One year gap between undergrad and med school--what to do.

[Medinsane]

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently a undergrad senior and will be applying to med school next year, which means I'll have a year off before med school (hopefully). I'm sure there are med students who took a year or more off before med school and I'm wondering what kind of jobs did you guys have? I would like to get some medical experience but dont know what options are out there. I would be open to research as well since I am currently in a lab right now. I would love to hear what you guys have done. Are there any research scholarships out there? Or clinical work overseas? That would be awesome! Please share your experiences. Thanks!

PS: If this has been discussed, could someone give me a link to the topic please?

 

[CaliforniaBound]

Hey there!

I also had a year off between undergrad and Medical school. It wasn't by choice (had to retake the MCAT) but it turned out to be one of the best years of my life! I worked in the hospital as a phlebotomist. I got such great exposure to medicine and learned alot that has served me well in my curriculum. I also taught chemistry and tutured high school kids in math/science subjects. This was a great opportunity to make a difference and also to keep myself sharp on that stuff! Check with you local hospital to see what the requirements are to work in the lab. Some states are different than others. I would also spend the time shadowing doctors as much as possible. Even though you have already applied, it's still a great time to see lots of different specialities when you don't have the demands of school to tie you down. Research is good as well but I'm not as familiar with how to go about that in undergrad. Best of Luck!

 

[nairay]

I took 2 years off and moved across the country to work at the NIH in Maryland. The IRTA program there (http://preirta.nih.gov) is a great opportunity to work with awesome researchers on interesting topics that may/may not be available elsewhere. It was like college all over again, except without the homework and working instead of going to class, because lots of college grads do it to gain experience/increase the quality of their application (the social aspect and meeting people from all over the country is also a plus). There are tons of ways to get clinical expererience with the MD's doing research (I shadowed a psychiatrist interviewing potential research subjects, observed rounds, etc), and volunteering on campus at the Children's Inn or elsewhere in the MD/DC/VA areas.

If you want to stay local, check out the hospitals for jobs, work, teach, just do something that you will find productive and fulfilling.

 

[Medpilot]

I'm wondering what kind of jobs did you guys have? Or clinical work overseas?

There was about a 10 month gap for me between undergrad and med. I took the "Last-year-of-freedom" approach and steered clear of any lab jobs... Instead I lived out of my car and drove around the circumference of the US. I took temp jobs in different states to fund it all, one of which was a job digging graves (that's medical... sort of). Then for the last month of my pre-medical school vacation I went to mexico and worked with an american ER doc. It was the best time I've had in years and I'm no worse off in school for it.

I suggest doing all of the things that interest you outside of the medical field in your year off... because once you're in school, you get plenty of it.

 

[mackie]

* Post-bac program

* Some sort of volunteer/teaching job overseas (Healthcorps, Peacecorps, etc.--check out this pdf from Tufts site careers.tufts.edu/pdf/post_grad/ Post_Grad_International.pdf )

* Travel, if you have the funds

 

[deuist]

* You could try a one-year masters program
* Get a medically-related job: CNA, EMT, lab work
* Move abroad and learn a foreign language
* Volunteer with Americorps

 

[BaylorGuy]

Job as a research assistant is helpful. In the meantime, i suggest volunteering and doing something with your time other than just sitting around eating ho-hos and watching re-runs of Gilligan's Island.

 

[Medinsane]

Thanks all! Americorps and the NIH grant sounds great right now. I'll look into them. Thanks again guys. I really appreciate it.