For those taking a year off before Med school

[woodhorse22]

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Many secondary applications are asking what I plan to do with my year off before medical school. What are you guys putting? I plan to work in a lab or hospital, continue doing my ressearch, and visit my dad overseas who I haven't seen for about a decade. In addition, I plan to brush up my Spanish-speaking skills so that I can become fluent by the time i start. What are others planning to do in the years off? THANKS.

 

[jae9970]

fill out secondary applications..

and travel ! 😀

 

[trichomoniasis]

audition for Idol....

 

[Dr. Josh]

I'm taking two years off to get my pre-med requirements (I decided on pre-med late in the process) and to work to earn money so I can begin to afford med school. will adcoms frown on those reasons?

 

[sillydoc2230]

as much travel as i can possibly do... working in a derm's office, continuing research, tutoring, and working on the expansion of this awareness program i created.

 

[cuponoodles]

make some money and take up hang gliding. YAYYYYY

 

[H2O Chica]

I'm doing clinical research on childhood obesity, going to Vietnam to volunteer in a clinic for kids in March, trying to go on a last minute Costa Rica trip in Sept to do the same thing there, traveling, looking for a paying job, big boat sailing races, and SURFING ALL THE TIME

 

[Fiddlergirl]

I'm working in a medical research lab and doing all the things I love to do that I've been ignoring in college. Jamming with local fiddlers, playing with the SCA, traveling with friends (not too far, we're all broke) and of course saving money for med school. I'm also getting certified as an EMT in the fall.

 

[EBizzle]

now a few weeks past the 1 year graduation "anniversary"
recommendations, in no particular order:
-find non-intense job that doesn't involve being a sandwich artist
-TRAVEL ABROAD
-visit friends still in school (rub in face how much fun it is not doing anything on sundays)
-watch/attend as much college football as possible

 

[MChitty]

Well, I'm going on three years now. The first year I did my pre-med requirements. The last two I've been working, plus there was my last year's application cycle.

I would recommend doing something that you can see yourself talking about in your interviews. I know that I was asked a lot about my current job, and I was thankful that I was able to talk about it in a way that showed that I definitely wanted to be a doctor. Plus, the 'real world' experience makes you seem more mature.

 

[Fiddlergirl]

Accidentally posted twice.

 

[Fiddlergirl]

-watch/attend as much college football as possible

I can't wait until school starts in the fall. Then I can call up all those friends who laughed at me for doing homework all the time on a weekday night and casually mention that I'm going to see a movie, since I don't have anything else to do...

 

[proclivity]

audition for Idol....

now there is a goofy idea.....goes right along with the user name.....that is some nasty stuff.

I will be taking off two years before medical school. Going to work and get some intense clinical experience. I am also taking the GRE and applying for a PhD program in biochemistry. I just dig chemistry. Perhaps you could take some post grad courses in health care like ethics and such under public health or at your nursing school. Just make sure that it doesn't look like you took the entire year off.

 

[whoisthedrizzle]

- Finding a job abroad (somewhere in Europe preferably)
- Playing high level rugby for a club overseas
- Volunteering @ hospital on weekends
- Drinking my a$$ off / having an awesome time

 

[Dr. Josh]

For those taking a year off and that have real jobs in the healthcare field, how did you get them? I'm so frustrated that I've been turned down for every job I've applied for. How can I get experience if no one will hire me without experience? I'm mostly looking for lab work but will take anything reasonable related to healthcare. Don't tell me to volunteer; I've done plenty of that and will continue to do it, but right now I desperately need the money.

 

[sillydoc2230]

For those taking a year off and that have real jobs in the healthcare field, how did you get them? I'm so frustrated that I've been turned down for every job I've applied for. How can I get experience if no one will hire me without experience? I'm mostly looking for lab work but will take anything reasonable related to healthcare. Don't tell me to volunteer; I've done plenty of that and will continue to do it, but right now I desperately need the money.

Well, I applied to a lot of places before I got the job I wanted. The key is to highlight the experience you have properly in a resume/cover letter. If you don't have specific experience in the field you are applying, just think of the qualities one would need to be successful in that position and highlight those in your own experiences. Buy a good book on resume and cover letter writing, it will help so much!

 

[ssquared]

my gap year will be filled with.....more school.

so I guess it's not really a year off.

well, at least at this point I know how to go to school. I'm pretty sure that I'm not really qualified to do much else at this point. 😛

 

[armybound]

graduating in December, but I'm hoping to find a couple jobs in a hospital (possibly doing clinical research) and teaching at a community college. if anyone hires me, that is

who knows, I may wind up as one of the more well-educated McDonalds employees flipping burgers.