Deferring-Who's doing it and Why?

[tripwm]

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So while I do nothing all Holiday break, I've been toying with deferring a year. I just thought I'd ask what typical deferment reasons are and why he/she is deferring.

For instance, I've talked to a lot of medical students that regret not taking a year off. By year 3, they are just burnt, and each of them echoes resentment about not spending some time between college/medical school.

I've been thinking about hiking the Appalachian trail, so would this be an inadequate reason to defer? I figure it would be the only chance I have, and I should take advantage of some youthful knees.

 

[4ksibe]

So while I do nothing all Holiday break, I've been toying with deferring a year. I just thought I'd ask what typical deferment reasons are and why he/she is deferring.

For instance, I've talked to a lot of medical students that regret not taking a year off. By year 3, they are just burnt, and each of them echoes resentment about not spending some time between college/medical school.

I've been thinking about hiking the Appalachian trail, so would this be an inadequate reason to defer? I figure it would be the only chance I have, and I should take advantage of some youthful knees.

Doesnt hurt to ask but i dont know if thats a valid reason. At Hopkins, the dean told us that it has to be humanitarian/medical/academic like reason like peace corps, wanting to finish a research project, going on a medical mission... I was also wondering if wanting to have a baby would be a valid reason to defer lol prooooobably not lmbo

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

Although I have not yet applied (applying this cycle), I was considering differing. The reason I wish to defer, and would love to know if this constitutes a valid reason: My parents are struggling to pay off their house and because they have 2 mortgages on the house, If one of them were to lose their job, they would lose their home.

Since my dad was laid off over summer (luckily he found a job in 2 weeks), this became an even more gripping reality. I have a very good job lined up for when I graduate from college, and I am considering getting another job. I wish to use the money to help my parents finance their expenses and pay them back for the money they contributed to finance my college education. Ultimately, because I am applying as a senior, I will have a "gap" year, and if i chose to defer, that would potentially mean 2 years of working 2 jobs, which could significantly help my parents and hopefully put them on the path to retirement.

Would this be valid? I know some people are going to rip this up and say that I shouldn't be worrying about my parents retirement and that their money management was poor, but let me reassure you that my parents have done nothing wrong. My dad sold his VERY successful business back home so that that we could move to America and live better lives here.

 

[curlytop]

Doesnt hurt to ask but i dont know if thats a valid reason. At Hopkins, the dean told us that it has to be humanitarian/medical/academic like reason like peace corps, wanting to finish a research project, going on a medical mission... I was also wondering if wanting to have a baby would be a valid reason to defer lol prooooobably not lmbo

I am almost completely positive that this is an extremely valid reason to defer.

 

[drpierre]

This is a very valid question, I can tell you that after only having have summer off during my undergrad years that I was just mentally tired and felt that it was in my best interest in to take the year off and I dont regret it one bit. I took like an easy community college course so I wouldn't fall into that timeframe of having to pay my loans payback and just relaxed. I can assure you that medical school is hard enough so you dont want mental fatigue to be the reason why you aren't successful

 

[4ksibe]

I am almost completely positive that this is an extremely valid reason to defer.

wow really cuz i have been thinking bout that A LOT

 

[alwaysaangel]

Taking a year off is a great idea. But you really should decide that before applying. Then instead of applying during your senior year you apply during your year off....do whatever suits your fancy and get into medical school and start 1 year later.

Its FAR more difficult if you have already applied and been accepted. Now you have to get approval from the medical school you want to attend. They have invited you to join their incoming class and now you're waivering on that choice - thats worrisome for them. They don't have to let you. They can say, no deferral, come this year or reapply next year.

All you can do is ask, but realistically they are unlikely to grant a deferral unless you want to join the PeaceCorp, win a big research scholarship, get pregnant, etc. Just wanting a year off to find yourself is unlikely to be compelling.

 

[4ksibe]

Taking a year off is a great idea. But you really should decide that before applying. Then instead of applying during your senior year you apply during your year off....do whatever suits your fancy and get into medical school and start 1 year later.

Its FAR more difficult if you have already applied and been accepted. Now you have to get approval from the medical school you want to attend. They have invited you to join their incoming class and now you're waivering on that choice - thats worrisome for them. They don't have to let you. They can say, no deferral, come this year or reapply next year.

All you can do is ask, but realistically they are unlikely to grant a deferral unless you want to join the PeaceCorp, win a big research scholarship, get pregnant, etc. Just wanting a year off to find yourself is unlikely to be compelling.

That makes me a lil happy!! if this is valid then I've got a lot of thinking to do

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

what about with my situation?

 

[curlytop]

what about with my situation?

I would be surprised if any medical school let you defer for a year because you need a break from studying. Clearly you're going to do something other than sit on your butt for a year, but like others have said, if it isn't medically necessary for you or a close relative, and it isn't going to make you a more impressive student (like research, etc.), then I wouldn't bank on getting approval.

Sorry. But you can always ask the specific school and see what happens.

 

[alwaysaangel]

what about with my situation?

You don't have a compelling, MUST DO THIS YEAR, reason to take a year off. I doubt any medical school would grant you a deferral. Mostly likely you would have to reapply.

You can always do it during medical school or after medical school, but unfortunately, not that you have applied and been accepted I think you will be starting school in August of next year and should make the best of your summer.

 

[Kaustikos]

So while I do nothing all Holiday break, I've been toying with deferring a year. I just thought I'd ask what typical deferment reasons are and why he/she is deferring.

I've been thinking about hiking the Appalachian trail, so would this be an inadequate reason to defer? I figure it would be the only chance I have, and I should take advantage of some youthful knees.

How ****ing long are you planning on hiking that trail? Jesus, go do it now and finish before starting school


Also, no, you're not going to be granted that wish for hiking a ****ing mountain. You'd be better off making up a ridiculous lie about having to help the indigenous tribe of sri lankan lemurs cultivate fruit than what you have planned.

 

[4ksibe]

I would be surprised if any medical school let you defer for a year because you need a break from studying. Clearly you're going to do something other than sit on your butt for a year, but like others have said, if it isn't medically necessary for you or a close relative, and it isn't going to make you a more impressive student (like research, etc.), then I wouldn't bank on getting approval.

Sorry. But you can always ask the specific school and see what happens.

He is the guy who wants to work and help his parents pay for their house

 

[alwaysaangel]

That makes me a lil happy!! if this is valid then I've got a lot of thinking to do

Well it was just an example that I imagine would be entertained (I was just trying to come up with life changing events that once done cannot really be "rescheduled").

HOWEVER, at the same time if I were an admissions chair and an incoming student said they wanted to get pregnant (or had decided to get pregnant) and therefore wanted a year off I would question their planning ability. (why did they decide this now and not before?) I would also worry that if they need a year off now for pregnancy/first year of babies life - then how are they going to handle it when they have a 1 year old or 2 year old, etc, etc, etc.

I imagine if you approached them and said you were 6 months pregnant instead of offering you a full year deferral they would instead offer to work with you through your pregnancy and the babies first years while you're in medical school. So if you really want to have a kid first you probably need to contact the school and see what they can do for you, because if you get pregnant first expecting a year off and that doesn't work out - that would be bad.

 

[kami333]

Although I have not yet applied (applying this cycle), I was considering differing. The reason I wish to defer, and would love to know if this constitutes a valid reason: My parents are struggling to pay off their house and because they have 2 mortgages on the house, If one of them were to lose their job, they would lose their home.

Since my dad was laid off over summer (luckily he found a job in 2 weeks), this became an even more gripping reality. I have a very good job lined up for when I graduate from college, and I am considering getting another job. I wish to use the money to help my parents finance their expenses and pay them back for the money they contributed to finance my college education. Ultimately, because I am applying as a senior, I will have a "gap" year, and if i chose to defer, that would potentially mean 2 years of working 2 jobs, which could significantly help my parents and hopefully put them on the path to retirement.

Would this be valid? I know some people are going to rip this up and say that I shouldn't be worrying about my parents retirement and that their money management was poor, but let me reassure you that my parents have done nothing wrong. My dad sold his VERY successful business back home so that that we could move to America and live better lives here.

My question would be whether you are helping them or just delaying their foreclosure for 2 years. What would change in their financial situation, a lot of things can change in a year but going from struggling to stable in 1 year doesn't happen unless there are some drastic changes.

I think your case would be stronger if you had a concrete goal of what would change in the extra year that you helped them, ie pay off a HELOC or build X equity and refinance or mom/dad finishing schooling and changing careers, instead of just some vaguely constructed ideas of better economy or bigger emergency fund. While wanting to pay them back right now is admirable, remember the quicker you reach a higher salary the longer they can benefit from it too.

 

[loveoforganic]

Contingent on securing a job, I was told I could defer a year to teach high school (non-TFA). Just something I really have had a desire to do for a while, along with all the standard reasons for wanting to defer a year.

 

[Snowsquall]

To OP,

I was waitlisted last year, and because my chances weren't so great, I started looking for alternative plans.

I wanted to see what was outside of the comfy bubble I always lived in, so I looked into opportunities to volunteer abroad. I might need to add that I am planning on doing a MPH or MBA in non-profit type of thing in the long run, so when I got accepted in med school (at the last minute), I already accepted the position abroad. I felt I needed a break from studying anyway, so I talked to the school to get deferred.

I emphasized on the fact that I wanted to experience the world to have a better understanding of the challenges of humanitarian medicine.

And while I am there, I had the opportunity to travel a bit. So if climbing a mountain is not your priority, it is not impossible to defer for "better reasons" and still get to climb your mountain.

I hope this help,

Good luck.

P.S.: I am so glad I am taking this year off.

 

[NeuroKidd]

I'm finding a lot of these replies to be quite interesting... While on the interview trail I encountered a student who was in a circumstance comparable to that of a previous person who posted; he had been waitlisted and accepted very last minute. He said that he had mentally prepared himself to take a year off and upon finding out that he had been accepted (this was to a top 5 school), wasn't sure if he'd be able to refocus enough before school started. He ended up asking the dean for a deferral and was approved. He said he did a little traveling and basically hung out with friends for a year, all approved by the dean.

Admittedly, his very late acceptance off of the waitlist may have contributed to the dean approving this, but I think it speaks to the openness of the administration at certain places to the idea of deferral. I would just contact whatever schools you get accepted to and run the idea by them.