Please help decide if I should defferal medical school!!

[deleted983296]

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Hey everyone,

 

[viralhiker]

You got accepted into medical school, are able to stay in your current city without moving, and don’t have to uproot your family for a temporary relocation? Also, the money you are able to sock away in that year would likely be peanuts compared to your living and tuition expenses.

This is a no-brainer. Go to med school and find research there that you enjoy.

 

[wysdoc]

Please attend the medical school in your own city!
Some medical schools will grant you a deferral until next year, for major illnesses, family catastrophe, and other very significant reasons.
"I got a research job" or "I want to travel for a while" are not going to qualify as reasons to defer a year.

 

[M&L]

Definitely medical school!!

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Go to med school. Tell the research people you would like to return at some point and join them in the lab. Many schools will allow you to take a research yr while in school or some residencies will allow a research yr. See what the researchers say. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[candbgirl]

Medical school. And don’t look back. Few people have things come together that seamlessly. Good luck.

 

[Mr.Blackdoc.5]

The big H doesn’t mean anything, go to medical school

if you want feel free to pm me.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Please attend the medical school in your own city!
Some medical schools will grant you a deferral until next year, for major illnesses, family catastrophe, and other very significant reasons.
"I got a research job" or "I want to travel for a while" are not going to qualify as reasons to defer a year.

They do, school already agreed to grant deferral to OP. I know two kids who deferred their admissions 5 years back to get some industry experience. However these are fresh out of college and have no spouse or child to think about.

OP - How exactly do you think this one year research will help your medical career? Is it directly related to you are seriously interested in?

 

[JimKimSlim]

You’re going to med school, not a grad school for a PhD in research science. You can also do research while you’re in med school, or even better take paid research year for MD candidates through NIH or something. Depriving yourself a 1-2 year of physician salary for research is not worth it, unless you’re interested in clinical or translational research as your career but you don’t need an MD to do that…

 

[Goro]

Hey everyone,

As I was waiting to hear back from medical schools and only got waitlisted everywhere, I start looking for a job in research. Long story short, I received an amazing opportunity in Boston ( the big H ) to work with some of the most influential professors. Since I didn't receive any acceptance by June, I decided to accept the offer and move to Boston and reapply next year. But alot has happened in a week before my move, I got accepted into two medical schools!

Of course I was happy, but I was ready for my new opportunity in Boston. So now I don't know what to do, should I defferal medical school for a year and go work ( I asked the school if it's an option, they told.me yes) or should I give up job and go.to school this fall?

Some will say, just go to medical school and be done with it but this opportunity was like a dream come true! And I do want to medical school, which I worked very hard for!

Here a list of pro and cons I made:

Pro for going to medical school this year:
1. Its in my city and I don't need to move
2. I have a family here, so they will not have to move for a year and come back
3. My kid is 5 years old and he has all his extracurriculars at home ( music, swimming and such)
4. Not going to lose a year of Dr salary ( I think this is the least important, as I am not going to medical school for the money)
5. My husband work is here
6. We have a house here

Pros for Working before med school:

1. This opportunity may never come back and It was my dream to be part of that institute.
2. I will be working on breakthrough research with very impressive professor ( best in the nation)
3. I can find the same extracurriculars for my child in Boston even if it's for a year
4. It's only for one year
5. I might make meaningful connection that may help me in the future
6. Working before will allow me to save money for medical school
7. My husband can work in Boston also

What you guys think? Any input will be appreciated.

Is this dream job worth the lost year of an attending's salary???

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Is this dream job worth the lost year of an attending's salary???

I thought gap years are good for maturity.

 

[hungryhungryhippo4]

If your ultimate goal is to be a physician, then go to medical school. No brainer

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I thought gap years are good for maturity.

I would believe in many cases they are. I sense OP can't let the chance to do research at the Big H slip by. I could let that pass very easily.. Bench research is often in small labs with lots of lab drama. My Niece is a PhD and been in 3. Why apply to med school if you don't want to go? Turning down an admission won't look good as a reapplicant. Choices.

 

[KnightDoc]

I would believe in many cases they are. I sense OP can't let the chance to do research at the Big H slip by. I could let that pass very easily.. Bench research is often in small labs with lots of lab drama. My Niece is a PhD and been in 3. Why apply to med school if you don't want to go? Turning down an admission won't look good as a reapplicant. Choices.

Okay, but that's not OP's question, or choice! OP has already received permission to defer, so looking good as a reapplicant is irrelevant.

The only question is whether to put off med school to pursue a dream. The SDN consensus seems clear, since we are all motivated by getting wherever it is we are going as efficiently as possible. OP has indicated she doesn't care about the money, and apparently is seeking our blessing to uproot her family and disrupt their lives in order to pursue her one year dream detour. Most people wouldn't, but OP doesn't have to answer to any of us, so it's not clear why she cares what any of us think.

TBH, the whole idea seems kind of selfish and self indulgent to me, but my opinion also doesn't matter. The 5-year old probably doesn't get a vote, so the only opinions that matter belong to OP and her husband. I think she should do whatever the hell she wants, as long as it's not going to create long term problems with her husband.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I would believe in many cases they are. I sense OP can't let the chance to do research at the Big H slip by. I could let that pass very easily.. Bench research is often in small labs with lots of lab drama. My Niece is a PhD and been in 3. Why apply to med school if you don't want to go? Turning down an admission won't look good as a reapplicant. Choices.

So one year salary is worth for maturity but not for big H research?
I believe OP is not turning down admission but seeking deferral only. No one would recommend reapplication especially with rejecting an admission.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Okay, but that's not OP's question, or choice! OP has already received permission to defer, so looking good as a reapplicant is irrelevant.

The only question is whether to put off med school to pursue a dream. The SDN consensus seems clear, since we are all motivated by getting wherever it is we are going as efficiently as possible. OP has indicated she doesn't care about the money, and apparently is seeking our blessing to uproot her family and disrupt their lives in order to pursue her one year dream detour. Most people wouldn't, but OP doesn't have to answer to any of us, so it's not clear why she cares what any of us think.

TBH, the whole idea seems kind of selfish and self indulgent to me, but my opinion also doesn't matter. The 5-year old probably doesn't get a vote, so the only opinions that matter belong to OP and her husband. I think she should do whatever the hell she wants, as long as it's not going to create long term problems with her husband.

You make some good points. I think moving is a little self indulgent too. She also has a child who will be affected by the 1 yr departure. She can do research and go to med school in her home town without disruption and have the benefit of family support. Sounds like that covers all bases. IDK, My approach to life is. Is this decision good for my family? When children are involved, other considerations come into play. Making decisions as to what is best for my family has worked out well for us.

 

[candbgirl]

“Okay, but that's not OP's question, or choice! OP has already received permission to defer, so looking good as a reapplicant is irrelevant.”

I’m not sure OP has received permission for a deferral. This is what OP,said in the initial post:” ( I asked the school if it's an option, they told.me yes)”. No place has she said it was granted. If it was granted she wouldn’t be asking this question. SHe’d be headed to Boston.
But who knows what actually happening here.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

So one year salary is worth for maturity but not for big H research?
I believe OP is not turning down admission but seeking deferral only. No one would recommend reapplication especially with rejecting an admission.

Well, she is uprooting her family for a year so she can tell everyone she did research at the Big H before attending med school? So, No. I would not advise moving. Research can be done at the home school without uprooting her family. Kids add a different dimension. Family support, friends, schools, cost of living, etc.

 

[KnightDoc]

“Okay, but that's not OP's question, or choice! OP has already received permission to defer, so looking good as a reapplicant is irrelevant.”

I’m not sure OP has received permission for a deferral. This is what OP,said in the initial post:” ( I asked the school if it's an option, they told.me yes)”. No place has she said it was granted. If it was granted she wouldn’t be asking this question. SHe’d be headed to Boston.
But who knows what actually happening here.

Excellent point!! I understood "they told me yes" to mean that she received permission, not that she was merely told she's allowed to ask, which is always the case for everyone. I think it was granted, and she's now asking if she should do it, but, now that you mention it, you could also be right! 🙂

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Well, she is uprooting her family for a year so she can tell everyone she did research at the Big H before attending med school? So, No. I would not advise moving. Research can be done at the home school without uprooting her family. Kids add a different dimension. Family support, friends, schools, cost of living, etc.

May be her research leads to a paper in Nature or to residency at big H since we are talking about influential professors 🙂 I agree kids are different dimension but we are talking 5 year old kid and their activities 🙂 pretty much everyone moves around for residency, fellowship and job, so as long family goes along with the plan fully I don't see it as a big issue.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Maybe it gets published in Nature, maybe it doesn't get published at all. Just because you work on a project, doesn't mean you are going to get published. Although I can see the potential for networking if she spends a year in Boston. Personally, as I said earlier,, I would stay at home and do research and med school at the same place. It depends on her and where she sees herself in 10 yrs. Clinical Medicine? Academica? Med Ed? I have done all 3, I prefer clinical, medical education, and Academia in that order. But we are all different. Whatever OP decides, I wish her all the best.

 

[Ms Procrastinator]

May be her research leads to a paper in Nature or to residency at big H since we are talking about influential professors 🙂 I agree kids are different dimension but we are talking 5 year old kid and their activities 🙂 pretty much everyone moves around for residency, fellowship and job, so as long family goes along with the plan fully I don't see it as a big issue.

She'd be uprooting her kid and husband. I understand her husband would be willing to work from Boston and the school has offered her a deferral, but the research she's going to do isn't really going to make or break her career (since there's more to an app than research). There's no guarantee she'll get published in Nature. She can do research at her med school. It sounds like she'd be giving up a lot to go to Boston.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

She'd be uprooting her kid and husband. I understand her husband would be willing to work from Boston and the school has offered her a deferral, but the research she's going to do isn't really going to make or break her career (since there's more to an app than research). There's no guarantee she'll get published in Nature. She can do research at her med school. It sounds like she'd be giving up a lot to go to Boston.

I doubt move will have huge impact on a 5 year old. We moved couple of times when my kid was very young.

 

[deleted393595]

Hey everyone,

As I was waiting to hear back from medical schools and only got waitlisted everywhere, I start looking for a job in research. Long story short, I received an amazing opportunity in Boston ( the big H ) to work with some of the most influential professors. Since I didn't receive any acceptance by June, I decided to accept the offer and move to Boston and reapply next year. But alot has happened in a week before my move, I got accepted into two medical schools!

Of course I was happy, but I was ready for my new opportunity in Boston. So now I don't know what to do, should I defferal medical school for a year and go work ( I asked the school if it's an option, they told.me yes) or should I give up job and go.to school this fall?

Some will say, just go to medical school and be done with it but this opportunity was like a dream come true! And I do want to medical school, which I worked very hard for!

Here a list of pro and cons I made:

Pro for going to medical school this year:
1. Its in my city and I don't need to move
2. I have a family here, so they will not have to move for a year and come back
3. My kid is 5 years old and he has all his extracurriculars at home ( music, swimming and such)
4. Not going to lose a year of Dr salary ( I think this is the least important, as I am not going to medical school for the money)
5. My husband work is here
6. We have a house here

Pros for Working before med school:

1. This opportunity may never come back and It was my dream to be part of that institute.
2. I will be working on breakthrough research with very impressive professor ( best in the nation)
3. I can find the same extracurriculars for my child in Boston even if it's for a year
4. It's only for one year
5. I might make meaningful connection that may help me in the future
6. Working before will allow me to save money for medical school
7. My husband can work in Boston also

What you guys think? Any input will be appreciated.

My $0.02 is that most academic research is rarely "breakthrough". It's easy to be impressed by the opportunity when someone with "impressive" credentials dangles it in front of you.

If you're interested in this field of research, you can always start med school and work on putting together a Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) Medical Research Fellows Program application for a gap year.

 

[deleted983296]

Thank you for all the responses, i appreciate all the comments. To build up on what i wrote and answer some of the questions here. Firstly, my family (aka my husband) was very encouraging about the move, as he wanted to move to Boston to network as well for his job, and moving my 5 year old wasn't really an issue in our mind ( he is not at the age where he has a lot of friends or connection to our city)- . So I don't necessarily think i was "uprooting" my family ( although i can understand where you coming from).

Second point is about the deferral, the medical school seemed okay with the idea when i presented it and if i submit the paperwork they need, it will get approved.

Another point i want to make: i applied to this position because i didn't think i will get in so late in the cycle ( i was waitlisted for the longest time and lost hope) and got off the waitlist 2 days before our move to Boston. Also, this is not only bench position as it combines multiple direction ( wet lab and dry lab). It may yield publication and may not, no one can really promise that. My way of thinking- to go for a year to network and learn new skills in specific field i would like to work in as a future physician ( engineering and robotics as means for diagnosis). For me going to this institution, isn't about prestige or anything like that, its about innovations and science and to purely learn more about the field i love before going to medical school.

When i wrote this post, i just wanted to hear what other thinks- is it worth deferring medical school to pursue a really amazing opportunity i am passionate about? it doesn't mean i don't want to be a doctor, medicine is what kept me going on this journey. I know we all will be working until we 80 (give or take), is one year makes a difference? or is it better to go to medical school and be done with it as soon as possible to treat patients ?

Anyways, thank you again for the input and i think i made my decision! I wish you all luck on your future endeavors

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Thank you for all the responses, i appreciate all the comments. To build up on what i wrote and answer some of the questions here. Firstly, my family (aka my husband) was very encouraging about the move, as he wanted to move to Boston to network as well for his job, and moving my 5 year old wasn't really an issue in our mind ( he is not at the age where he has a lot of friends or connection to our city)- . So I don't necessarily think i was "uprooting" my family ( although i can understand where you coming from).

Second point is about the deferral, the medical school seemed okay with the idea when i presented it and if i submit the paperwork they need, it will get approved.

Another point i want to make: i applied to this position because i didn't think i will get in so late in the cycle ( i was waitlisted for the longest time and lost hope) and got off the waitlist 2 days before our move to Boston. Also, this is not only bench position as it combines multiple direction ( wet lab and dry lab). It may yield publication and may not, no one can really promise that. My way of thinking- to go for a year to network and learn new skills in specific field i would like to work in as a future physician ( engineering and robotics as means for diagnosis). For me going to this institution, isn't about prestige or anything like that, its about innovations and science and to purely learn more about the field i love before going to medical school.

When i wrote this post, i just wanted to hear what other thinks- is it worth deferring medical school to pursue a really amazing opportunity i am passionate about? it doesn't mean i don't want to be a doctor, medicine is what kept me going on this journey. I know we all will be working until we 80 (give or take), is one year makes a difference? or is it better to go to medical school and be done with it as soon as possible to treat patients ?

Anyways, thank you again for the input and i think i made my decision! I wish you all luck on your future endeavors

One of the kid's I mentioned earlier is also into tech and he took year of to work for a healthcare company (and he still does gigs on side) and going into radiology. He has no regrets about taking gap year and yes, you all may have to work into 70s at least.

 

[Ms Procrastinator]

I doubt move will have huge impact on a 5 year old. We moved couple of times when my kid was very young.

I've worked with kids for a while. All kids are not the same and they're definitely not as simple as their parents believe. OP thinks this is the opportunity of a lifetime I get it, but all she'd be doing is uprooting her life for a maybe. Who knows if this research opportunity will be everything OP thinks it's going to be? It's likely not gonna catapult her app into superstardom.

 

[deleted983296]

I've worked with kids for a while. All kids are not the same and they're definitely not as simple as their parents believe. OP thinks this is the opportunity of a lifetime I get it, but all she'd be doing is uprooting her life for a maybe. Who knows if this research opportunity will be everything OP thinks it's going to be? It's likely not gonna catapult her app into superstardom.

Thank you for your response! If we will go, it will be for one year and then back home!! Plus Boston is 3 hours from our current town. Maybe you are right and it will be for nothing, but either way we are looking at it as an adventure!

 

[Ms Procrastinator]

Thank you for your response! If we will go, it will be for one year and then back home!! Plus Boston is 3 hours from our current town. Maybe you are right and it will be for nothing, but either way we are looking at it as an adventure!

Well, sounds like you've made up your mind would just really enjoy the opportunity. Good luck OP!

 

[GoSpursGo]

I will be a little contrarian and say that AS LONG AS THE DEFERRAL IS ALLOWED, and this doesn’t result in you reapplying, I don’t think this is crazy at all. Lots of students take a year for research to enhance their residency competitiveness and honestly I see that becoming more common in a P/F step world. If you see this as your research year, then I think all of your points about networking, enhancing your husband’s career, etc are valid. There is a real cost in a year’s worth of salary and the whirlwind of moving a family, but the potential benefits are real as well.

The one point I would make is that while publication on your main research won’t be guaranteed, try early on to get involved in some “easy” side research that will get published. Ie some kind of clinical chart review or something like that if you can get permission.

 

[LizzyM]

Here's how I'm reading OP's messages.... bags are packed to move family to Boston for a research year before/during a reapplication year when - miracle or miracles - she gets off the waitlist at a school that is willing to let her defer a year while she does this research in Boston. I say "Go, enjoy, make the most of the opportunity and med school will be there next year and ready to welcome you and your new knowledge and connections." Also, if the husband is looking forward to spending a year in Boston making his own network connections for work, asking him to put that dream on hold while she ties the family down for 4 years of med school might create resentments on his part (there is going to be a lot of "trailing spouse" in his future) so for the good of the family, I think Boston is an excellent choice for this year.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I've worked with kids for a while. All kids are not the same and they're definitely not as simple as their parents believe. OP thinks this is the opportunity of a lifetime I get it, but all she'd be doing is uprooting her life for a maybe. Who knows if this research opportunity will be everything OP thinks it's going to be? It's likely not gonna catapult her app into superstardom.

Well we all give one size fits all answers on SDN 🙂

 

[futureboy111]

You make some good points. I think moving is a little self indulgent too. She also has a child who will be affected by the 1 yr departure. She can do research and go to med school in her home town without disruption and have the benefit of family support. Sounds like that covers all bases. IDK, My approach to life is. Is this decision good for my family? When children are involved, other considerations come into play. Making decisions as to what is best for my family has worked out well for us.

I agree. The deciding factor is what is in the best interest of the child.

 

[hatfielj]

i would take the opportunity in Boston and forget medical school. You wont have to sacrifice 8+ years of your life for training and you wont have to take on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. The medical field has changed in ways that are not good for doctors. The non-medical world is a much more pleasant place to have a career in my experience. Plus Boston is an amazing place to live.

 

[hatfielj]

You sound too smart for medical school. Honestly. Being a physician on a day to day is not using your brain. It’s more like factory work, lots of repetition and moving from one patient to the next as quickly as possible. Brainiac people capable of getting into prestigious research jobs are generally not going to be satisfied working as a physician.

 

[M&L]

You sound too smart for medical school. Honestly. Being a physician on a day to day is not using your brain. It’s more like factory work, lots of repetition and moving from one patient to the next as quickly as possible. Brainiac people capable of getting into prestigious research jobs are generally not going to be satisfied working as a physician.

sounds like someones career did not work out the way they hoped it would.... i am so sorry.

 

[Pshalt]

Hey everyone,

As I was waiting to hear back from medical schools and only got waitlisted everywhere, I start looking for a job in research. Long story short, I received an amazing opportunity in Boston ( the big H ) to work with some of the most influential professors. Since I didn't receive any acceptance by June, I decided to accept the offer and move to Boston and reapply next year. But alot has happened in a week before my move, I got accepted into two medical schools!

Of course I was happy, but I was ready for my new opportunity in Boston. So now I don't know what to do, should I defferal medical school for a year and go work ( I asked the school if it's an option, they told.me yes) or should I give up job and go.to school this fall?

Some will say, just go to medical school and be done with it but this opportunity was like a dream come true! And I do want to medical school, which I worked very hard for!

Here a list of pro and cons I made:

Pro for going to medical school this year:
1. Its in my city and I don't need to move
2. I have a family here, so they will not have to move for a year and come back
3. My kid is 5 years old and he has all his extracurriculars at home ( music, swimming and such)
4. Not going to lose a year of Dr salary ( I think this is the least important, as I am not going to medical school for the money)
5. My husband work is here
6. We have a house here

Pros for Working before med school:

1. This opportunity may never come back and It was my dream to be part of that institute.
2. I will be working on breakthrough research with very impressive professor ( best in the nation)
3. I can find the same extracurriculars for my child in Boston even if it's for a year
4. It's only for one year
5. I might make meaningful connection that may help me in the future
6. Working before will allow me to save money for medical school
7. My husband can work in Boston also

What you guys think? Any input will be appreciated.

Go to medical school, do really well and you will have opportunities to go back to Boston if that is your dream. if your dream is an MD PhD, that research job may help, otherwise it adds very little to your resume in the long run. H is Over Rated.

 

[deleted393595]

I've worked with kids for a while. All kids are not the same and they're definitely not as simple as their parents believe. OP thinks this is the opportunity of a lifetime I get it, but all she'd be doing is uprooting her life for a maybe. Who knows if this research opportunity will be everything OP thinks it's going to be? It's likely not gonna catapult her app into superstardom.

I agree. My single parent mom moved out when I was 5 and left me in the care of my grandparents for several years. It did screw me up as a kid.

She's already been accepted to med school. But I'm skeptical of the ability of any undergrad to significantly contribute to a project unless it's in math or theoretical physics which are dependent on sheer innate ability. I've been burned too many times to not pick up on the red flag that this "opportunity of a lifetime" is. Most likely, she ends up as cheap labor doing scut work and ends up on the path to a divorce.

You sound too smart for medical school. Honestly. Being a physician on a day to day is not using your brain. It’s more like factory work, lots of repetition and moving from one patient to the next as quickly as possible. Brainiac people capable of getting into prestigious research jobs are generally not going to be satisfied working as a physician.

My bored physician mentors started their own labs so they can split time between seeing patients (pays the bills) and doing research.

i would take the opportunity in Boston and forget medical school. You wont have to sacrifice 8+ years of your life for training and you wont have to take on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. The medical field has changed in ways that are not good for doctors. The non-medical world is a much more pleasant place to have a career in my experience. Plus Boston is an amazing place to live.

Do you have any experience in research? PhD programs are literally pyramid schemes that have oversaturated the market. You'll never end up doing innovative research because by definition that means doing untested and unproven things: The very aspects that grant agencies, who want to fund predictable things, are extremely aversive to. You'll end up fighting for a $50k job at some random academic center at which you spent all your time writing grants and struggling to make enough to raise a family.

Get the MD. Do actual practical applied research that improves the lives of patients rather than the BS scutwork that 95% of biomedical PhDs engage in.

 

[Mr.Blackdoc.5]

I agree. My single parent mom moved out when I was 5 and left me in the care of my grandparents for several years. It did screw me up as a kid.

She's already been accepted to med school. But I'm skeptical of the ability of any undergrad to significantly contribute to a project unless it's in math or theoretical physics which are dependent on sheer innate ability. I've been burned too many times to not pick up on the red flag that this "opportunity of a lifetime" is. Most likely, she ends up as cheap labor doing scut work and ends up on the path to a divorce.



My bored physician mentors started their own labs so they can split time between seeing patients (pays the bills) and doing research.



Do you have any experience in research? PhD programs are literally pyramid schemes that have oversaturated the market. You'll never end up doing innovative research because by definition that means doing untested and unproven things: The very aspects that grant agencies, who want to fund predictable things, are extremely aversive to. You'll end up fighting for a $50k job at some random academic center at which you spent all your time writing grants and struggling to make enough to raise a family.

Get the MD. Do actual practical applied research that improves the lives of patients rather than the BS scutwork that 95% of biomedical PhDs engage in.

agree, I just don't see anything practical getting done in a year if OP does not have major prior experience in the field and if the lab does not have projects beginning to be wrapped up. relationships can be built in other ways.
example, OP - you could always work with these PIs remotely on the dry lab stuff then if everything is going really well, consider doing a summer in Boston or even matching there for residency. if research something is you really want to do, there are physician-scientist residency programs (eg Stanbury PSP at MGH).
totally for people pursuing their dreams. as LizzyM said, if a year away will give you one more year with family before you dive into med school, the advantages of that are priceless and a year is not much in the grand scheme of things.