How will you be spending your gap year?

[Engrailed]

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I think I might try to apply for jobs that can pay a decent amount so that I can save money before med school. If not, I'd continue working in research or try a different type of research (something more clinical). After this summer (before MD matriculation), what are your plans? Curious to see what other people are up to before med school!

 

[kingdomheart]

Applying this cycle. Started my job as a medical assistant (full-time, no weekends). I graduated mid-May, took my mcat june 1st and started here june 4th. Kinda regret not relaxing more, but I needed the $$$

 

[907914]

I think I might try to apply for jobs that can pay a decent amount so that I can save money before med school. If not, I'd continue working in research or try a different type of research (something more clinical). After this summer (before MD matriculation), what are your plans? Curious to see what other people are up to before med school!

I will still be in school, but by choice! I coulda graduated in May, but I wanted to do a biotech program at my undergrad because I have already done too many gap years in the middle of college lol

 

[Engrailed]

I will still be in school, but by choice! I coulda graduated in May, but I wanted to do a biotech program at my undergrad because I have already done too many gap years in the middle of college lol

What do you mean gap years in college? Did you take time off during your undergrad:?;

 

[kingdomheart]

As a medical assistant you will room patients, take their vitals, assess their family/social history, and schedule appointments. I work at a huge private clinic in the oncology department in western new york 🙂. Its an incredibly humbling and transformative experience dealing with cancer patients

 

[907914]

What do you mean gap years in college? Did you take time off during your undergrad:?;

Yah, 2 years between high school and college for military, 18 months between first classes and return to classes for newborn

 

[Engrailed]

Yah, 2 years between high school and college for military, 18 months between first classes and return to classes for newborn

Oh gotcha, sounds like you did quite a lot before graduating undergrad!

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

I took a gap year last year where I taught MCAT and traveled to different states/locations to teach! Great way to make big $ while also traveling + getting everything paid for (plus a per diem) haha. I also volunteered when I had the time.

 

[JAK2-STAT3]

I graduated in May 2018 and am currently a research assistant in a Neuroscience lab at an academic hospital. While my job is probably more suited to someone going to grad school (I wasn't a premed in undergrad), working at a hospital means it is logistically easy to volunteer there. It also offers tuition reimbursement that I can use to take a few prereqs I didn't take in undergrad. I also volunteer outside of the hospital on weekends. I'm not planning on applying until 2021 so I don't know whether my gap years will pay off.

For now, my job gives me enough to pay the bills and be an independent adult, puts me in a hospital, has allowed me to compare the lives of PhDs vs MDs, and will eventually get me a great letter of rec. I don't think there is such thing as a perfect gap year. Do something you like.