Should I take a year off?

[Morphogenesis]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am seriously debating whether I should take a year off and apply the summer after I graduate, or to apply this summer to MSTP programs. My notable stats are:

Cumulative GPA: 3.9
Science GPA: 3.9
MCAT: *taking in may (35 on latest practice test)

(if it matters)..
White
First-generation
Low-income

Research: 2 yrs + 1 summer in same lab. No publications yet, but will be writing paper this summer (1st author) and will be on second paper by next spring (2nd author). I have two local talks, two local poster presentations, and one poster presentation at international conference.

Teaching: TA for 3 courses (I really enjoy teaching).

Health Related: some physician shadowing and hospital volunteering; health policy minor.

Other: president of tutoring club and journal club, service fellowship (150+ local service hours per year), journal clubs, advising, etc.

My question is am I seriously competitive at top 10 MSTP programs right now, or would it significantly help my application to take a year off (I’ll have two pubs by then) and apply (I would continue research during my year off)? I really feel prepared and want to apply this summer, but I want my best chance at getting into a great program.

 

[debateg]

You're competitive. Are you competitive to get into a top 10 program? Probably. Are you competitive to get into every top 10 program? Probably not; no one is. Would taking a year off improve your application? Almost certainly; the more research the better. Would taking a year off improve your application enough to be worth it? Probably not, although it may be nice to get some time off to earn a little money and travel before applying.

There's really no good academic reason to delay your application. Apply to top 10 and a range of lower tier schools with some safety schools as well, and you will likely have an acceptance. Don't get your heart set on a top 10 school though. As you pursue this career, and a medical career in general, you have to let that notion go. You may be the valedictorian of your school and always have been the best since childhood. Now you're just the middle or bottom of the pack. The competition just got a lot more fierce. Accept it. Good luck.

 

[Neuronix]

My question is am I seriously competitive at top 10 MSTP programs right now

The question you should be asking is whether you are competitive for MSTP. You could be an "ideal" applicant and still not land at a "top 10" MSTP (whichever those are...) due to the randomness inherent in the process.

Still, the answer is: yes you're competitive. Still, I would apply more broadly than just the top 10 research medical schools in the usnews rankings. I would not take a year or two out just to make yourself more competitive. In my opinion, the long-term gain of going to MSTP ranked #30 vs ranked #5 is very little.

 

[miz]

in my opinion you will be more competitive in a year. is it worth it/are you already competitive enough? that's up to you.
honestly, if I were you I'd take the research year, save some money, and negotiate a few months, maybe the summer, to go travel and have fun before starting school. The gap year of research would actually be an incentive for me, not something I had to do to improve my chances.

Neuronix- I see this theme where you recommend people start early so they can finish earlier- but isn't it valuable to have a chance to relax, travel, be young and lack concrete responsibilities before starting this career?
My gap year will probably be the only time in my life where I was able to focus on research without feeling any pressure to publish. I also took a month to travel with friends before starting school. If I'd started a year earlier, I probably never would get to do these things; it'd just mean I'd start my career a year earlier. That year is much more valuable to me now at age 23 than it would be after the MD/PhD at age ~30.
Of course I don't have the benefit of being 30 and looking back. But I suspect I will remember that year fondly even a decade from now.

 

[promoterrbs]

I agree on the merits of taking a year off before applying. In addition, consider that for MD/PhD you will likely be doing a lot of secondaries and later traveling for interviews. This can take up a LOT of time, something that may be a problem for those still in school and juggling classes, extra-curriculars, research, etc.

 

[Morphogenesis]

Thanks for the responses. I understand where you are all coming from. Taking a year off would add some research experience and give me the chance to relax and focus on applications, but if those experiences during that year don't make me significantly more competitive, to me it does not seem worth it. I'm actually anxious to start the MD/PhD and don't simply view it as starting my career one year earlier. It is more like starting what I enjoy doing one year earlier. As far as time to relax goes, my senior year will not be very tough at all, other than secondaries and interviews. I anticipate having ample to time to relax and travel spring semester. The only reason I am considering a year off is because I'm afraid the admissions will potentially view my research as inadequate without any pubs after working in the same lab for 2 years. I personally feel prepared to be successful in any program, but it is a matter of weather the admissions committee will think so as well.

 

[Neuronix]

Neuronix- I see this theme where you recommend people start early so they can finish earlier- but isn't it valuable to have a chance to relax, travel, be young and lack concrete responsibilities before starting this career?

It depends on context. The op is asking if a year will make them significantly more competitive. IMO, it won't.

In the other thread the op wants two more years to do research and decide on MD/PhD. I consider both the research and extra time needed to decide wasteful.

Neither of these involve relaxing, traveling, and lacking responsibility. Working in a lab for pay is a responsibility akin to PhD lab work.

Also, during my MD/PhD program I visited 17 countries and skied about 150 days, among other activities. Life doesn't stop when you start MD/PhD training.

 

[obscurehero]

Thanks for the responses. I understand where you are all coming from. Taking a year off would add some research experience and give me the chance to relax and focus on applications, but if those experiences during that year don't make me significantly more competitive, to me it does not seem worth it. I'm actually anxious to start the MD/PhD and don't simply view it as starting my career one year earlier. It is more like starting what I enjoy doing one year earlier. As far as time to relax goes, my senior year will not be very tough at all, other than secondaries and interviews. I anticipate having ample to time to relax and travel spring semester. The only reason I am considering a year off is because I'm afraid the admissions will potentially view my research as inadequate without any pubs after working in the same lab for 2 years. I personally feel prepared to be successful in any program, but it is a matter of weather the admissions committee will think so as well.

If you're anxious now, just wait until you get into the program...

I agree with the other posters. Mostly, debateg hit the nail on the head. Your chances at really being that much more competitive taking a year off is unlikely. I would apply broadly, however.

 

[miz]

Neither of these involve relaxing, traveling, and lacking responsibility. Working in a lab for pay is a responsibility akin to PhD lab work.

Also, during my MD/PhD program I visited 17 countries and skied about 150 days, among other activities. Life doesn't stop when you start MD/PhD training.

I liked working in a lab for pay because I no longer had to worry about keeping up with coursework and grades and could spend that time thinking about science. I found that really liberating and it made me more productive. I didn't have a lot of responsibilities in the sense that I had no children, didn't own a house, my lease was month to month, etc. I did have the benefit of a great boss who encouraged me to try stuff I wanted to try and to spend time visiting family and friends.
As much as I like medical school, I find it challenging and I doubt I'll be able to relax to that degree without my comprehension/learning suffering 🙂