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Ive been accepted to med school. Now im thinking I want to defer my acceptance because this year I am taking off is just not enough time...what are most med schools' attitudes towards deferrment?
Deferring
- Thread starter gotdoc
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gotdoc said:
The attitude is good, as long as you have an organized plan. They just want to hear that you are doing something constructive, whether it is working to make money, continue education, to getting some experience in any field, to taking care of family situations, etc. All of the schools I got into accepted my request for deferrment because I had a job lined up to teach english in Taiwan. I ended up not taking the year off, which I regretted, so I took the year off between my med 2 and 3 years. Just let them know you have something lined up, some may request proof though.
sscooterguy
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a friend of mine has been bugging me with a ?, but maybe you'll know since you deferred (i have no clue, i haven't even been accepted anywhere yet). She applied for a fulbright, but would have to take 2 years off to do it since the schools she'd go to is around the world and has some weird schedule. Will they let you defer two years?
I don't think i'd want to take time off, i'd lose my momentum 🙂
I don't think i'd want to take time off, i'd lose my momentum 🙂
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omgwtfbbq? said:
Yes, a school would be likely to let a prospective student defer for 2 years in order to do a fulbright.
The problem with deferring is that the school's goal is to fill the class. By deferring, you are thwarting that goal. On the other hand, you are helping meet that goal in a coming year -- the thing is, the school wonders if 2 years hence they could do better or will have different ideals with regard to the type of student it is seeking.
Imagine you ask your dream date to the junior prom. The prospective date says "yes, but I'm busy that night; I'd gladly go with you to the senior prom."
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Is it possible to defer your RESIDENCY after graduating from med school?
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I asked my mentor, who happens to be the dean of students at my institution, and he told me he that they don't give many 2 year deferrments, however, thats because few ask for it and have good excuses. A fulbright would be an excellent excuse, and would probably be encouraged...it adds prestige to the school and will help you grow as a person.
Now as for deferring residency, I've never heard of this being done, and think its impossible with the match system. Some people take the year off and then enter the match at a later time, however, this is generally because they did not match the first time and could not/would not scramble. One guy from my school didn't match, and couldn't scramble because of his location requirement (his fiance matched in cali). He lined up a year of research instead of scrambling or going into another specialty. He hit the jack pot though, because a new residency position was just created at an institution near his fiance after the match was over. He got the position, basically unchallenged.
sscooterguy
Now as for deferring residency, I've never heard of this being done, and think its impossible with the match system. Some people take the year off and then enter the match at a later time, however, this is generally because they did not match the first time and could not/would not scramble. One guy from my school didn't match, and couldn't scramble because of his location requirement (his fiance matched in cali). He lined up a year of research instead of scrambling or going into another specialty. He hit the jack pot though, because a new residency position was just created at an institution near his fiance after the match was over. He got the position, basically unchallenged.
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Yes, you can defer residency. I know people who have done this due to pregnancy/new baby. Plus there are people who don't match in residency and have to reapply the following year, so it's not like you just get one chance.
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I'm interested to hear what programs have granted deferrments of residencies. Maybe you mean people defer entering the match for a year? I believe that. However, the other issue is that you have to start paying back your loans soon after leaving medical school. In any case, if any one knows of programs that allow deferring residency after it is secured, let us know.
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gotdoc said:
how about calling the med school you've been accpeted to and find out for yourself?
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I want to take 2 years off after med school and get trained to be a marine - is that a good excuse to defer residency? It's a noble cause, I'm doing it for myself but most importantly my country as well!
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shinenjk said:
Will it be possible for you to do your residency in a military hospital this way you get to serve as a Marine and complete your residency at the same time? I have no clue about the military but this might be possible.
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shinenjk said:
Interesting question. Thing is, I would think most residency directors would want people pretty soon after graduating from medical school. One year maybe, two is kinda long.
Why is it that you want to train as a marine by the way? Do you want to be on active military duty? Do you want to participate in non medical missions? If you do, then the medical corps may not be your thing. US medical service corps does not train physicians to be "fighters" to the best of my knowledge (my mentor is also the military liason officer for medical students). Although you do get basic training, your mission will be medical. Usually the only physicians even close to the front are the so called "battlefield" surgeons, traveling with mobile hospitals treating traumas. These are surgeons that "owe" time to the army either because they went to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or utilized the military medical school scholarship. And to my knowledge, the only way to train at a military hospital is to be in the military and do military residency, so a civilian cannot match into military hospitals.
If you want to be a marine, I suggest you join the marines and serve before medical school.
If you want to be a physician in the army acting as a physician though, check out: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/m_service/index.jsp
You could always call up the marines and ask them, but you'll be in for constant phone calls to join thereafter.
sscooterguy
