Getting the most out of "The Gap"

[realitybias]

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(And I don't mean the clothing company)

My wife and I are planning out our next four years of college. I am a biomedical engineering major, with lofty goals to attend med school. I haven't done enough college to calculate any GPAs or anything of the sort, but I am confident that I will maintain a 4.0 or something near it. I desire to become a doctor in life, and I want to go to a top 20 med school. It is my true calling, and I have been preparing all through high school for it. My duties also lie in my ability to provide for my wife, however, and therein lies the problem.

My wife is a year behind me in college. If I were to go to med school, I would interupt her studies. I do not desire this in the least. I want her to reach her potential just as much as I wish to achieve mine. I have determined that I will wait a year after graduating to attend med school. I plan on doing serious research during all of my summers between college years, and hopefully I can find a clinic to get experience at as well. The biggest question for me is how I can make the most out of my gap before I attend med school. I would like to work and raise a little money that can put a dent in student loans later, but I would definitely like to either continue research or gain clinical experience. Any suggestions?

 

[dajimmers]

Is there any chance your wife will be able to complete her studies in three years by studying during the summer or such? Then you could go straight to med school.

If not, and if you really want a top research-based med school, doing a year of research (clinical or not) or a 1-year masters would work well for you. Find a lab in undergrad that you like a lot, and talk to them early about the possibility of you getting a funded year of full-time work down the line. Do the same for clinical researchers. You should also have time during your year off to care for your family and volunteer, shadow, or something like that.

Finally, what in the world? Are you a non-trad, or just a traditional applicant who wants you have your life planned out at least 5 years in advance? Married already, just starting college, and looking to med school and beyond? You crazy.

 

[realitybias]

I am a completely non-traditional traditional applicant. 18, married, with my life planned out. I've got goals, and I thank you for the input.

 

[rajastallion]

I am a completely non-traditional traditional applicant. 18, married, with my life planned out. I've got goals, and I thank you for the input.

18 and married lol. predicting a 4.0...right. looks like u got everything figured out. i sure u can think of something worthwhile to do during ur "gap" year....wow

 

[Gotcha!]

I am a completely non-traditional traditional applicant. 18, married, with my life planned out. I've got goals, and I thank you for the input.

Sometimes I feel that everybody is so unique that we're all non trad in our own way.


😉

 

[chanjurban]

(And I don't mean the clothing company)

My wife and I are planning out our next four years of college. I am a biomedical engineering major, with lofty goals to attend med school. I haven't done enough college to calculate any GPAs or anything of the sort, but I am confident that I will maintain a 4.0 or something near it. I desire to become a doctor in life, and I want to go to a top 20 med school. It is my true calling, and I have been preparing all through high school for it. My duties also lie in my ability to provide for my wife, however, and therein lies the problem.

My wife is a year behind me in college. If I were to go to med school, I would interupt her studies. I do not desire this in the least. I want her to reach her potential just as much as I wish to achieve mine. I have determined that I will wait a year after graduating to attend med school. I plan on doing serious research during all of my summers between college years, and hopefully I can find a clinic to get experience at as well. The biggest question for me is how I can make the most out of my gap before I attend med school. I would like to work and raise a little money that can put a dent in student loans later, but I would definitely like to either continue research or gain clinical experience. Any suggestions?

Hey...just to give you a little perspective... I got married at 18. I'm 28 now and will be starting med school in the fall. It's great to plan for your goals, but give yourselves some room. You and your wife will be struggling through some growing pains, especially considering that you're only 18. I don't know anyone who has the same outlook on life now as they did when they were 18. Don't be too rigid with your plans, and be prepared - your goals and interests may change - so might hers. If you throw kids into the mix, this makes things even more challenging.

Sorry if this post sounds condescending. It's not meant to. Just speaking with a lot of hindsight and heartache. We are happily married but we have had to work very hard at it. PM me if you want to chat. I may not get back to you for a little while - I'm out of the country for a month. But I'd be happy to share stories.

 

[kevster2001]

Depending on where you're going, getting straight 4.0 as a BME is alot easier said than done. At my school it is pretty much unheard of. Just keep in might things rarely go according to plan.

Also being married might be unique but if you're not that nontrad if you're just going to be applying to go to med pretty soon after college.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

and I want to go to a top 20 med school.

Why?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I haven't done enough college to calculate any GPAs or anything of the sort, but I am confident that I will maintain a 4.0 or something near it.

Uh-huh. And you're also confident that you'll score 36+ on the MCAT, right? It doesnt always work out that way.

 

[jackieMD2007]

Hey,

My husband and I got married after college, and I worked for three years while he went to law school (he just finished this May)....

I don't know what your wife wants to do but it worked out OK for us to have one spouse working and one spouse in school. Since his program was shorter, he went first.

Good luck to you. 😀

 

[realitybias]

Look, I understand the skepticism of some of the responses. I am just confident of my abilities and I would like to know how to best use that gap to strengthen myself as a prospective candidate. Ignore everything about my wife, she does not factor into the equation. I've got the brains to get a 4.0 in biomedical engineering. As far as the MCATS go, I am great at standardized tests, with a 35 on the ACT (a point bellow perfect). I just want to be a better candidate when the time DOES come.

 

[kevster2001]

Look, I understand the skepticism of some of the responses. I am just confident of my abilities and I would like to know how to best use that gap to strengthen myself as a prospective candidate. Ignore everything about my wife, she does not factor into the equation. I've got the brains to get a 4.0 in mechanical engineering. As far as the MCATS go, I am great at standardized tests, with a 35 on the ACT (a point bellow perfect). I just want to be a better candidate when the time DOES come.

Lol. Look as of right now all your academic experience comes from high school. The MCATs and BME (now it looks like mechE with this post) are compeltely different from your highschool physics class and the ACTs. What school are you going to by the way.

 

[realitybias]

I attended LSMSA, a boarding school for the gifted in Northwest Louisiana where I was able to take classes for college credit. Therefore, I've already had about 30 hours of college classes up to this point. I have taken up to physics 2 and basic calculus 2, and I've got great marks in pretty much all of my classes. I will be attending Louisiana Tech this fall because of money problems (I am not fortunate enough to come from a dual-parent household), which has an excelent BME program and which was the birthplace of the BME greek society (I forget the exact letter designation).

All I am asking is for some advice, not a commentary on whether or not I'll be a success or whether I know what I want in life. All I want to know is, in the case that this DOES all work out, what do I need to do during that year to strengthen my application even more.

 

[realitybias]

Ah, whoops, I meant biomedical engineering. 😀

I had previously considered mechanical engineering or possibly a double major between the two, appologies.

 

[AggieJohn]

I agree with former posters. It does seem like you are planning a little far in advance. If I were you, I would make tentative plans... you are already planning for year #5 when you haven't even started year #1.

I came in w/ 30 credit hours and have had friends with as high as 64 credit hours incoming... and we went to public schools. Oh the horror.

Also, not sure if you caught other people saying it, but you aren't "completely" non-traditional; if at all.

Just go to school for now and focus on getting that 4.0 and if things come up or your mind changes, roll with it.

 

[jackieMD2007]

Just a thought: You don't have to major in BioE or MechE or any of that to go to med school.

Take your pre-reqs (with as much space as possible) and maybe major in something not as intense...not because I doubt that you have the brains for it. Since you're married, your time is not completely your own. You need to have time to spend with your wife, and down time, and time to be with new friends at college, etc.

If you are double majoring, you are going to be supremely busy, and won't have as much time to volunteer, research, work, etc, which I am sure you have plans to do. Do your pre-reqs for medschool, which are probably the same as pre-reqs for your upper division bio majors, and wait to add all of the coursework.

Also, if you take a major like English or History or Psychology or whatever, its considered "Well-rounded"...

Remember you don't have to declare a major right off the bat, either. There are only so many hours in the day and you have to worry about classes, volunteering, social clubs, studying, organizing, laundry, family, etc....

There are no gold stars from the adcoms for double majoring or for majoring in something "really hard." Get your good grades in your pre-reqs (BCPM..biology chemistry physics math) and take a lot of other classes (All Other...foreign language english history you name it) and have a blast in college.

 

[ClosetNerd]

I will be attending Louisiana Tech this fall because of money problems (I am not fortunate enough to come from a dual-parent household), which has an excelent BME program and which was the birthplace of the BME greek society (I forget the exact letter designation).

Alpha Eta Mu Beta was the BME honor society at my school.

 

[realitybias]

I do not want what I am doing to be seen as planning. At best, I am speculating. I already know the deal about double majoring, which is why I decided against it. I will fall back on biomedical engineering (and possibly get my masters) rather than worry about sustaining two degrees. I DO want to devote time to my wife, which is why I am trying hard to think of possible things I can do over that one year that I will be waiting for her to catch up. I am really thankful that posters have attempted answering me, but I think several are missing the point of my post.

I gave the wife narrative to explain the circumstances behind the year that I will have to take off between college and med School. Perhaps it would have been better had I just left my age out of it.

I DO have a question for you, though, Jackie. You are experienced with getting college credit after comming from a public school. Will this screw with my prereqs, as I know many med schools do not accept AP. I do not have AP, I have what is known as an articulation agreement. My high school has articulated with several colleges so that classes taken at my high school are awarded credit from these colleges. Which classes should I make SURE I take?

Lastly, heh... LSMSA is a public school as well. It was ranked in Newsweek as one of the elites. I never much cared for the idea of "Elite" though, but it's served me well, which is why the comment about just going through high school rather bugged me. I have worked very hard at the high school I come from.

 

[realitybias]

That's the one, Closet.

 

[UIC Killa]

I also have a "gap"...and I am planning on working (alot) so I can save some money because I dont plan on working as much (if at all) during med school. I will also continue my clinical, programs, and volunteering activities. Also try to relax a little. This "gap" will probably be the least stressful time in your life for a long while. Go travel and enjoy your own life before you start your devotion to the lives of others. Make the time practical and fun as well. Good luck

 

[jackieMD2007]

I DO have a question for you, though, Jackie. You are experienced with getting college credit after comming from a public school. Will this screw with my prereqs, as I know many med schools do not accept AP. I do not have AP, I have what is known as an articulation agreement. My high school has articulated with several colleges so that classes taken at my high school are awarded credit from these colleges. Which classes should I make SURE I take?

Lastly, heh... LSMSA is a public school as well. It was ranked in Newsweek as one of the elites. I never much cared for the idea of "Elite" though, but it's served me well, which is why the comment about just going through high school rather bugged me. I have worked very hard at the high school I come from.

Hi again.
I got credits for English (AP English) and Biology (AP Biology) as well as some transfer credits for my work at a community college (Botany, Physics).
While the university recognized these, I still took Biology, Botany, Physics and a year of English at college. My reasoning here was that if a medical school didn't want to recognize my AP credits, they didn't have to.
It was pretty painless, actually--I took a TON of biology, chemistry and physics for my major, so no problem there. Also, since I was really well-prepared from my high school (lucky, I know!) I didn't view taking these classes as a repeat, because they weren't--I was at college.

Even though you feel like maybe you don't ever have to take English again, you maybe should--and it will be no problem for you because of your excellent preparation.

I took three quarters (one year) worth of French, to do some foreign language (I had done Spanish in HS). I took three quarters (one year) worth of upper division English classes, which I enjoyed immensely--fun stuff like Modern Drama and Detective Fiction. I think it shows good continuity to have done English, Biology, History at the college level, while in high school, and then to continue to take those kinds of courses while you are in college. It doesn't matter that you already "did them".

Maybe fill part of that time you would have spent on the double major and add an English or a Writing course.

I know at the minimum for med schools, you'll need: an academic year each of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Physics, and Introductory Biology, all with accompanying laboratory. See the pre-med advising office at your university, they should have a handout for you with classes that should cover the requirements anywhere.

If it is too hard to take humanities + hard science during the regular year, take a summer session. I took a summer session between junior/senior years and enjoyed Anthropology, the Civil Rights Movement and Music Theory.

Enjoy college! Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[Merissa87]

RealityBias:

Instead of planning right now, May 30, 2006 on what you can do to stregnthen your application in 5 years or so... 2011. Maybe you should jus go through with college and get as much clinical and research experience as you can. In 5 years, who knows what you may be lacking in your application that needs improvement. Its hard to say what you can do right now. You should wait until you are about a year from applying and evaluate your app and EC and credentials. Also, for the record attending a State University is wayyy different from highschool. I was a "gifted" student as well. 4.0 all through highschool, graduated HS in 3 years at the age of 16, full scholarship, 45 hours of colllege credit before i enrolled in college. I did my first semester at UH on a full scholarship and thought I was more than capable to combat 16 hours of pre-med and honor classes and completely bombed them, finished the semester with a 2.49 and still trying to recover. Just remember a key success in college is to learn how you learn best. Once you get past that it will be very easy to succeed. I've made the deans list the past 3 semesters. My main advice to you is to just take it one day at a time. People mature alot and change while in college and you can have it all "planned" out at 18, but who knows where your mind will be when you are 20... Just do as much as you can as an undergrad to make yourself competitive and when you graduate, re-evaluate your app and see where you can use improvement. My 2 cents... 😳