Does a year off hurt

[NikoNLS8]

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Hi, im wondering if taking a year of would hurt. My father who's a physician talked to a former dean or associates dean or something pretty high up at TUFTS, not sure exactly which position, but an opinion you can trust. And the guy said that for a person with a high GPA and high MCAT it looks strange to take a year and could be misinterpreted as bad planning. I am assuming a situation in which the student does not have to work to support themselves or to save up money for medical school. in other words, you may have to explain why you took a year off to an admissions committee. This seems very strange to me and make me angry, and i hope its BS. However, this guy seems to know what hes talking about, so i dont know that to think anymore. Obviously, i dont plan on drinking beer in my friends basement for a yaer, and if one takes a year off, takes a few classes, does some research or volunteering, travels to get that breath of life experience that medical school seem to me looking for it, i dont understand why that would be bad. It doesnt make any sense to me. Please let me know what you think

 

[Thundrstorm]

That doesn't make any sense. Like you said, unless you spend the year drinking beer in some kid's basement, a year off is not bad... in fact, it usually allows you to add interesting things to your resume (in addition to being a sanity saver).

 

[ahumdinger]

Hi, im wondering if taking a year of would hurt. My father who's a physician talked to a former dean or associates dean or something pretty high up at TUFTS, not sure exactly which position, but an opinion you can trust. And the guy said that for a person with a high GPA and high MCAT it looks strange to take a year and could be misinterpreted as bad planning. I am assuming a situation in which the student does not have to work to support themselves or to save up money for medical school. in other words, you may have to explain why you took a year off to an admissions committee. This seems very strange to me and make me angry, and i hope its BS. However, this guy seems to know what hes talking about, so i dont know that to think anymore. Obviously, i dont plan on drinking beer in my friends basement for a yaer, and if one takes a year off, takes a few classes, does some research or volunteering, travels to get that breath of life experience that medical school seem to me looking for it, i dont understand why that would be bad. It doesnt make any sense to me. Please let me know what you think

Screw Tufts. If they look down upon taking a year off to gain life experiences, then you don't want to go there anyway. It seems to me that most schools look favorably upon taking time off, as long as you do something meaningful. Doing volunteering, working full time at some sort of research job, etc, would all be meaningful. Taking a year off to travel to europe would probably not count as a meaningful step towards medicine. Whatever you do, be ready to explain why you did it and how it has helped you towards your goals in medicine.

Real Life Example: I was talking to a retired adcom member from WashU-- he said that he once interviewed a kid who was a physics major, had good numbers, who took a year off to coach tennis. The interviewer was really impressed and tried hard to push him through committee, but failed in the end. So I guess what this shows is that the consensus is towards a science/caregiving-related task during your time off or else you'll look like you're not serious about medicine, no matter how good your grades/mcat are.

 

[Thundrstorm]

Doing volunteering, working full time at some sort of research job, etc, would all be meaningful. Taking a year off to travel to europe would probably not count as a meaningful step towards medicine. Whatever you do, be ready to explain why you did it and how it has helped you towards your goals in medicine.

I disagree with this point. I'm taking my year off to get a break, not to make myself a better med school applicant. If I had had the money, I definitely would've considered spending the year traveling. Not everything you do in life has to tie into medicine.

 

[NikoNLS8]

Screw Tufts. If they look down upon taking a year off to gain life experiences, then you don't want to go there anyway. It seems to me that most schools look favorably upon taking time off, as long as you do something meaningful. Doing volunteering, working full time at some sort of research job, etc, would all be meaningful. Taking a year off to travel to europe would probably not count as a meaningful step towards medicine. Whatever you do, be ready to explain why you did it and how it has helped you towards your goals in medicine.

Real Life Example: I was talking to a retired adcom member from WashU-- he said that he once interviewed a kid who was a physics major, had good numbers, who took a year off to coach tennis. The interviewer was really impressed and tried hard to push him through committee, but failed in the end. So I guess what this shows is that the consensus is towards a science/caregiving-related task during your time off or else you'll look like you're not serious about medicine, no matter how good your grades/mcat are.

thanks, i fully agree with all of you, i was so pissed when i heard it, and of course tryin arguing with your parents what you think versus the word of that guy, it was tough 😎

 

[OwnageMobile]

I asked an adcom doc I work with this question. He said there was nothing wrong with it.

So my azz is going to China to learn some mandarin andwork at a university editing english research papers, teaching english, and learning to speak that crazy tough language. I am only sad that I have to wait and watch all my peers get into schools and meet their new friends etc. while I sit back and postpone things. But an investment in yoursefl will pay dividens for the rest of your life. Hit me up if anyone is gonna be near hongkong or guangzhou.

 

[trishaaa]

I am currently on my 3rd year off, and I wouldn't change a thing. In my interviews, I've been talking about all of the research and clinical experience I've had during this time, and I talk about how mature working in the "real world" has made me. Some of the interviewers have been impressed so far. I have learned ridiculous amounts about interacting with people during my time off, and I know this will serve me well as a physician. Plus, I've had a lot of fun!

 

[veenut]

I've never heard any people associated with adcoms or the admissions proces say anything negative about taking a year off. i think it can only help your application as long as you do SOMETHING worthwhile in that year off.

 

[ahumdinger]

I disagree with this point. I'm taking my year off to get a break, not to make myself a better med school applicant. If I had had the money, I definitely would've considered spending the year traveling. Not everything you do in life has to tie into medicine.

What I mean is that if you're taking time off to be a jetsetter on the parent's dime, adcoms might question your interest in medicine. While you don't have to do something that DIRECTLY relates to medicine, what you DO have to do is reflect on your activity and think about how it has made you a better person, and more importantly, be able to explain it on your application.

 

[OwnageMobile]

I am currently on my 3rd year off, and I wouldn't change a thing. In my interviews, I've been talking about all of the research and clinical experience I've had during this time, and I talk about how mature working in the "real world" has made me. Some of the interviewers have been impressed so far. I have learned ridiculous amounts about interacting with people during my time off, and I know this will serve me well as a physician. Plus, I've had a lot of fun!

My sentiments exactly. Do any schools not take your MCAT scores after 3yrs?

or did you take it recently?

 

[jbrice1639]

considering that adcoms have repeatedly said that they prefer slightly older, more mature applicants, a year off could easily be a benefit. but, to the OP, taking classes and doing research isn't really taking a year off anyways.

 

[rhystheprince]

Taking a year off could be either good and bad:

It is bad, if the applicant is not doing anything "productive" in an AdCom's view (e.g. developing a beer-belly is probably NOT considered productive) However, if the year off is spent doing something like:

In my interviews, I've been talking about all of the research and clinical experience I've had during this time, and I talk about how mature working in the "real world" has made me.

or

So my azz is going to China to learn some mandarin andwork at a university editing english research papers, teaching english, and learning to speak that crazy tough language. I am only sad that I have to wait and watch all my peers get into schools and meet their new friends etc.

then you would have nothing to worry about as (1) you are probably a bit older and therefore (to quote OwnageMobile) more MATURE as you have been in the REAL WORLD (2) you have gained some experience which makes you unique in the AdCom's eyes which they absolutely love!

Good luck doing something "productive" in your year off!

 

[trishaaa]

My sentiments exactly. Do any schools not take your MCAT scores after 3yrs?

or did you take it recently?

I took it in the spring. That is probably the only thing I might change. I'm sure I would've done better on the MCAT had I taken it closer to when I took my science courses. And working two jobs while studying wasn't exactly easy. But, again, it made me a stronger person, hence a stronger applicant.

 

[evade]

I took two years off after graduating. If I had to do it all over again, I'd make the exact same choice. Now, granted, I did spend my time working in the medical field; in part to gain experience, and in part to be sure that medicine was something I really and truly wanted to get myself into. I gained experience, I loved what I did and what I saw, and so I decided to go for it. Not one of my interviewers ever questioned my choice. In fact, most of what I discussed in my interviews were these experiences I'd had since graduating. So no, taking a year off won't hurt you. It's much more likely to help you.