Can a Year Off be Harmful

[DRose]

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I know there is a queston on the AMCAS application that asks what you are doing in a year off. What if someone potentially doesn't want to do anything during that year, maybe travel and relax or teach MCAT for Kaplan or TPR part time. Would this potentially ruin an otherwise very good application (I'm talking about at top tier schools where the students who do take years off generally do it for Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Fulbright, real jobs, etc.)

If you already have all your bases covered how much more would an extra year of research (at a university or part of the NIH IRTA program) or a masters program really benefit you???

Has anyone here ever been accepted to a top tier school and taken a year off to maybe do a little teaching but really nothing else?

 

[Etorphine]

Maybe, but honestly I don't care what they think. I'm taking a 1 year break one way or the other.

 

[NoMatterWhat]

I took one year off to do the apps and work part-time.

 

[hiyaman]

I'm pretty sure if you are taking a year off, adcoms wanna see you do something productive during that time instead of sit in your parent's basement eating lucky charms all day.

Besides ppl who take a year off usually do something that is productive such as working, continuing EC's or research or something that will bolster their application.

 

[addo]

I got less than 4 months left of my year off and so far it has been a blast. Ive worked full time, quit to work a part time job, traveled, gotten in shape picked up a sport, gotten my drinking out of the way.... I wouldnt have done it any other way.

 

[chadbrochill17]

I got less than 4 months left of my year off and so far it has been a blast. Ive worked full time, quit to work a part time job, traveled, gotten in shape picked up a sport, gotten my drinking out of the way.... I wouldnt have done it any other way.

All of this for me too, except the get in shape part. I gained about 8 pounds despite picking up soccer again after a couple years off.

 

[Evergrey]

My year off sucked, I am a debbie-downer though

Although, it was two years off actually, and my degree apparently is worthless for finding jobs. Go figure.

Edit: But, to stay on topic, a year off shouldn't have a negative impact on your admissions chances provided you stay relatively busy.

 

[patel2]

My year off has also sucked so far. I needed to take a year off because of taking the MCAT my senior year, and I never put in the time to find a full time job to keep me busy. I've just been doing some volunteer gigs, which certainly hasn't hurt my app (I don't think at least), but it hasn't been a major asset either.

My advice is don't take a year off just because you feel you really need to relax; doing nothing gets really boring after a while and is overrated. Do it because you need to improve some part of your app, or if you have a good research (or other) job lined up for the year.

 

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

My year off has also sucked so far. I needed to take a year off because of taking the MCAT my senior year, and I never put in the time to find a full time job to keep me busy. I've just been doing some volunteer gigs, which certainly hasn't hurt my app (I don't think at least), but it hasn't been a major asset either.

My advice is don't take a year off just because you feel you really need to relax; doing nothing gets really boring after a while and is overrated. Do it because you need to improve some part of your app, or if you have a good research (or other) job lined up for the year.

so you applied senior year and going into medical school this fall. Are you strengthened your apps right now

 

[patel2]

so you applied senior year and going into medical school this fall. Are you strengthened your apps right now

Yeah I applied at the end of my senior year and will be starting in the fall.

At this point I'm not really doing things to strengthen my app, but I wish I had applied for a clinical research job for the year, as getting some pubs would at least be beneficial in the long run. my advice is to just plan out your year off well. That's common sense to most, but it's easy to not think about it if you are preoccupied with the mcat, applications and school (i.e. senior year and being more concerned about going out every night than thinking long term)

 

[Raryn]

Sure. A year off can be harmful if you have absolutely nothing to show for it.

For example: If you take a year off to sit on your mom's couch eating pizza and playing xbox all day, then when asked what you did with your year off you start talking about your awesome halo skills, this will harm your medical school application.

Otherwise, as long as you do something worthwhile, it doesn't really hurt.

 

[Narmerguy]

Sure. A year off can be harmful if you have absolutely nothing to show for it.

For example: If you take a year off to sit on your mom's couch eating pizza and playing xbox all day, then when asked what you did with your year off you start talking about your awesome halo skills, this will harm your medical school application.

Otherwise, as long as you do something worthwhile, it doesn't really hurt.

Gosh for that first 1-2 months that would probably be the most amazing time ever. It would get old after that but imagine 2 months with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO!!! Just watching TV, playing video games, exercising, playing pickup basketball...wait, this sounds interestingly like what summers used to be in high school.

 

[Eliz22]

I'm finishing my 2nd year off and will be matriculating this fall. I spent my first year off being a ski bum 🙂. Granted, I worked in a hospital for the summer and did some volunteering in a clinic but most of my time and energy was spent ski bumming. Finishing up AmeriCorps this year. Honestly, all this gave me more to talk about in my interviews. At the interview for the school where I plan to matriculate, my interviewer found an anecdote about ski instructing completely hilarious, and it probably helped me out.

Bottom line, do what you want to do. If you don't want to go for a crazy prestigious fellowship, don't do it. Its not advisable to slouch around the whole time, but have fun! There won't be quite so much time to travel etc. once you start school.

 

[ridethecliche]

I work in a hospital with some of the brightest clinicians, fellows, and residents in the world.

Most of them have echoed that I made a good decision by taking time off to work and explore other interests because they knew too many people who didn't and burnt out really fast in med school.

 

[HumbleMD]

I know there is a queston on the AMCAS application that asks what you are doing in a year off. What if someone potentially doesn't want to do anything during that year, maybe travel and relax or teach MCAT for Kaplan or TPR part time. Would this potentially ruin an otherwise very good application (I'm talking about at top tier schools where the students who do take years off generally do it for Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Fulbright, real jobs, etc.)

If you already have all your bases covered how much more would an extra year of research (at a university or part of the NIH IRTA program) or a masters program really benefit you???

Has anyone here ever been accepted to a top tier school and taken a year off to maybe do a little teaching but really nothing else?

Yes, but exception not the rule. Don't look lazy - med schools deal enough with kids who don't finish.

Most people do research while applying for med school in their year off. Others do something interesting that adds to their app.

Sitting at home and teaching Kaplan isn't interesting.

 

[Lindlar]

No. Anyone here who says otherwise is full of it/talking about what they don't know about. That being said, you should have an explanation for why you took a year off. The thing that is bothering me about this thread is that so many people you have to "do something" with your year off. That's bull.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying "I felt pretty burned out after undergraduate, and I wanted to take a year off because I recognize that medical school is a heavy commitment, and I want to go into it fresh and ready to give it my all."
If that means you sat on the couch eating pizza, that's fine. I wouldn't suggest revealing that fact, though.

It would be ideal if you could say that you spent the year doing something relatively productive (playing a sport, working to save some money, exploring other career options), but not necessary.

 

[David the Bruce]

Use your presently good application and apply to medical schools now, get into the best one that you can, then defer for a year. This way, you can do whatever you want stress free (applications-wise).

If you take some time off without applying yet, I can almost guarantee that it will be persistently in the back of your mind to varying degrees.

 

[Kaustikos]

I never understood an entire YEAR off. I'd become guilty after a week....

OP, teach for kaplan and volunteer. Is that so hard?

 

[thomprya]

I can only speak for myself but taking a year off was a great personal choice for me. I was feeling burnt out and after working a year at a job I feel very excited for the challenge of med school. I got to travel, spend time with friends and family, party, and actually have an income that afforded me the ability to buy nice things. It was great but it got boring after a while. It meant a lot for me personally to have that experience so I don't have to worry about my decision to sign my life away to med school (grass is greener syndrome). As far as interview wise no interviewer asked why I took a year off, they simply wanted to know what I did during that year off. I do however recommend doing something medically relevant during that time, but taking that year off to do something you have always wanted to do can't hurt your application. If anything it will make you a well rounded individual.

 

[DRose]

Yes, but exception not the rule. Don't look lazy - med schools deal enough with kids who don't finish.

Most people do research while applying for med school in their year off. Others do something interesting that adds to their app.

Sitting at home and teaching Kaplan isn't interesting.

See this is what I am scared of. After four years of looking "interesting" on paper, and yes I would say that my application would hold for some of the schools HumbleMD has on his mdapplicants (my application is in the chance me section) I am afraid that one year could totally undue this. I am not too worried about my state schools as there are many state schools where I live, but what about OOS research institutions (top 30s). Would one year of not looking interesting, undue the accomplishments I had before?

Also, I did win a prestigous fellowship after undergrad but I chose not to accept it because again I am burnt and don't want anything to do with school next year or really anything else research, volunteering, etc. related.

 

[raltima07]

Look at his WAMC - he is a beast!

 

[frescoengano]

i just had a pt teaching job, did some clinical/non-clinical volunteering (6 hr/week) and traveled.

 

[Mahliah]

Sooo if you applied and deferred for a year, it wouldn't matter if you played halo for that year off since you've already been accepted right?😛

 

[Raryn]

Sooo if you applied and deferred for a year, it wouldn't matter if you played halo for that year off since you've already been accepted right?😛

Yes.

But be careful. Not every school has deferments and many of the ones that do require a good reason before they approve it.

 

[SoundofSilver]

I'm in my "year off" right now. It does get kind of boring after awhile. I work (research) about 30 hours a week. I'm looking forward to starting med school soon.

It won't hurt your app though. If anything, it will help.

 

[circulus vitios]

Yes.

But be careful. Not every school has deferments and many of the ones that do require a good reason before they approve it.

Would working a non-medical (perhaps blue collar) job to save money for living expenses be a good reason?

 

[Hammergin]

OP, as long as you can constructively (and honestly) talk about something you learned/experienced during the year I think you're fine. I initially didn't want to take a year off but decided it was too much to study for the MCAT during my varsity sport season. I am doing bench research and though the hours in lab aren't light, it's been a worthwhile experience. I have a friend applying who has a minimal hour part time job and also volunteers with a local ambulance corps. Lots of ways to go, just make sure you do something productive at some point.

 

[bucks2010]

OP, quick suggestion for you.

Take a nice long vacation once you finish school. Like 3-4 weeks. Make plans, go somewhere, relax. After that you will be ready to be productive again. At least, you should. Then find something to occupy your time after that.

 

[Raryn]

Would working a non-medical (perhaps blue collar) job to save money for living expenses be a good reason?

No.

A structured research fellowship or something else along those lines are the "good reasons" that schools are willing to defer admission after you've already gotten in.

Spending a year of your life to simply save up money is an absolutely terrible reason to defer medical school. Unless you're earning 100k+ that year, you'd be much, much better off just taking out max loans for living expenses, letting the interest accrue, and becoming an attending one year sooner.

Now, taking a year off to avoid burnout? Perfectly fine as long as you have something to say about it after. But don't bank on a deferment to make that happen if you're already applying to medical school unless you have a *very* solid program lined up for something to do that year.