Cold feet

[romeosterp]

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[alwaysaangel]

Disclaimer: I know this topic has come up a few times.. but I don't think I'm asking quite what any of them have.

Anyway, I just realized that while, or maybe because, I have always believed that medicine is the career for me, I have never reallyyy stopped to consider it's advantages or disadvantages over any other fields. I've just always assumed that I would go to medical school and that was that. I'm in my third year of college now, and I guess I'm starting to get cold feet. This seems like a huge commitment to make without even considering the alternatives.

I'm starting to feel like I should really take a year off before med school. So here's my question:

If you were to take a year off for self-reflection and to try and see what other fields offer (although I have no idea whatsoever as to what other else I would be interested in, except dental school I guess?), what would you do?

Thanks!

WHATEVER YOU WANT! Thats the best part of a year off...

Cold feet is good. It scares me when people blindly enter the field - I know those people - they're in my class, they're graduating in 6 months and going into the fields with the least amount of work for the most amount of pay because they are miserable and hate medicine... A very scary concept after 24-27 years of schooling and 200k of loans.

What you want to do really depends on your circumstances. If you can afford it - consider traveling or doing an unpaid internship in something that interests you.

If money is a concern then look into jobs you can do for the year. You just have to figure out what you would enjoy and do it. If you want a little more exposure to medicine look into Americorps - great exposure to underserved medicine. If you like travel look into the PeaceCorps. If you think you would enjoy teaching look into Teach for America. If you want to just work and take some time to find yourself then start looking for a job now, get your foot in the door and maybe they can take you on full or part-time once you graduate (this is what I did - I worked part-time on work study for an office on campus and they hired me full-time for my year off). Yes some of these require 2 year commitment but its worth it to make the right choice for the rest of your life.

Seriously - you can do ANYTHING you want. And you should! Enjoy your life, and take some time to really look at yourself (not necessarily other fields) before deciding to go to medical school. Its a huge commitment and if you can be very sure you are making the right choice by taking a couple of years off then you will be happier for your decision.

People always want to say - "just push through - its only 4 years of your life." But its NOT. Its not even 7-10 years of your life (med school + residency). Going to medical school will change the rest of your life. It will change who you are, it will change how you look at yourself and the rest of the world and it will forever change how you live your life and how you manage your priorities because once you go in - most people can't afford to ever get out.

 

[StudyShy]

I would probably take the time to explore what the world has to offer.

 

[Brachyury]

Like someone else said, you can do whatever you want: Teach for America, AmeriCorps, Lutheran Volunteer Corp, Jewish World Service, research, Peace Corps, or move across country and work at a Starbucks.

Also, plan to take two take off a minimum of two years: there's little benefit in only taking a year off because you'll be applying and interviewing at schools during that year off. If you take two years off, the first year will truly be a year of reflection, and if you decide to apply to med school, the second year will be when you interview.

I think it shows a lot of maturity and commonsense on your part that you want to take time off to make sure that medicine is the right choice for you

 

[romeosterp]

Ah two years seems like such a long time to take off. But, I definitely see your point.

Thanks everyone! This definitely helped a lot 🙂

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

wow, reading this really made me start to think too.

I am just weeks away from taking the mcat and I seriously just started to reflect on so many things that I would like to do. I have received a job offer at a hospital back home to work at as a tech during my gap year after I graduate but your post really made me start to think. One of the surgeons i really looked up to at the hospital i volunteered at told me that the best thing he ever did was not get accepted to medical school the first time around. He said it was a blessing.

He said, he traveled and relaxed and took time off with his friends. then, he geared up and really studied for the mcat and eventually got in. My point is, Im only 21, and I have my whole life ahead of me. Med school will always be there. I was planning on applying as a senior, and "pushing through" but now I am thinking about waiting too. My buddy just got in, and he will start med school right when he graduates and I just don't know if I can do the same, even with a gap year.

I just feel like i need to be in the right state of mind for medical school since there is no room for error. I am worried that if i go back home, I wont be able to get rec's from the prof's at my school who know me two years down the road, since i really don't plan on enrolling in any classes back home. I know that sounds stupid, but what do yal think I should do. How many of you med students/pre-meds who are matriculating took more than 1 year of to relax an unwind before med school.

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

WHATEVER YOU WANT! Thats the best part of a year off...

Cold feet is good. It scares me when people blindly enter the field - I know those people - they're in my class, they're graduating in 6 months and going into the fields with the least amount of work for the most amount of pay because they are miserable and hate medicine... A very scary concept after 24-27 years of schooling and 200k of loans.

What you want to do really depends on your circumstances. If you can afford it - consider traveling or doing an unpaid internship in something that interests you.

If money is a concern then look into jobs you can do for the year. You just have to figure out what you would enjoy and do it. If you want a little more exposure to medicine look into Americorps - great exposure to underserved medicine. If you like travel look into the PeaceCorps. If you think you would enjoy teaching look into Teach for America. If you want to just work and take some time to find yourself then start looking for a job now, get your foot in the door and maybe they can take you on full or part-time once you graduate (this is what I did - I worked part-time on work study for an office on campus and they hired me full-time for my year off). Yes some of these require 2 year commitment but its worth it to make the right choice for the rest of your life.

Seriously - you can do ANYTHING you want. And you should! Enjoy your life, and take some time to really look at yourself (not necessarily other fields) before deciding to go to medical school. Its a huge commitment and if you can be very sure you are making the right choice by taking a couple of years off then you will be happier for your decision.

People always want to say - "just push through - its only 4 years of your life." But its NOT. Its not even 7-10 years of your life (med school + residency). Going to medical school will change the rest of your life. It will change who you are, it will change how you look at yourself and the rest of the world and it will forever change how you live your life and how you manage your priorities because once you go in - most people can't afford to ever get out.

thanks for your advice by the way.