does taking a year off look bad???

[dondon]

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does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

 

[Vano]

No, but make sure you do smth more or less meaningful during that year and don't just spend it laying on the couch or by the pool

 

[fotografía]

does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

It can help if you do something to strengthen your app. If you want to work, consider working in a lab (e.g., NIH IRTA) if you don't have a lot of research experience and you want to apply to research-oriented schools. If you want to travel, go do some medical voluntourism.

 

[gary5]

You need to do something interesting during that year off, maybe clinical research part-time. They'll ask you what you did and you need to have something interesting to discuss. You don't want to look lazy.

 

[lunaire]

Yea, some med school adcom told me they wished that more people take 1 year off before applying; get some more life experiences, they said.

 

[learss]

does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

Taking a year off will never put you at a disadvantage for admission into medical school. It will probably make you more attractive as an applicant and you will have an opportunity to enjoy your senior year.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

If you want to travel, go do some medical voluntourism.

Just remember to get photos of the DAB's you saw while there. Be sure to bring them with you to your interviews (the photos, not the DABs).

 

[IckeyShuffle]

does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

no just make sure you do something that will strengthen your app and make you a better medical student/doctor. if you do nothing or just bartend everyday, it wont look good.

 

[nightowl]

I took a year off and worked at Starbucks and as a phlebotomist at a private hospital. I think it really strengthened my application- plus it was nice to have some down time. If I had it to do over again, I'd figure out how to do some time of travel. There are tons of ways to go abroad and not have to pay for it if you're willing to do some type of work. the thing is, once med school starts it doesn't let up. You won't have an entire year EVER again, at least if you do things the way the curriculum is set up. Really, I don't think it matters very much what you do. You can turn anything into a valuable experience. If you want to work as a bartender in a big city or on the beach or something, get a volunteer position too (at a free clinic, hospital, etc) and then talk about it during your interview. Admission committees appreciate people who have varied interests. And don't worry about it! Study hard, apply, and then enjoy your time off. Good luck

 

[Lolita624]

I feel like I need to respond to this because I am currently in my "year off" where I am doing a lot of traveling and relaxing. (I'm posting this from an internet cafe in buenos aires..I love it down here) My experience with interviews is that taking a year off makes you a much more interesting applicant, it is definitely in your favor. And whatever you do, do not think you have to work in clinical research or in a lab!! So many people do this, it has become cliche and interviewers know that it is only done to make yourself look better and usually not out of genuine interest. I am having the best year ever, and I was completely honest about just wanting to enjoy myself this year at all of my interviews. And everything has been going very well for me, application wise. So really, do whatever you want to do! Dont worry about how it 'looks'. 🙂

 

[Meli308314]

I am also currently in my year off. I was concerned about how I would answer the question regarding what I'm doing with my time off so I decided to work in research lab and have not been as happy as I could have been. I would say don't worry so much about how it's going to look to take a year off. Find a job you're going to enjoy so that you can appreciate the break from school. As others have stated, this is pretty much the only time you're going to have off so take advantage of it!! You don't want to be miserable and unhappy when you're getting ready to start med school.

 

[Timmythemic22]

I feel like I need to respond to this because I am currently in my "year off" where I am doing a lot of traveling and relaxing. (I'm posting this from an internet cafe in buenos aires..I love it down here) My experience with interviews is that taking a year off makes you a much more interesting applicant, it is definitely in your favor. And whatever you do, do not think you have to work in clinical research or in a lab!! So many people do this, it has become cliche and interviewers know that it is only done to make yourself look better and usually not out of genuine interest. I am having the best year ever, and I was completely honest about just wanting to enjoy myself this year at all of my interviews. And everything has been going very well for me, application wise. So really, do whatever you want to do! Dont worry about how it 'looks'. 🙂

Yeah, you let us know how this works out in your interviews. You show a real dedication to your future career.

 

[Jinterpol]

does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

If you have the money to travel and (travel)/work, go do it.

If I could spend any year of my life doing whatever it is I wanted, it sounds like it would be your "year off."

It doesn't look bad, but I'd include a few relevant ECs...

 

[JennyB]

I'm in my year off and applying right now, and my interviewer said she looked highly on me because I chose to wait a year. I wanted to grow up a little bit and figure out what I want, while also working at a hospital full time. It was the best decision I've made so far because I've met a lot of cool people in the hospital and I've learned a lot about medicine and about myself. I also got to do some travelling and take the MCAT again.

 

[RollSkins]

I am currently a senior and I am going to take a year off after I graduate. I have talked to various different people about this. What I have heard is taht as long as you have proved your self academically, ie good grades and MCAT, that taking a year off can really help your application, as long as you arent just partying or bumming around all year. I am going to keep doing some local volunteering stuff. Also, I plan on working construction to make some money and then doing some traveling that involves some contact with medicine. I looked into the research lab stuff but to be honest I think I would be bored to death. I don't want to spend my "last free year" doing something I don't really want to do just on the premise of strengthening my application.

 

[kstreet]

Yeah, you let us know how this works out in your interviews. You show a real dedication to your future career.

Get off your high horse and let the girl enjoy herself. A year of travel never hurt anybody.

 

[Timmythemic22]

Get off your high horse and let the girl enjoy herself. A year of travel never hurt anybody.

Whoa, there slick. Don't get uppity at me. I think a year of pure thrills and no clinical experience or at least academic study is a lack of dedication, or a hedonistic personality. I am not against the poster, but I think her advice is in poor taste. This career takes sacrifice, and if giving up a year of fun or travelling is what it takes, then it should be a worthwhile sacrifice.

 

[psipsina]

Whoa, there slick. Don't get uppity at me. I think a year of pure thrills and no clinical experience or at least academic study is a lack of dedication, or a hedonistic personality. I am not against the poster, but I think her advice is in poor taste. This career takes sacrifice, and if giving up a year of fun or travelling is what it takes, then it should be a worthwhile sacrifice.

There are things that can make you a better physician that can't be learned in a hospital or in the halls of academia. Life experience and knowledge about other cultures and other economic strata make you more able to relate to your patient population (which is of vital importance when trying to get them to tell you what you need to know and listen to you when you give advice). Adcomms understand this and therefore tend to prefer that people take time off between undergrad and medschool. As long as you don't plant yourself on your couch and watch endless tv your bound to learn something about yourself and the world you inhabit in a year in the real world. Medschools have entire courses dedicated to teaching you all sorts of things that the students with life experience and knowledge of the world already know.

 

[epigastric]

There are things that can make you a better physician that can't be learned in a hospital or in the halls of academia. Life experience and knowledge about other cultures and other economic strata make you more able to relate to your patient population (which is of vital importance when trying to get them to tell you what you need to know and listen to you when you give advice). Adcomms understand this and therefore tend to prefer that people take time off between undergrad and medschool. As long as you don't plant yourself on your couch and watch endless tv your bound to learn something about yourself and the world you inhabit in a year in the real world. Medschools have entire courses dedicated to teaching you all sorts of things that the students with life experience and knowledge of the world already know.

Life experience is good, but a year of travelling around and relaxing is something that most people can't afford, especially not with looming medical school debt. I have no idea what the poster in Buenos Aires is doing to support themselves financially (and I know it can sometimes be done cheaply, so I'm not assuming), but there's a fine line between 'backpacking for life experience' and 'Mommy and Daddy paid for me to drink espresso and take tango lessons while you were working your tail off trying to save money for books.' I suspect the latter doesn't always impress adcoms, unless you thoughtfully encose a seven-figure check with your application.

 

[Mayday]

I may have to take a year off myself to work and save up money for all of the plane trips I will have to take for med school interviews. I hope not, hopefully I will be able to save enough up from my fin. aid through the years.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I took a year off. Can't hurt you. You'll be older and more mature. I did get asked why I took a year off. I told them I had neither the time nor the money to apply while still in school.

So yeah have a good reason in case they ask, but otherwise no way it can hurt you. They encourage it.

 

[deleted128318]

Whoa, there slick. Don't get uppity at me. I think a year of pure thrills and no clinical experience or at least academic study is a lack of dedication, or a hedonistic personality. I am not against the poster, but I think her advice is in poor taste. This career takes sacrifice, and if giving up a year of fun or travelling is what it takes, then it should be a worthwhile sacrifice.

Couldn't disagree more. In my year off, I spent half of it bouncing around southeast asia and half of it doing research in one of the bigger HIV vaccine development labs in the country. Guess what I got asked more about in interviews? One of them knew one of my PIs personally, and he actually did ask how she was doing, so I guess that is 1 point for research...

They are looking for balance (you seem to call it *grimace* "fun") and this is evident in most people's experience with interviews...It is really common for interviewers to ask what you do for $hits and giggles.

Hedonism? Really, slick?

 

[somemaybedoc]

I took a year off and wasn't really asked about it with any great detail during my interviews. I think we could have talked about it more if I had any interest in doing so, but I didn't.

If you are a strong applicant I don't think having one relaxing year in your life is really going to change anything.

However if you are not so strong you can focus on improving your prospects during that year and it will probably help.

In short I'm not of the opinion that adcoms view fun/relaxation as a negative thing; let's not forget that they are people and they know this is your last chance till you retire to do so for a significant portion of time.

 

[lsumedgirl]

I actually took several years off b/t graduating college, and being accepted to medical school. (I'm starting this August.) I've spent those years working in the medical field. It didn't seem to hurt my application. Basically, I think most of the other posters are right. Don't lounge around and be lazy for a year. You can take time off from school... just use it wisely. Good luck!

 

[dontbmajor]

I think you can do both. I took my time of by moving to Hawaii. I work as a Nurse Assistant in a hospital out here in Honolulu and though the job has it's definite downsides, I get to do minor procedures like putting in Foley Catheters, tube feeding, taking out IVs, checking the placement on NG tubes, dealing with Chest Tubes and other drains, doing EKG's, etc. It's also great because I have been able to observe around 10 surgeries (since I work on the surgical floor) and I'm learning a lot about hospitals, different diseases, medicine, how to interact with patients, etc.

The best part: I'm in Hawaii and I only work 4 days a week! The rest of my time here is spent reading on the beach (which is a 3 min walk from my apartment), sleeping on the beach, surfing, spear fishing, windsurfing, hiking, and picking mango's from my front lawn for breakfast. Pretty ideal! Also, the job pays well enough that I'll more than break even financially and even amassed enough "paid time off" and money that I am taking a one month trip through South East Asia. Everything worked out really well and I highly recommend it. It's just the refresher I needed before medical school, and most importantly, I'm even more certain I want to go into medicine now.

 

[CCLCMer]

does taking a year off before med school to travel and work a little look bad?? does it put me in a disadvantage in terms of getting accepted into med school???

No, not if you do something useful with that year. A lot of my classmates took a year or two off to do research or get MS degrees.