GRE for Gap Year?

[SupremeDoc]

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Hey guys, I'm gonna be a sophomore in college in about 1 more week. I know I know, you're not supposed to "plan ahead" on these forums and you guys get mad when people plan for something more than a year ahead. But I'm so bored rn I started studying for the GRE for fun (I'm a part-time tutor, so yes....I enjoy taking standardized tests even though that's kind of weird). Anyway, I know that the MCAT has a 3 year expiration date and the GRE has a 5 year expiration date.

I'm interested in taking a gap year to pursue a Master's Degree because I definitely don't wanna jump right into medical school after 4 years of undergrad, and I'll only be 22 so I'll have time to do things I enjoy before the rigorous medical course load I'll inevitably have to deal with. That being said, I understand that master's programs require either the GRE or MCAT. Because you have to apply a little earlier than senior year for a gap year master's program, I don't want to have to rush the MCAT. Should I just take the GRE now, which will last 5 years? I say now because I know I will be busier during my junior and senior years, so I think there's no better time. Also, I might want to do a combined MD/MBA, and I recall that the GRE is required to get into those programs.

Finally, one more reason that I want to take the GRE is because I feel like it'll make me more competitive for certain summer programs that are notoriously selective. I am well aware of the ridiculous cost of the test, but I worked this entire summer and am willing to pay the price because I trust I will do well on the test (after having gotten consistently 330+ on practice tests).

So my question is, am I crazy? Is this a waste of time? Obviously if I ask my peers they'll stare at me like I'm a lunatic, but that's why I come here, because hopefully I can get some educated opinions. If you read through this entire post, I just want to thank you, it really means a lot to me that you would take time to help me out with this (seemingly) dumb question.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Why would you not just go to medical school? That is wasting money on a masters degree you won’t need, and that year is a year lost of attending salary.

 

[Fall_of_Dorian_Gray]

I don't know much about MD/MBAs and needing that GRE for it. But as I was reading your post, I had to ask:

Why do you need to do a Master's? Your reasoning was that you wanted to experience things before the rigor of medical school but... why not just get a job? or take a year to enjoy your life? I don't see why grad school would be "more enjoyable" than med school when you're ultimately set on going to the latter.

 

[SupremeDoc]

@AnatomyGrey12 Oh....I wasn't aware that you get a salary in medical school. That changes my perspective, thank you.

@d4nk1m Yes you're right, I suppose getting a Master's degree isn't really considered relaxing. I guess all of my cousins who are older than me have been doing the same thing (5 year Bs/Ms) so I assumed it wasn't out of the ordinary. It also allows me to pursue another passion of mine (research), but again you are right in that I can probably just find a lab and do independent research rather than formally apply to a graduate program.

 

[676188]

@AnatomyGrey12 Oh....I wasn't aware that you get a salary in medical school. That changes my perspective, thank you.

@d4nk1m Yes you're right, I suppose getting a Master's degree isn't really considered relaxing. I guess all of my cousins who are older than me have been doing the same thing (5 year Bs/Ms) so I assumed it wasn't out of the ordinary. It also allows me to pursue another passion of mine (research), but again you are right in that I can probably just find a lab and do independent research rather than formally apply to a graduate program.

I hope you were joking about the first part. Medical students do NOT get paid! AnatomyGrey12 was referring to a year of lost salary on the back end of your medical career that would be substantial, compared to SPENDING money on an unnecessary Masters Degree.

If you’re dead set on getting a Masters, I vote take the MCAT. You can use it to get into a grad program or med school, but you can’t use the GRE for both.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Oh....I wasn't aware that you get a salary in medical school. That changes my perspective, thank you

what?

It also allows me to pursue another passion of mine (research)

You know you can do research in medical school right?

I can probably just find a lab and do independent research rather than formally apply to a graduate program.

Why not just go to medical school and do research there....

You still haven't answered the question as to why you want to delay going to medical school.