Options to burn a year in order to couples match

[tdod]

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I'm an MS3 and my wife is MS2, so I have to burn a year in order to couple match. I was previously going to do an MBA, but I no longer want to do it. Also have no interest in an MPH. I recently fell in love with emergency medicine, and I now want to dedicate my time to becoming a great emergency doctor. I don't want to let my knowledge and skills whither away as I dedicate my time to something largely unrelated to my future practice.

So what are my options for burning a year in a way that will:

1. look good (or at least neutral) to residencies, and
2. involve emergency medicine.

I have thought about just taking a year off after fourth year to do research. Would this look bad? Are there alternatives I should consider?


Thanks!

 

[ciestar]

Do a research year between M3 and M4. Thats what people at my school do.

 

[dpmd]

Do a research year between M3 and M4. Thats what people at my school do.

Definitely better to be applying as a current student than one who has graduated.

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Do not "burn" a year after graduating. It will significantly hurt your application (most residencies sort by year of graduation when finding who to invite for interview). You will have the luxury of doing your away rotations after M3 and during your gap year-you will be fresh from your clerkship knowledge and not have to stress about going to interviews during the away rotation. This will make your 4th year truly a breeze.

In summary:
find a research mentor this year (preferably in EM but that's not the easiest. Not required)
Spend the first few months of your year off between M3 and M4 doing 2 away rotations
Spend the rest of the year doing research + building relationships with folks at your home program
Relax as a fourth year as all the other M4s are cramming in away rotations that work with interview season

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Do research, become an EMT, do something that falls within the field. I would also recommend getting CK/CS out of the way before you take the year off.

 

[sanfran256]

Alternatively you could try to match in a big city (NY, Chicago, LA, etc. ), and your SO can follow, especially if she is doing something non-competitive. A year extra tuition really stings

 

[lawrencewellsbourne]

become an EMT, work on an ambulance.

There is plenty of down time to both study and or do research
your ER skills will improve
and BONUS you make a tiny bit of money