In Desperate Need of Advice

[ebb8art]

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Hi guys,

I really want to take some time off before applying to medical school, so instead of applying in the fall of senior year like most people, I decided to postpone the process. I was accepted into the Teach for America program, which requires a 2 year commitment after graduation. After a couple of weeks, I met with my pre-med advisor, who advised me to apply this upcoming cycle and defer a year to complete the TFA program. Do you think applying to medical school with the intent of deferring admissions is a good idea? Or should I wait until the 2nd year of the TFA program to apply? I know that several schools give deferrals for Teach for America, but most people apply to the school without the intent of deferring.

Also, one more question. I know this may sound a little weird, but I'm debating whether or not to take either the Teach for America program or the Fulbright ETA (English Teaching Assistantship) in South korea. Both are great programs, but what do you guys think?

Thanks again!

 

[bonsaitree1]

Can you not drop out of the TFA program if you do end up getting accepted in to medical school?

 

[IAmMyOwnTwin]

You will get to be a doctor for the rest of your life. Now is the ideal time to pursue a meaningful non-medical life experience. Teach for America is a great opportunity, and if it's something you're really excited about, I think you should go for it. Based on anecdotal evidence from the interview trail and second looks, TFA people seem to do very well at getting into med school.

I would disagree with your advisor. I think you should make your second year of TFA your application year. Applying with the intent to defer would be pretty awkward, and not all schools will allow you to defer (with guaranteed admission for the following year) even if you have a good reason. My understanding is that deferral is more for unexpected circumstances.

 

[cartoondoc]

I think deferring is not uncommon and you'll be happier once you get the application process over with.

I had a friend who wanted to defer his application for a year. He started an email requesting the deferral, with the intention of editing it and making it sound more convincing later... but then he accidentally sent it before it was finished. Soon after, he got a reply saying his deferral was granted.

 

[medat101]

Do TFA first, then apply to medical school in your second year of TFA (summer between first and second yr actually.. APPLY EARLY). The TFA experience is viewed very highly by medical schools and would make you a more competitive applicant, especially if your numbers aren't perfect. Plus, taking in the TFA experience for a full year would give you more material to work into your personal statement and interviews.

Don't know too much about the second program you mentioned, but I know the fulbright is also really prestigious and would make you a competitive applicant. Perhaps if you talk to some of the program's alumni and really figure out if the fulbright or TFA is more in line with this period of discovery in your life and your future goals.

Is the fulbright 2 years? Only issue I see with the fulbright is that if its is a 2 year program, how do you plan on interviewing in your second year here in America when you'll be all the way in South Korea? Yeah, not really feasible, so you may then have to wait until your are done with the program to apply, which would be 3 years before you start, not 2.

 

[tlaloc87]

Do TFA first, then apply to medical school in your second year of TFA (summer between first and second yr actually.. APPLY EARLY).

+1 👍

Is the fulbright 2 years? Only issue I see with the fulbright is that if its is a 2 year program, how do you plan on interviewing in your second year here in America when you'll be all the way in South Korea?

The majority of Fulbright research grants are for one academic year though I am not sure about the English Teaching ones. You bring up a good point about Fulbright which is that it requires careful planning in advance. I, unfortunately, learned the hard way and had to decide med school over Fulbright.

 

[PanicAttack]

Do TFA first, then apply to medical school in your second year of TFA (summer between first and second yr actually.. APPLY EARLY). The TFA experience is viewed very highly by medical schools and would make you a more competitive applicant, especially if your numbers aren't perfect. Plus, taking in the TFA experience for a full year would give you more material to work into your personal statement and interviews.

This.

I applied (the first time) in the summer between my 2 TFA years. My PS was almost completely about my TFA experience and I got a lot of compliments about it. All of my interviewers wanted to talk about TFA, A LOT. I wasn't successful for other reasons, but that has to do with other stuff. Your application can only get better with the exception of MCAT scores expiring. If you don't have that to worry about than applying now seems like a big mistake.

If I understand the timing of your plan, it isn't even logistically possible. You'd start applying during the summer of TFA institute (that would royally suck, you'll be working 60-80 hours in June and July while trying to do AMCAS and secondaries, move to your TFA location and start lesson planning and training at you school). Then, you would be interviewing during the fall of your first year of teaching? You'll still be doing that insane amount of work as a first year teacher in addition to dealing with late secondaries, checking on your apps and scheduling interviews. You'll already be committed to TFA and have been teaching for a few months. At that point, it will be clear to ADCOMS that you intend to either (1) defer any acceptance they give you or (2) break your 2-year commitment to TFA, and those both make you look pretty bad. Correct me if I misunderstood which year/cycle you are talking about.

Be aware, you will not have enough time during TFA to do much/any shadowing or volunteering, except maybe in the summer, and you'll want to relax then, so make sure that stuff is more or less in place before you start.

I don't wanna sound like a Debbie Downer, TFA is a great program where you can learn a lot and make a difference in the lives of kids who deserve it. If you are passionate about it you should definitely go for it. I'm really glad I did. If it's something you are doing to pass the time or try to supe up your app without actually wanting to do it, I don't recommend it. Most of those people end up totally miserable.

I feel like this post is gonna get taken in a way I didn't intend, but I'm posting it anyway because it's true and I was in your position a few years ago. PM me if you want me to clarify anything. Best of luck!

 

[PanicAttack]

One more thing and I will shut the hell up:

I'm under the impression that the deferrals granted for TFA by medical and graduate schools are given for 2 years, not 1. Meaning that you would be deciding between starting TFA and starting medical school at the same time, i.e. you would have applied for medical school the summer before your senior year ("traditional") and applied for TFA during your senior year.