Staring MS1 after one year off...

[ngkats]

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For those who took a year off (that didn't involved science lecture/learning/etc.) before medical school:

was the medical school environment particularly hard to get used to?

I've been off for a year and, while I was employed in a molecular biology lab, haven't really had my brain tested like in undergrad (via lectures, exams, problem sets, etc.). I'm concerned that--compared to me--those entering MS1 directly from undergrad will still have more relevant material stored in their brain and be used to the learning/lecture environment in general.

Any thoughts?

 

[phospho]

yup, sort of worried about that too... at least you were in a molecular biology lab... I've been working in finance + getting hammered every other night for the last year (i.e. brain atrophy😀), so I'm a bit worried about the kind of adjustment I'll be having to make in a few weeks.

I keep telling myself that they accepted us for a reason - so here's to hoping they know what they're doing😀

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I took a couple years off, and I was pretty rusty. But I made the adjustment and got on track.

I am inclined to think that finance will prepare you better than a molecular biology, because it teaches you how to take a beating, which is more important in med school than running electrophoresis assays and ****.

 

[ensuii]

I taught in the classroom for the last two years and I was worried about it too. I started reading my old Biochem textbook but said f it after the second chapter.

 

[ngkats]

I keep telling myself that they accepted us for a reason - so here's to hoping they know what they're doing😀

Same thing I say to myself...

 

[psipsina]

I took two years off in between and don't think it hurt my performance at all. The jump from undergrad to medschool is such a massive adjustment anyway that recent undergrad skill usage is rather worthless. If anything you'll appreciate your freedom during the first two years more if you've operated in real adult schedules instead of feeling put upon as someone fresh out of undergrad might.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Einstein really said that something was lame? That's awesome.

 

[bodonid]

i would say for most people (and for me), one year won't hurt you much at all. There is a world of difference, though, between 1 year and two.

 

[slick27]

I've taken three years off now, but I took the mcat after being out of undergrad for two years. I still got a 29 so i'm not worried about starting med school.

 

[arroser]

For those who took a year off (that didn't involved science lecture/learning/etc.) before medical school:

was the medical school environment particularly hard to get used to?

I've been off for a year and, while I was employed in a molecular biology lab, haven't really had my brain tested like in undergrad (via lectures, exams, problem sets, etc.). I'm concerned that--compared to me--those entering MS1 directly from undergrad will still have more relevant material stored in their brain and be used to the learning/lecture environment in general.

Any thoughts?

I took two years off (am now a week into third year) and was a humanities major - I firmly believe success in basic sciences has nothing to do with the amount of information you have "stored" from undergrad and everything to do with your enthusiasm for starting. After two years out of school in the workforce, I was EXTREMELY excited to finally start med school. I didn't mind working my butt off since at least I wasn't working anymore, and even biochem was much better than data entry. Work on getting excited about first year, not prestudying. That's the best advice I have for any MS0. I honored most of my first year classes and all my second year classes - don't let anyone tell you just because you aren't fresh from undergrad that you can't succeed.

 

[phospho]

I took two years off (am now a week into third year) and was a humanities major - I firmly believe success in basic sciences has nothing to do with the amount of information you have "stored" from undergrad and everything to do with your enthusiasm for starting. After two years out of school in the workforce, I was EXTREMELY excited to finally start med school. I didn't mind working my butt off since at least I wasn't working anymore, and even biochem was much better than data entry. Work on getting excited about first year, not prestudying. That's the best advice I have for any MS0. I honored most of my first year classes and all my second year classes - don't let anyone tell you just because you aren't fresh from undergrad that you can't succeed.

I am also a humanities major, so I was sort of worried.

thank you so much for your post!

 

[olemissbabydoc]

arroser - thanks for the encouragement 🙂 it means a lot.

 

[Tensyle]

For those who took a year off (that didn't involved science lecture/learning/etc.) before medical school:

was the medical school environment particularly hard to get used to?

I've been off for a year and, while I was employed in a molecular biology lab, haven't really had my brain tested like in undergrad (via lectures, exams, problem sets, etc.). I'm concerned that--compared to me--those entering MS1 directly from undergrad will still have more relevant material stored in their brain and be used to the learning/lecture environment in general.

Any thoughts?

yup, sort of worried about that too... at least you were in a molecular biology lab... I've been working in finance + getting hammered every other night for the last year (i.e. brain atrophy😀), so I'm a bit worried about the kind of adjustment I'll be having to make in a few weeks.

I keep telling myself that they accepted us for a reason - so here's to hoping they know what they're doing😀

I took a year off to get some real-estate experience. I was worried too but I realized that when I started studying, I was really motivated and excited to get back into the grind of studying and exams. It may take you 1-2 weeks, but you'll soon get in the zooone 😎

 

[ngkats]

I took two years off (am now a week into third year) and was a humanities major - I firmly believe success in basic sciences has nothing to do with the amount of information you have "stored" from undergrad and everything to do with your enthusiasm for starting. After two years out of school in the workforce, I was EXTREMELY excited to finally start med school. I didn't mind working my butt off since at least I wasn't working anymore, and even biochem was much better than data entry. Work on getting excited about first year, not prestudying. That's the best advice I have for any MS0. I honored most of my first year classes and all my second year classes - don't let anyone tell you just because you aren't fresh from undergrad that you can't succeed.

Best advice I've heard yet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts--they're very helpful.

 

[novastorm]

It's just more school, more than likely if you were chosen by an adcom you will be fine.

 

[Jolie South]

I took two years off (am now a week into third year) and was a humanities major - I firmly believe success in basic sciences has nothing to do with the amount of information you have "stored" from undergrad and everything to do with your enthusiasm for starting. After two years out of school in the workforce, I was EXTREMELY excited to finally start med school. I didn't mind working my butt off since at least I wasn't working anymore, and even biochem was much better than data entry. Work on getting excited about first year, not prestudying. That's the best advice I have for any MS0. I honored most of my first year classes and all my second year classes - don't let anyone tell you just because you aren't fresh from undergrad that you can't succeed.

Totally agree with this and I was more than 5 years out of undergrad when I started. You'll be fine.

 

[CantFigure1Out]

I took two years off (am now a week into third year) and was a humanities major - I firmly believe success in basic sciences has nothing to do with the amount of information you have "stored" from undergrad and everything to do with your enthusiasm for starting. After two years out of school in the workforce, I was EXTREMELY excited to finally start med school. I didn't mind working my butt off since at least I wasn't working anymore, and even biochem was much better than data entry. Work on getting excited about first year, not prestudying. That's the best advice I have for any MS0. I honored most of my first year classes and all my second year classes - don't let anyone tell you just because you aren't fresh from undergrad that you can't succeed.

I also could not agree with this more! I'm finishing up my year off, and I am BURNING with excitement about med school, as opposed to just being burnt out like I might have been coming straight from college.

I also worked a draining, (to say the least,) gray-collar job during the time, and I think it's an advantage because there's nothing like working such a job for 8+ hours everyday to make you come crawling back to school, freshly motivated to work hard and do well.

Quite seriously, after the year I've had, even chaining myself to a library desk for nine hours a day seems like a joyride, compared to laboring for eight. Not to mention, 5 continuous hrs of lecture/lab/etc a day, while the notion scared me in undergrad, now seems like a cakewalk compared to those 8 hrs. Surely this will translate into a drive to do well.

When I enter those hallowed lecture halls for the first time this August, I will fall to my knees and lavish the floor with kisses. After this year, that's just how deep my feelings run. 🙂

 

[ngkats]

When I enter those hallowed lecture halls for the first time this August, I will fall to my knees and lavish the floor with kisses. After this year, that's just how deep my feelings run. 🙂

While I appreciate the sentiment, I don't think I'll necessarily be doing the same. But, yes, I am excited to leave the workforce for the lifestyle of a student (even a med student).

 

[Real Name]

I took 2 years off after undergrad. I think it actually gave me an advantage over ppl who just came out of undergrad, because I was not burnt out and had more "real world" experience. I did very well first year. I am in the top quartile of my class. I'm married and have two cats and a dog as well 🙂

 

[ensuii]

I took 2 years off after undergrad. I think it actually gave me an advantage over ppl who just came out of undergrad, because I was not burnt out and had more "real world" experience. I did very well first year. I am in the top quartile of my class. I'm married and have two cats and a dog as well 🙂

Wow! I was thinking about getting a cat but thought it would be too much responsibility to balance with med school [/sarcasm]

 

[sprinkibrio]

You will be better off than many of your classmates in terms of motivation to do well. I think you'll have less aversion to working really hard. You might miss your free time more, however. You've learned how to build a life outside of school with hobbies and friends and travel and you have to give a lot up.

Doing well has NOTHING to do with how much you remember from undergrad and EVERYTHING to do with how dedicated you are to learning the material at the sacrifice of other things.

 

[Cerberus]

I was a humanities major in college and took a year off before medschool and I don't think it affected me at all.

 

[Cerberus]

I also could not agree with this more! I'm finishing up my year off, and I am BURNING with excitement about med school, as opposed to just being burnt out like I might have been coming straight from college.

I also worked a draining, (to say the least,) gray-collar job during the time, and I think it's an advantage because there's nothing like working such a job for 8+ hours everyday to make you come crawling back to school, freshly motivated to work hard and do well.

Quite seriously, after the year I've had, even chaining myself to a library desk for nine hours a day seems like a joyride, compared to laboring for eight. Not to mention, 5 continuous hrs of lecture/lab/etc a day, while the notion scared me in undergrad, now seems like a cakewalk compared to those 8 hrs. Surely this will translate into a drive to do well.

When I enter those hallowed lecture halls for the first time this August, I will fall to my knees and lavish the floor with kisses. After this year, that's just how deep my feelings run. 🙂

Oh premeds are so so naive

 

[CantFigure1Out]

Oh premeds are so so naive

Cerberus, you make it seem like there's something wrong about naivete🙂

 

[lukgirl]

I'm starting next month, several years post-undergrad too. I'm a little bit nervous, but like other posters have expressed, mostly excited! I also know that since undergrad, I've completed a Master's degree (not hard-core science but definitely rigorous coursework) and have now worked a few years in the "real world." My current job has been very demanding (sometimes requiring me to work more hours than US medical residents are allowed to work)--so from that perspective, I'm hoping med school may feel liberating. I'm going into med school knowing that 's where I want to be (not just as a logical step after undergrad), and I think that will also really help.

The only thing that scares me is that most of my science pre-reqs were now six or seven years ago (eeek!), but I'm sure my excitement and experience will offset that.

 

[go lakers]

Took 1 year off to do research and apply; The first 2-3 months of MS1 did feel like serious adjustment for me. It took that much time to regain the efficiency I used to have while studying. By 3 months in, it felt like "good" ol times.

 

[jamesq]

im starting next month too and even though im straight from undergrad I am still worried about the hell that awaits me, yet excited at the same time. I feel like both non-trads and grads alike go through this and is more universal than most think.