Straight into Med School

[HereWeGo21]

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What percent of matriculants come straight from undergrad (as opposed to taking year(s) off?) What are the benefits or downsides?

 

[eizeral]

Feeling burnt out is a downside I'd imagine. Being a doctor at 26 would prob be an upside.

 

[Aerus]

Regarding going straight into med school, some stuff I have considered myself:

Benefits:

-You become a doctor at a younger age, making a physician's salary earlier.
-You can become settled earlier (which may matter a lot to the women who want to have children).
-You will finish residency just as your biological "intellectual peak" passes by.

Cons:

-Burning out from non-stop schooling.
-Not being able to truly enjoy your time off of school (Undergrad->Med School->Residency->Job).
-Less life experience than others who have taken a year off.
-You are at a "maturity disadvantage" when you apply.

 

[Say]

I'm graduating a year early from college, and I've been accepted to the class of 2018. I will turn 21 the summer before I start medical school, which means I'll be 24 when I graduate. I don't really feel burnt out, as I am invigorated by knowing I will finally learn something applicable to my future. The only downside I feel is that I will have to part with some of my close college friends a year early. The pros are obvious: I'll be young and with less debt. Also I will be making doctor's salary (perhaps specialist?) before 30.

 

[BlueLabel]

Right guys because the joys of joining the workforce are oh-so-relaxing after the harrowing and incomparably exhausting college gauntlet.

I don't think "burnout" is a relevant objection to going straight from undergrad as few people use gap years strictly for leisure.

 

[BlueLabel]

Also I don't know the exact percentage but I believe a plurality of matriculants are 24-25.

 

[Dr McSexy]

What are the benefits or downsides?

In the age where a lot of graduates are pursuing fellowships in one form or another making your training experience post-graduation 5+ years in many cases, I'd want to be in and out of medical school as quick as possible.

 

[darkjedi]

only 40% of my class are straight through. the rest had taken time off to do something else, whether it was research or coming from an entirely different career as I have. There is a pretty distinct difference between those who have taken time off and those who went straight through.

 

[pre med 2014]

Right guys because the joys of joining the workforce are oh-so-relaxing after the harrowing and incomparably exhausting college gauntlet.

I don't think "burnout" is a relevant objection to going straight from undergrad as few people use gap years strictly for leisure.

Ehhh grass is always greener. Working my butt off now full time want to get back to school, once I'm in med school using debt money to reload my Starbucks card I'm gonna be missing the days of working full time.

 

[BlueLabel]

Ehhh grass is always greener. Working my butt off now full time want to get back to school, once I'm in med school using debt money to reload my Starbucks card I'm gonna be missing the days of working full time.

You think so? I guess it depends on your salary. Personally I don't think I'm living too much higher on the hog than I will be if/when I matriculate. Definitely situation dependent though.

The point I was trying to make is that medical school is probably going to be a challenge whether you've spent the previous year taking tests/writing lab reports or working/commuting/paying rent. And what about all the people that take time off to do post-bacc work/ SMP, or TFA/americorps/peace corps?

TLDR gap years aren't all about parasailing through the tropics

 

[darkmb101]

only 40% of my class are straight through. the rest had taken time off to do something else, whether it was research or coming from an entirely different career as I have. There is a pretty distinct difference between those who have taken time off and those who went straight through.

What's the difference between the two groups?