So I will hopefully be graduating in September, however I have not been accepted to a program yet becuase I have not taken Comlex level 2 PE. I've been asking around about what to do after graduation. I've heard I should try to start intern year possibly in January. I don't know if that will be possible or ideal becuase of the availability and my preferences. I understand though that this is probably most beneficial. Other friends have told me to work as a medical assistant or any other job that gives you patient exposure. I do plan on taking Comlex level 3 in the few months after I graduate. I'll also submit my application for the match. Is there an option to do some sort of clerkship outside of medical school? What should I do?
Off schedule , graduating in September 2015 , what to do
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If you can delay graduation til May and be on target with the next class, that would be ideal. You can't do clerkships outside of school as you are unable to have malpractice coverage that you currently have for being a student. You wouldn't be able to find a meaningful job in that period either. Finding an offseason start for a residency is going to be rare and I wouldn't count on it.
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"Would you like fries with that?"
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As others have said, there is no option to do formal clerkships outside of medical school due to malpractice coverage. I suppose you could do an observership, but why bother?
Off cycle residency positions do exist (you can search FREIDA for them) but they aren't common and not in every specialty.
Finally, you are almost as unemployable with your medical degree as you were without it. There are insurance physicals and the like, but not much for an unlicensed physician.
For such a short term, I'd recommend shacking up at your parents and living off them. "A friend of mine" did that after her medical school graduation. 😉
Off cycle residency positions do exist (you can search FREIDA for them) but they aren't common and not in every specialty.
Finally, you are almost as unemployable with your medical degree as you were without it. There are insurance physicals and the like, but not much for an unlicensed physician.
For such a short term, I'd recommend shacking up at your parents and living off them. "A friend of mine" did that after her medical school graduation. 😉
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1) That sucks. Sorry.
2) If applying for the 2015-2016 match is your first application cycle, you may do better delaying your graduation on paper until after you submit your ERAS application. You will look like a first time applicant and may be able being lumped in with FMG's, frustrated un-matched surgeons et cetera. I've had a program director and a dean say this as a good thing to do for people who, for whatever reason, didn't apply or get a position during their MS4 year. But I'm not sure if this applies to you, or if this is still true, or ever was actually good advice.
3) Re: additional rotations. Talk to mentors in your specialty of choice. I don't think additional clerkships are particularly advantageous. It sounds like working hard for negative money and nil benefit given you already have an MD. Program Directors who interview you aren't going to be excited about whatever extra month you do.
4) Have a plan as soon as possible. Get a research position. Get some job at the medical school. Have an idea for how you're going to tell PD's on interviews how this experience will help you be a better resident.
5) Medical assistant probably isn't going to look good. MA's don't do what MD's do, even when the MD is PGY 0-1.
6) Also, don't take a 9 month vacation. Gaps will show up in interviews from here on out. While no one cares about a year off going to culinary school before med school of between 3rd and 4th year, once you've completed your forth year, long gaps start make people wonder if you're really committed to medicine. It's probably not fair, but PD's worst nightmare is a resident who quits halfway through intern year or ends up taking multiple unplanned leaves absences.
7) Don't, on the personal recommendation of a colleague in your speciality, do a three month global health experience with a small third world clinic with that, as it turns out, doesn't guarantee adequate supervision. Despite your best intentions you may find yourself in multiple questionably ethical situations. Again, advice from "a friend of mine."
2) If applying for the 2015-2016 match is your first application cycle, you may do better delaying your graduation on paper until after you submit your ERAS application. You will look like a first time applicant and may be able being lumped in with FMG's, frustrated un-matched surgeons et cetera. I've had a program director and a dean say this as a good thing to do for people who, for whatever reason, didn't apply or get a position during their MS4 year. But I'm not sure if this applies to you, or if this is still true, or ever was actually good advice.
3) Re: additional rotations. Talk to mentors in your specialty of choice. I don't think additional clerkships are particularly advantageous. It sounds like working hard for negative money and nil benefit given you already have an MD. Program Directors who interview you aren't going to be excited about whatever extra month you do.
4) Have a plan as soon as possible. Get a research position. Get some job at the medical school. Have an idea for how you're going to tell PD's on interviews how this experience will help you be a better resident.
5) Medical assistant probably isn't going to look good. MA's don't do what MD's do, even when the MD is PGY 0-1.
6) Also, don't take a 9 month vacation. Gaps will show up in interviews from here on out. While no one cares about a year off going to culinary school before med school of between 3rd and 4th year, once you've completed your forth year, long gaps start make people wonder if you're really committed to medicine. It's probably not fair, but PD's worst nightmare is a resident who quits halfway through intern year or ends up taking multiple unplanned leaves absences.
7) Don't, on the personal recommendation of a colleague in your speciality, do a three month global health experience with a small third world clinic with that, as it turns out, doesn't guarantee adequate supervision. Despite your best intentions you may find yourself in multiple questionably ethical situations. Again, advice from "a friend of mine."
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This doesn't make sense. Your DO program let you get to May of your 4th year without taking the PE exam? Or is this a retake?
That's what I was thinking. We had to take it before January I believe or else there would be consequences.
I seriously wish we could just take the USMLE CS, it seems its easier to schedule that because you can take it all over the country.
If I were in your position, I would try and do a 5 year program, do auditions at DO places because your school will cover it, then apply AOA match only. Paying an extra year of tuition sucks, but it seems to be the wisest option.
Any gap after finishing medical school without any experience can cause a state licensing board to not issue you a permit.
Thanks for the responses, I appreciate it. I would like fries with everything, large.
I didn't take the PE before July becuase I was off schedule. Usually we take it during third year or at the beginning or middle of fourth year at the latest. We don't have a strict policy on taking it at a certain time. I do understand that it would have been wise to take it as early as possible if ready. However I've been a terrible student in more than one way. I have struggled with medicine throughout. It's just been a tough journey due to no fault except my own.
I didn't take the PE before July becuase I was off schedule. Usually we take it during third year or at the beginning or middle of fourth year at the latest. We don't have a strict policy on taking it at a certain time. I do understand that it would have been wise to take it as early as possible if ready. However I've been a terrible student in more than one way. I have struggled with medicine throughout. It's just been a tough journey due to no fault except my own.
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