in any way a marginal candidate.

 

[mlw03]

Does any one have any suggestions? How bad is it to just take 1 year of vacation?

Bad. If you can get some publications, research is a decent idea, or perhaps an internship outside the US so you at least gain some clinical experience.

 

[Law2Doc]

Does any one have any suggestions? How bad is it to just take 1 year of vacation?

In any professional path, you are going to want to have no big gaps of time on your resume that you will have to explain. Most future employers want to see something productive done with any stretches of time. People will understand non medical employment for financial reasons, and they will accept research or things that involve gleaning more clinical experience, but will frown upon gaps that are largely vacation.

 

[Buzz Me]

Remember that you'll be applying for the Match in fall of your "gap year," so you're likely not going to have any significant research done by that time. You may have some USCE with a LOR by then, but only if you plan ahead.

Taking a year off just for a vacation? Bad idea.