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Gap Year
- Thread starter pepocho
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research, volunteering, anything that is "weaker" in your current application profile, getting job experience, local internships, travelling if you can spare the money.
The options are endless 😉
The options are endless 😉
D
deleted407021
I'm assuming that you are talking about taking a year off then applying and thus generating two gap years, one which will see improvement on your app and the other which will just be space to fill before attendance. I have heard a variety of things from taking internships to research and continued volunteering to getting a job a Shoney's. Just take that time to improve whatever it is that is sub par with your app and try to do something fun/interesting as well. A payed job would also be great because 2 years is a long time off school and accumulating some money would be great for when you eventually attend once more.
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PeaceCorps has minimum requirement of 2 years
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One of my friends became an ER scribe. NIH IRTA is one option. Could also cold-email hospitals/researchers to see if they need a lab/research tech. Personally I would try to find something more interesting to do than just be a lab tech (not for your application, just your own sanity).
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Research, Hospital work/volunteering, Traveling (though you try to be in the country during interview season). It is always hit or miss with research/hospital work so make sure you know everything there is to know about each position before signing on! Best of luck!
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If you have any interest, I would recommend looking for a research position.
It will be beneficial in two ways: making money and boosting your CV. Working in a lab for a year or two, if you find a good spot and work hard, will result in publications/presentations while simultaneously putting a roof over your head, creating networking connections, and providing something meaningful to add to future your app and career. I'm glad I took the research plunge and it has provided with some great opportunities and rewarding experiences. Without a doubt, having past research experiences will help you obtain positions in medical school that are very beneficial down the road.
It will be beneficial in two ways: making money and boosting your CV. Working in a lab for a year or two, if you find a good spot and work hard, will result in publications/presentations while simultaneously putting a roof over your head, creating networking connections, and providing something meaningful to add to future your app and career. I'm glad I took the research plunge and it has provided with some great opportunities and rewarding experiences. Without a doubt, having past research experiences will help you obtain positions in medical school that are very beneficial down the road.
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After applying last year and getting 2 interviews and 2 rejections, I felt the weak point on my app was clinical experience. Therefore, for my gap year I have been scribing in the ED. It's been awesome clinical exposure! You're basically getting paid to shadow a different ER physician each shift. Not to mention the fact that a lot of doctors enjoy teaching their scribes things like basics to xray reading, EKG interpretation, lab result interpretations, what labs to order, etc. Some physicians will have you put in orders (meds, labs, xrays, CT's, admit orders) which helps reinforce what diagnostic measures/treatments are indicated for different conditions that are regularly seen in the ED as well.
Check out PhysAssist, they supply scribes to hospitals across the country.
BTW, RESULTS: Only applied to 5 IS schools (TX), got 3 IS interviews, and have an acceptance to my top choice.
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Congrats on the acceptance!
OP, I'm taking a gap year (hopefully only one...) next year as I will be applying this summer. As others have mentioned, fill in the weak spots on your app. I'll be working in the lab that I've been in throughout undergrad. As well I hope to learn another language, learn to ski, travel, read, start to focus on my health again and get outta the "I'm in college I'm supposed to be fat" mode, and I might even pick up a part time job as a scribe to make some extra cash (I really want to buy a motorcycle...)
Just remember this is honestly the last time you'll have a year to do whatever you want. So have fun but also keep trying to better yourself.
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Well played, I just laughed inappropriately loud in class.
That's why I said it's important to find a good spot. When you're interviewing and looking for places, make sure it's a lab that puts its minions on papers and publishes frequently. It's also important to state your intentions right from the get go. I ended up with a paper, poster, acknowledgement in paper, and hopefully will get thrown on other papers trickling out later on in 13 months. I know someone doing clinical research during their gap yrs and is going to have 6-8 pubs before school. It's definitely possible in the right place.
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Very true, and good advice. I would only add that sometimes even the safest project in the most productive lab fails miserably. Especially in biology. Although you can probably still throw some lipstick on the pig for a presentation if you have to.
Even if it doesn't lead to any publications, I agree that a year or two in research can be very beneficial.
