Regretting not taking a couple of gap years

[md123123]

Hey everyone,

I am finishing up my undergrad degree this year and have been accepted to a couple of MD schools so far. However, I am starting to regret not taking a couple of gap years to experience things outside of medicine. I understand that financially it makes sense to go straight through, but I have also heard that people who start at 25 are usually more mature and that the year or 2 off can help prevent burnout. If I were to not matriculate next year, would I pretty much be blacklisted from MD schools if a reapplied in 2-3 years?

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[efle]

Yeah you do NOT want to fail to matriculate after getting an acceptance. Go!

 

[deleted781806]

If I were to not matriculate next year, would I pretty much be blacklisted from MD schools if a reapplied in 2-3 years?

Yes. You've gotten acceptances this cycle and are therefore stuck with it, unless you want the almost impossible uphill climb of re-applying after refusing an acceptance to *multiple* schools. Sorry, but the time to decide for a gap year is well passed.

 

[meddesire]

This thread is so ridiculous bc a lot of people really wanted to get in but couldn't but this thread was just about the opposite.
No need to think...medicine is on your way now! Go!

 

[flip_08]

I really enjoyed the experiences I had during my gaps years, but you're already in so just go for it. You could ask about deferring for a year but you'd need a reason better than wanting a year off.

Also unless you have parents willing to finance your activities during the gap year you'd have to get a job and deal with all of that nonsense. You're much better off to just go with what you've got.

 

[flyingeagle]

If you absolutely need the time, you can ask your intended med school if you can defer your matriculation for a year, though you'll need a good reason

 

[MoDiddy]

MAN UP dude!

 

[azmang108]

If you don't want to go straight in, then don't. Keep in mind that there are thousands of individuals who would do most anything to take your place. Burnout happens to everyone eventually, now whether it hits in medical school, residency, or as an attending no one can say. You've earned yourself a golden ticket and if you want to throw it away do it sooner than later so that someone who values the opportunity gets moved off the wait list.

 

[cactusman]

If you don't want to go straight in, then don't. Keep in mind that there are thousands of individuals who would do most anything to take your place. Burnout happens to everyone eventually, now whether it hits in medical school, residency, or as an attending no one can say. You've earned yourself a golden ticket and if you want to throw it away do it sooner than later so that someone who values the opportunity gets moved off the wait list.

I think that's a bit harsh. Clearly OP cares about going into medicine or they wouldn't be asking about the possibility of reapplying with in a few years.

 

[deleted781806]

I think that's a bit harsh. Clearly OP cares about going into medicine or they wouldn't be asking about the possibility of reapplying with in a few years.

While harsh, it is a somewhat a fair position to take. Unless OP has a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to merit a year deferral, to think of turning down this opportunity just to have a couple of years off is a little ridiculous (and ill-advised).

 

[auferstehen92]

Given your current situation, I would definitely go to medical school without the gap year.

For what it's worth, I've taken 3 years in between my undergrad and medical school, and although I've had some amazing experiences, it hasn't all been traveling and self-enrichment. You pay a price one way or the other.

 

[elliejellybean]

Yes. You've gotten acceptances this cycle and are therefore stuck with it, unless you want the almost impossible uphill climb of re-applying after refusing an acceptance to *multiple* schools. Sorry, but the time to decide for a gap year is well passed.

Isn't deferring a thing?

 

[deleted781806]

Isn't deferring a thing?

Like I said later on, deferring for a year is generally reserved to "once in a lifetime" opportunities. Sure, it varies by school, but you generally have to have a pretty concrete plan of what you need to accomplish before matriculation to defer a year, not just wanting time off to have more general life experiences. For example, a friend of mine was able to defer until next year for matriculation but it was because she's going to be a freaking Rhodes Scholar.

*Edit*: OP would have to already have a solid plan in place and probably would have already needed to apply for positions/experiences that would have qualified for a one-year deferral. In the absence of that it's time to go this year or to never go at all.