Debating whether I should take a year off between 3rd and 4th year.

[drcanucktikka]

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Hi everyone,

I have been reading through all the other threads asking about advice on taking a gap year between 3rd and 4th year and I still feel like I need to ask the community about my situation.

My main reason for taking a year off is to ease the financial burden off my parents and help them out with their businesses. The recession hasn't been kind to them and they are getting burned out trying to meet all the ends including helping me pay my tuition. I'd rather help them out now because with my help they can think about making the long term changes they need to make before their health deteriorates any further.

The most frequent advice is to do "something productive". Well, Im not sure if I can afford to take a public health course that I have access to based on my preliminary research. I would rather do one from a university close to my residency hospital after I graduate.

However, I have been talking to a few clinicians and it's possible that I can work on a few research projects in the fields of ICU/GP. These publications won't be extraordinary by any means and its quite likely that I end up getting only one. I would probably also spend some extra time studying for step 2/MCCQEE. The rest of the time would be dedicated to work.

Just some background:

I am a Canadian IMG doing medicine Australia.
I am doing quite well in medical school.
No real health issues, mental or physical.
I am interested in IM in US.


Can I get your guys' help on weigh out the cons/pros of this decision? Is this a justifiable reason to take a year off in the eyes of RDs out there?

 

[mlw03]

I don't think it'd look good taking a year off. Your intentions are good, but if your goal is to practice medicine, then a program might wonder about your commitment if you do what you're suggesting. How do they know you won't do something similar in residency?

 

[Arcan57]

If they're getting burned out paying your tuition and you want to help them out, get some student loans. A year off is going to need to be explained. Helping your parents financially is noble but is not going to be looked on with favor by many IM programs. And you if your goal is to be in the US, you don't need red flags on your app.

 

[Buzz Me]

Personally, I would have just taken out financial aid to avoid taxing my parents.

If you're a Canadian IMG trying to get into an American Medicine program...well, you need as few red flags on your app as possible.

 

[drcanucktikka]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have been maxing out on provincial loans for the past 2 years and I have had a part time job as well. However, due to certain issues I am ineligible for a commercial loan large enough to pay the remaining tuition. Sorry it slipped my mind.

We honestly didnt even see this problem coming when I started medicine. It has been a mix of stressful illness related events (specifically last year) and unexpected operation costs we've had to make that has resulted in the burn out. The weak markets havent been helping either. I've tried my best to make things easier, for example dealing with the events as much as possible by myself, working every break at home and doing some distant work during the normal year as well. The more I work however, the more I realize is that the current way of doing things is unsustainable.

I have managed to stay on top of the things I am supposed to do as a potential candidate. I have kept my marks decent (honours overall), finished one research project (soon to be published) and I will be soon starting another this coming year. I still haven't written my step 1 but the prep for it is going well and I should be able to write it during my next break.

I just figured it would make sense to take a year off now "when I can afford to", rather than during residency. Even though I will be matching a year later, atleast i can enter my contract with a peace of mind and I will coming off a year full of rotations so there wont be any issues of "rust".

 

[mlw03]

Not sure what you mean by commercial loan, but I'd be surprised you can't find a private loan, even at a less than desireable interest rate. You're going to be a doctor, so you're a relatively safe bet. May we ask why you prefer to come to the US rather than returning to Canada and/or staying in Australia for your post-grad training?

 

[C5toC9]

Why not return to Canada?

 

[drcanucktikka]

I apologize if I seems like I am going in circles. Im just trying to get an idea of how big of a red flag it is to take the year off once the potential residency director understands my position.

 

[drcanucktikka]

Sorry, commercial loans = private loan. We tried a few different banks and they were quite restrictive on the amount of loan they were willing to give per year based on my profile. It didn't make sense financially then.

I initially chose Australia to stay after medical school and train there. But there is an internship shortage. My uni's state has so far managed to make sure every international student has an internship, however there are no gaurantees for my graduating year.

The probability of me getting a residency in Canada in internal medicine is about the same as US because of the limited seats in Canada. I intend on applying for both, but my main aim is US.

 

[Law2Doc]

I apologize if I seems like I am going in circles. Im just trying to get an idea of how big of a red flag it is to take the year off once the potential residency director understands my position.

There are a couple of acceptable reasons to take time off in med school: 1. Doing additional research to try and help land a competitive residency, 2. Childbirth, and 3. Certain unforeseen health issues -- ie if you are laid up in the hospital, and cant complete your graduation requirements on time. Everything else is looked at with a bit of skepticism as to whether you should have planned for this. Residency directors won't give you kudos for taking time off to help the family business -- they will wonder if this wasnt forseeable when you started, and if anything it will make them concerned that you are going to be asking for more time off in another year or two. I would find a private lender.

 

[mlw03]

I apologize if I seems like I am going in circles. Im just trying to get an idea of how big of a red flag it is to take the year off once the potential residency director understands my position.

It's a big red flag. Maybe some folks will disagree, but you have to think from the PDs perspective. For an FMG, even one from a native English speaking country, any concern is a red flag. There are so many "perfect" applicants for them to choose from. You may have a hard time getting to the interview stage with a red flag.

 

[lowbudget]

I don't think it makes financial sense.

1. Some educational loans will allow students to defer/forebear payments while you are a full-time student; but if you take a year off, you lose your status and it'll trigger repayment.

2. Why would you take public health courses part-time? It doesn't increase your (future) income, would cost you additional tuition, and you would still be accruing interest on the loans you've already taken out. Remember, you're on the clock with your loans.

3. Does the research pay? If you're financially strapped, don't bother doing free work. Actually, it's not even free. You're borrowing money to work for someone for free.

4. You'll need to run the numbers. Can you take on more of the financial burden of you going to medical school (i.e. work)? Sometimes, schools will recalculate your financial aid if there is a change in your financial situation. In your case, you should tell your school that your parents can't support you anymore and work something out with the school. Sometimes, schools will work out a financial aid package with a mix of lower-cost educational loans and/or work for you (like, tutoring 1st and 2nd years).

Remember, you STILL need to come back for your 4th year. So that financial obligation still looms and there's no guarantee that your parents' financial situation will improve in 1 year. If it were me, I would finish medical school as fast as I could.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This is a really hard call. You'll need to live with the consequences, either way.

If you take a year off, it easily could be seen as a problem. If you explain it in detail, it's certainly possible that programs will see it as not an issue. However, there could be problems -- some programs will simply screen out anyone with a break that's non educational, there are the financial issues with your loans mentioned above, and if you take a year break and then come back to your 4th year rotations, you might be rusty and not do as well and that could be a big problem also.

But, if you don't, your parent's business (whatever it is) might fail.

From your posts above, I want to makesure you're not considering the question of "a year off during medical school" vs "a year off during residency". There is no such thing as a year off during residency. Should you try to do so, you will be replaced and will then be in the very difficult position of trying to find a new slot (and you might have visa problems).