how bad is taking a year off?

[mcatsucksss]

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hey guys,
so I'm an M2 and i have my step 1 coming up in 5 weeks and feel completely unprepared for it. how bad would it be for my future (residency/job prospects) if I decided to not take it and reschedule it for later in the year. I would probably do a MPH or MBA in the mean time to try to not appear like i flaked out on the test.
If i am truly not ready would it be better to lose a full year but hopefully score better or to just plow it and risk failing or being stuck with a barely passing score?

thanks

 

[DrDrToBe]

Take the year off but only if you do something productive like you said. Lots of folks at my school do it.

 

[dude1344]

Don't most people who take a year off take Step 1 first?

 

[DrBowtie]

Don't most people who take a year off take Step 1 first?

That's the way it is at my school.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Don't most people who take a year off take Step 1 first?

Yeah, it'd be pretty dumb to take step 1 after being away for a year. For the op, why don't you just delay your first rotation--that'll give you an extra couple of weeks of studying (first, though you should take an nbme to see where you're at, you might be as ill-prepared as you think.)

We had a residency application workshop a couple of weeks ago w/ several PDs from different specialties. The one take home point I took from it was that having a 'gap' in your resume was really, really bad.

 

[DrDrToBe]

Yeah I should clarify that students who take the year off take Step 1 before pursuing their other endeavors. A gap in your resume is bad, but if you do something in that year it's not a gap...it's pursuing "scholarly endeavors". One of my classmates is going to Hopkins for a MPH, another got HHMI and will be in Baltimore for the year, about 3-4 that I know of are going to join research labs at various other institutions, one is going to Uganda to work at a eye clinic (interested in optho), one is going to Switzerland to do something (his girlfriend is there), etc. All of that will just enhance their resume, especially if they manage to publish while at it.

 

[mcatsucksss]

hey guys thanks for the responses, so i heard that most people would take a year off after taking step1, but my problem is that im at risk of failing step 1 and wanted to know if its better to just take it with a high risk of doing badly or taking a year off before taking the test and try to cover it up by doing a masters in something (more of a damage control issue).
ill also have to ask about delaying my first rotation that sounds like a really good idea but i doubt my school will allow it. they seem to be very rigid with their scheduling
thanks

 

[DrDrToBe]

hey guys thanks for the responses, so i heard that most people would take a year off after taking step1, but my problem is that im at risk of failing step 1 and wanted to know if its better to just take it with a high risk of doing badly or taking a year off before taking the test and try to cover it up by doing a masters in something (more of a damage control issue).
ill also have to ask about delaying my first rotation that sounds like a really good idea but i doubt my school will allow it. they seem to be very rigid with their scheduling
thanks

With regard to taking a year off, the idea would be that you continue studying and take the test in about July/August or whenever you are ready, while doing whatever it is you plan to do for the year. Are you thinking of doing something for a year then taking step 1 next year...cuz that would be dumb since you'd forget everything you now know.

 

[mcatsucksss]

yea i was thinking about postponing my test like 2-3 months and go all out study during that time but also apply for a masters at my school to fill up the rest of the year.

 

[cpants]

Most schools will allow you to take a rotation off during third year and take it during fourth year when you have plenty of unscheduled time. Talk to the registrar. Why do you feel so unprepared? You might be better off than you think. 5 weeks now plus another 4-8 with the first rotation off, and you should be as prepared as you're going to be. A second degree is just going to cost you money. A research fellowship would be good, but only if you are into that. The problem is that these two options aren't really going to give you extra time off. You will likely be full time working on school or research during that whole year.