Help! Need Recommendations for Gap Year

[premedmind]

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Hey all!

I currently have a gap year and was wondering if anyone could help guide me in making this year as productive as possible.

I have applied to a couple of Research Technician positions at laboratories around my area but it's been about a month or so now and I don't seem to be getting very far in the application process (they have not contacted me regarding my status).

I thought it might be useful to start reading up on Anatomy to make it easier on me come next summer when I start, however, I have had many on this forum tell me that it would be best to enjoy the free time I have now, and that it would not be a very productive use of my time in general. People have suggested that I wouldn't retain the material and that I wouldn't know what to study.

I am stuck for options at this point and don't know what to do. Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[futuredoc4432]

im doing a gap year as well. i work part time for some extra spending cash for going out/interview travel expenses. during my off days i read a lot (mostly non-medical books), i have been doing a lot of outdoor activities and other things that i simply will not have time for starting next august. make the most of this year because literally all of your free time will be spent studying.

 

[premedmind]

Will residencies see what I did with my gap year?

Also, anyone have any good book recommendations so I can keep my mind active? I'm thinking in the medical/science genre. Maybe a book about medical disparities?

 

[futuredoc4432]

i have heard about a couple good books about dr still (founder of osteopathic medicine) i dont have the titles offhand but they should be easy to find via google

 

[tman1820]

i have heard about a couple good books about dr still (founder of osteopathic medicine) i dont have the titles offhand but they should be easy to find via google

"The D.O.'s : osteopathic medicine in America" is a good book to read if you want a little history on osteopathic medicine. It's not exactly exciting but it gives you some interesting info on your future profession and how the philosophy has changed and how A.T. Still would probably be pretty upset with the current state of osteopathy and how it was never meant to be so similar to allopathic medicine. I skimmed through it...it gave some interesting tidbits about being a DO. It's kind of boring, but not a bad resource to have glanced at if you should end up in one of those interview's where your knowledge of osteopathy is tested.

For my gap year I am working as an MA at a local hospital doing kind of rudimentary stuff. I tried looking for a lab tech position but I found myself in a similar situation as you are in. I am finally starting to hear replies back from applications/resumes I submitted back in August to labs. PI's have a tendency to take their time when it comes to hiring new lab help, especially if you are applying outside of the start of the summer...expand your search...look at MA jobs or maybe get certified as a EMT...look at nonprofits and charity organizations...it's hard out there so as long as you have something, whether its medicine related or not, med schools will understand. They know the job market is crap. If you get a job at a grocery store, try doing some volunteer work on the weekends. Don't worry about having the perfect experience during your year off...as long as you look busy and don't look like you're being lazy, you should be fine

 

[premedmind]

"The D.O.'s : osteopathic medicine in America" is a good book to read if you want a little history on osteopathic medicine. It's not exactly exciting but it gives you some interesting info on your future profession and how the philosophy has changed and how A.T. Still would probably be pretty upset with the current state of osteopathy and how it was never meant to be so similar to allopathic medicine. I skimmed through it...it gave some interesting tidbits about being a DO. It's kind of boring, but not a bad resource to have glanced at if you should end up in one of those interview's where your knowledge of osteopathy is tested.

For my gap year I am working as an MA at a local hospital doing kind of rudimentary stuff. I tried looking for a lab tech position but I found myself in a similar situation as you are in. I am finally starting to hear replies back from applications/resumes I submitted back in August to labs. PI's have a tendency to take their time when it comes to hiring new lab help, especially if you are applying outside of the start of the summer...expand your search...look at MA jobs or maybe get certified as a EMT...look at nonprofits and charity organizations...it's hard out there so as long as you have something, whether its medicine related or not, med schools will understand. They know the job market is crap. If you get a job at a grocery store, try doing some volunteer work on the weekends. Don't worry about having the perfect experience during your year off...as long as you look busy and don't look like you're being lazy, you should be fine

I should have clarified...I am already accepted to a medical school, I am just deferring for a year. But thanks for that advice.

 

[TheTruckGuy]

For my gap year I am working as an MA at a local hospital doing kind of rudimentary stuff. I tried looking for a lab tech position but I found myself in a similar situation as you are in. I am finally starting to hear replies back from applications/resumes I submitted back in August to labs. PI's have a tendency to take their time when it comes to hiring new lab help, especially if you are applying outside of the start of the summer...expand your search...look at MA jobs or maybe get certified as a EMT...look at nonprofits and charity organizations...it's hard out there so as long as you have something, whether its medicine related or not, med schools will understand. They know the job market is crap. If you get a job at a grocery store, try doing some volunteer work on the weekends. Don't worry about having the perfect experience during your year off...as long as you look busy and don't look like you're being lazy, you should be fine

Did you go to community college or one of those small tech schools to get certified as an MA?

I'm also trying to find something meaningful to do at the moment rather than flipping burgers or building burritos. Been doing little things here and there, but looking for some good clinical/research experience is tough.

 

[premedmind]

Will residencies see/care what you did with your gap year, even if you are already accepted to a medical school?

 

[CunningCaregivr]

Will residencies see/care what you did with your gap year, even if you are already accepted to a medical school?

From what I have heard and seen on SDN, Residency applications weight board scores, med school GPA, LOR's from clinical rotations, experiences/reasons to attend a specific program & interview. I think that the gap year before medical school would be waaaayyy down the list.

Everything that people have mentioned above is great, but you should do something that motivates you, and gives you a better idea of what you would like to do as a physician.

 

[TheTruckGuy]

Will residencies see/care what you did with your gap year, even if you are already accepted to a medical school?

The only way I think it would make a difference with residencies is if you do some real research and get published. Working as a lab tech in a big name lab probably won't mean much unless you get published or get an awesome LOR that says you did more than just autoclave and restock supplies.

 

[premedmind]

The only way I think it would make a difference with residencies is if you do some real research and get published. Working as a lab tech in a big name lab probably won't mean much unless you get published or get an awesome LOR that says you did more than just autoclave and restock supplies.

I see...I am guessing I will have a very minimal chance to be published if I am working in a lab, as opposed to doing independent research. If they are paying you, usually it's because you are doing the more menial labor, i.e., pipetting, autoclaving, stocking, cleaning lab desks, etc.

Does anyone know for sure how much the gap year counts for residency admission?

 

[crazynate]

I'm bringing up an old thread but, i just got accepted and was wondering if there were any volunteer programs out there that would let me serve 3-6 months, but with expenses paid? I'm currently in a gap year and volunteering at my local hospital and working to get EMT certification at this point.

 

[angryazn88]

man you guys are trying so hard lol. im in my gap year too and im just waiting to get invited to more interviews and go to these interviews i have been invited to. so far i haven't done anything related to medicine. all i do is chill at home, relax, and work out. in my opinion i dont think we should be stressing out over this gap year we have. we should enjoy it. once we enter med school, we wont have time to spend with our families. think about it, once you finish your journey through med school, you'll most likely be moving out and be completely occupied with your work. i have a 10 yr old brother and im making the most of it till i begin med school.

and plus, applying to those research jobs is most likely not gonna work out. they expect a commitment of a year and they wont be happy if you tell them your not planning to stay for the year.

 

[premedmind]

man you guys are trying so hard lol. im in my gap year too and im just waiting to get invited to more interviews and go to these interviews i have been invited to. so far i haven't done anything related to medicine. all i do is chill at home, relax, and work out. in my opinion i dont think we should be stressing out over this gap year we have. we should enjoy it. once we enter med school, we wont have time to spend with our families. think about it, once you finish your journey through med school, you'll most likely be moving out and be completely occupied with your work. i have a 10 yr old brother and im making the most of it till i begin med school.

and plus, applying to those research jobs is most likely not gonna work out. they expect a commitment of a year and they wont be happy if you tell them your not planning to stay for the year.

I've applied to several lab tech positions by now and have gotten no where. As the weeks go by I'm starting to realize that my chances to secure a position are only getting worse. One side of me is saying be productive while the other wants to enjoy the time off (as it will probably be the last time to do so for a long time).

As of now I am going to the gym and mostly enjoying my time off. Actually, most of the reason I am doing this gap year is because I sustained an injury this past summer that I believed would affect my ability to succeed in medical school, so I am focusing on getting my strength back. I am doing extremely well in this regard.

I guess I am mostly worried that I will have wasted a year doing nothing, and am a little scared that this will not look good for residencies, if even they even care about this sort of thing.

Sitting at home isn't very good for me psychologically and I am still running possibilities through my head that would be a productive use of my time. I suppose boning up on my anatomy for next year wouldn't hurt.

 

[AutumnChild]

and plus, applying to those research jobs is most likely not gonna work out. they expect a commitment of a year and they wont be happy if you tell them your not planning to stay for the year.

+1

I'm currently in my gap year and I tried way earlier than you for research tech positions. I got a couple interviews, but they both rejected me b/c I couldn't commit to more than a year. They don't want to waste time training someone who's just going to leave in a few months. I am waiting on finding out if I got a job as an MA/receptionist at a derm office, which would be pretty sweet b/c I'd get paid to do things like assist in biopsies, talk to patients, and certain laser treatments and it's only part time so I can sit back and do other things on my days off. I hear back tomorrow or early next week about the job so

 

[Postal]

Ugh... I have this problem too! No one wants to hire me bc I can't commit more than 1 year! I basically read alot, relax, read sdn, hang out with friends. My suggestion is , that if you cant find a job or research, volunteer! It gets you out of the house and makes you feel like a productive citizen.

 

[milkycow]

I was in a similar position. I applied to be a scribe part time. They asked for 2 year commitment and I agreed. There is no way I am doing the whole 2 year deal. I just said it to give me a job in the mean time and upon coming in I have found that many people actually don't commit to the 2 years but as long as they give a 2 month notice. Left out the part about leaving to medical school in the interview as well.

 

[TheTruckGuy]

I've applied to several lab tech positions by now and have gotten no where. As the weeks go by I'm starting to realize that my chances to secure a position are only getting worse. One side of me is saying be productive while the other wants to enjoy the time off (as it will probably be the last time to do so for a long time).

As of now I am going to the gym and mostly enjoying my time off. Actually, most of the reason I am doing this gap year is because I sustained an injury this past summer that I believed would affect my ability to succeed in medical school, so I am focusing on getting my strength back. I am doing extremely well in this regard.

I guess I am mostly worried that I will have wasted a year doing nothing, and am a little scared that this will not look good for residencies, if even they even care about this sort of thing.

Sitting at home isn't very good for me psychologically and I am still running possibilities through my head that would be a productive use of my time. I suppose boning up on my anatomy for next year wouldn't hurt.

Dude, take out the injury part, and that's exactly me.

I'm just gonna get a job working in a retail store or something if I can though. I volunteer, but doing almost nothing is driving me nuts.

 

[TheTruckGuy]

I was in a similar position. I applied to be a scribe part time. They asked for 2 year commitment and I agreed. There is no way I am doing the whole 2 year deal. I just said it to give me a job in the mean time and upon coming in I have found that many people actually don't commit to the 2 years but as long as they give a 2 month notice. Left out the part about leaving to medical school in the interview as well.

Yeah, I had a great potential job, but I had to be honest with them when they asked me about what I saw myself doing in 5 years, and then it became pretty clear I could get accepted to med school and leave in a year.

 

[premedmind]

It's nice to know I'm not alone. I know this might sound ridiculous, but I feel like a loser sometimes, even though the situation I am in is not entirely my fault. I am trying to justify spending the majority of my week in physical therapy and the gym as a productive use of my time. I used to be a sort of amateur bodybuilder until I was injured. Sometimes I regret not starting medical school right away, but I considered my options and made the best decision I could. I am trying to get back what I lost, and this time is probably the best time to do it. Sorry for the rant, I don't have a lot of places to vent my frustrations.

Any more opinions are appreciated.

 

[angryazn88]

It's nice to know I'm not alone. I know this might sound ridiculous, but I feel like a loser sometimes, even though the situation I am in is not entirely my fault. I am trying to justify spending the majority of my week in physical therapy and the gym as a productive use of my time. I used to be a sort of amateur bodybuilder until I was injured. Sometimes I regret not starting medical school right away, but I considered my options and made the best decision I could. I am trying to get back what I lost, and this time is probably the best time to do it. Sorry for the rant, I don't have a lot of places to vent my frustrations.

Any more opinions are appreciated.

Don't worry bro, a lot of us are on the same boat as you. The reason I have a gap year is because I wasn't sure if I wanted to become a doctor. I love playing sports and I like to teach/tutor so I considered the teaching career. If I become a doctor, I won't have time to do a lot of the things I like and thats why I wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue the career. But in the end, I realized I worked my ass off for 4 yrs in undergrad and that I really loved science and that I'm good at school. I'm an overachiever so I changed my mind and decided that I shouldn't waste my good grades haha. I wanted to travel the world during my gap year but I didn't have much money.

Anyways, my gap year so far hasn't been bad. I'm having fun and I'm enjoying myself. Playing volleyball, working out, reading books, spending time with my family. I'm glad I have this year off because it gives me time to do whatever I want. I don't feel like a loser cause in the end, we're gonna be doctors. If someone makes fun of you now, remember them and once you get your D.O. or M.D. you can rub it in their faces. "I'm a doctor... What do you do?... Thats what I thought, STFU!!"

 

[Adamb83]

I started off my gap year looking for a "real" job, and after two months of failure (no interviews), I settled for working at CVS as a pharmacy tech. The pay is absolutely terrible, and the job is incredibly stressful, but in many ways it's solid preparation for life as a doctor. You have to deal with the worst of the worst when it comes to angry/difficult patients, but you do get to learn a a lot about medications and the inner-workings of the pharmacy. It's definitely something to consider that might be a step above working at a typical retail store in terms of relevant experience. Wouldn't recommend it for more than a year though...

 

[TheTruckGuy]

Adamb, are you a certified pharmacy tech? Do you need to be?

 

[Charlie Kelly]

Uhg! Nix the pharm tech idea! Three yrs of it made me want to go to med school and leave the pharmacy far behind. Scared straight if you will. My advice... start your 'med school bucket list'. Skydive, snowboard in your underwear, swim with a manatee, learn to break dance, and visit Bankok. Cause when med school starts... it's time to commit.

 

[mammeor]

Hey all!

I currently have a gap year and was wondering if anyone could help guide me in making this year as productive as possible.

I have applied to a couple of Research Technician positions at laboratories around my area but it's been about a month or so now and I don't seem to be getting very far in the application process (they have not contacted me regarding my status).

I thought it might be useful to start reading up on Anatomy to make it easier on me come next summer when I start, however, I have had many on this forum tell me that it would be best to enjoy the free time I have now, and that it would not be a very productive use of my time in general. People have suggested that I wouldn't retain the material and that I wouldn't know what to study.

I am stuck for options at this point and don't know what to do. Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

GAP YEAR = MY specialty lol

Well, I just had a gap year and let me tell you, I was as more productive this year than I was during the last 4 years of college LOL

I worked full time, taught an undergraduate lab class, volunteered any time I could, took trips anywhere I could, spent countless hours (and coffees) refining my personal statement, my secondaries and my interview questions...

and it pays off 🙂 don't sweat it and give it your best to be as involved as possible.

so when med schools when they ask you "so what have you done this year?" you don't have to answer " uhh... watched a lot of family guy, spend time at the gym, went clubbing...oh and I volunteered too sometimes..." BAD BAD BAD 😎

 

[mammeor]

Uhg! Nix the pharm tech idea! Three yrs of it made me want to go to med school and leave the pharmacy far behind. Scared straight if you will. My advice... start your 'med school bucket list'. Skydive, snowboard in your underwear, swim with a manatee, learn to break dance, and visit Bankok. Cause when med school starts... it's time to commit.

+1 on the no-pharm thing... not for me 🙂

 

[cliquesh]

Either do medical research AND get published or just dick around. If you don't get published it probably isn't worth it, so you will likely be better off dicking around. Almost everything you do before medical school makes NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL!!!! So don't waste your time unless you truely want to do it, aka TAing an undergraduate class, lol.

 

[premedmind]

GAP YEAR = MY specialty lol

Well, I just had a gap year and let me tell you, I was as more productive this year than I was during the last 4 years of college LOL

I worked full time, taught an undergraduate lab class, volunteered any time I could, took trips anywhere I could, spent countless hours (and coffees) refining my personal statement, my secondaries and my interview questions...

and it pays off 🙂 don't sweat it and give it your best to be as involved as possible.

so when med schools when they ask you "so what have you done this year?" you don't have to answer " uhh... watched a lot of family guy, spend time at the gym, went clubbing...oh and I volunteered too sometimes..." BAD BAD BAD 😎

I'm already in medical school, so to speak. I have guaranteed acceptance at a U.S. medical school for the year 2011.

Update on my situation: had an interview at an amazing medical college but didn't get the job. So I've applied to a couple more spots at that medical college and elsewhere (I have something like 10-20 applications out there which might not be enough). I've tried asking my medical school if my i could volunteer in one of their research groups, but no go. I've tried looking at NIH programs but they all need at least 3-6 months to process your app, which is no good.....I know everyone will say 'volunteer, volunteer!' but to be honest I spent 4 years of my undergraduate life volunteering and now I just need the cash, especially since the holidays are coming around! I could really use it. I want to use volunteering as a last resort.

EDIT: Putting research aside - I am actually considering taking a class at my local community college in either anatomy or Spanish...anatomy will possibly help in med school and Spanish will make me more well rounded. I could even study Spanish abroad or something.....what do you think?

 

[cbrons]

I am currently trying to finish a masters degree before I start medical school this summer. I wish I would have just taken the time off because I'm working my ass off. If I were you, I would try and find a part time job to make some $. Or I would just volunteer and putz around a little. This program is driving me insane. I never should have started it but now that I did I'm pretty sure most schools will want me to finish which is going to be very hard.