How to best spend a gap-semester?

[nysports23]

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Hi everyone!

I was accepted to one of my top-choice US MD schools in October and finished undergrad a semester early. I have been keeping it low-key thus far, and have been relaxing and catching up on sleep and exercise. Aside from a few domestic trips I have planned later in the spring, I have yet to make any long-term commitments in terms of how to best fill this time before I start school in August. I am wondering if anyone has any insight / advice for how to best spend these next 6 and a half months (or so). The competition and prospect of residency applications loom large, despite it being several years off, and I have thought about reaching out to research teams in the area to see if I could jump in on a project. (I also live in the same metro-area as the medical school I will be attending, but went to undergrad out-of-state) On the other hand, I could keep it fairly low-key and try to mix in some more travel (financially willing) along with other more leisure activities.

Either way, I am very grateful for my acceptance to one of my top-choices prior to this extended break. I would appreciate any and all comments!

Thank you!

 

[lumya]

Don’t worry about residency. Even if you research and find a program/area you really like, doesn’t mean that program/area will be the same in four years.

Do the things you like to do. Are there books you’ve always wanted to read but never had time to? Work on your “life skills” like budgeting, working out, and cooking. Learn a new (not too addictive) hobby.

If you’re one of those people who crave academic structure, Coursera and HarvardExD have a lot of great free online classes if there’s a topic you’re interested in but never got a chance to take.

 

[nysports23]

@lumya Thank you for that great insight. Knowing me, I think it will become a little uncomfortable to not be in some sort of learning phase. I may look into those courses (financially willing)! As per your previous point, I have started a couple books that I have been wanting to read, and there are definitely some outdoor hobbies I want to pursue further.

I guess it's just balancing or defeating the idea that my residency application will be weak if I am not jump-starting it right now, which, of course, isn't all that true considering the many other 2019 matriculants who will still be in undergrad through the spring.

 

[Mike Bagwell]

OK, you got into medical school. You're set. Consider those six months as an earned vacation. Go see and do things you have always wanted to do. You won't have time like this ever again and you will never be young again.

 

[doc05]

Be young. Have fun. Stop worrying about residency.