Is this a bad thing to do?

[700003]

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I plan on applying this cycle. I am also set to finish my degree requirements by the end of this summer. However, I don't want to graduate right away and lose the opportunities my school offers in terms of study abroad and research. At the same time, I don't want to take another semester's worth of classes or stay as a part-time student… in other words, I want to take a gap year without having graduated.

What if I did summer classes to finish my degree, did not apply for graduation (so basically stay as a student despite having finished requirements) but also did not attend school for Fall 2015 or Spring 2016?? I want to do something else during the normal semesters…but I was told that this would involve taking a leave of absence (if I choose to postpone my graduation date).

Would this look bad to medical schools? If I finished my degree in Summer 2015 but did not graduate until 2016? Would the 'leave of absence' be a disadvantage? (FYI: my cGPA is 3.8 and my sGPA is 3.74 for application purposes)

I need to make this decision fast 🤔…not sure what to do! What would adcoms think? @Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik

Any help is appreciated!

 

[ndafife]

I graduated a semester early and enrolled in a 1 credit class as a 'special student'/non-degree seeking through the Department of Continuing Education (to maintain a research position). I suggest you look into that.

I am pretty sure taking a 'leave of absence' means you forfeit your student benefits, and you need to be enrolled in a class to do things like maintain a student researcher position/gym usage/etc... (at least that's the case at my school).

 

[LaceyMD]

Check with your academic advisor, but for many schools you have to apply for graduation within in a certain time period after completing your classes. Many schools will also automatically un-enroll you if you do not register for classes without having formal leave of absence paperwork on file. If you really need the benefits of being a student, you may want to consider enrolling in a few "easy" classes during those semesters.

Also, if you don't intend to take any classes, exactly what benefit are you getting from the school offering study abroad?

 

[MrLogan13]

Couldn't you just stay on as a non-degree seeking student?