Taking a Leave During Medical School

[noodlelover2233]

Is it uncommon to take a one year leave of absence during medical school to pursue a non-medicine-related fellowship or job? Would taking a leave hurt your application for residency? I'm a senior in college, and I've been accepted to medical school for the coming fall. I'm debating whether I want to defer my matriculation for a year to pursue other things, since I feel that I'd be better prepared to start med school this way.

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[qw098]

Is it uncommon to take a one year leave of absence during medical school to pursue a non-medicine-related fellowship or job? Would taking a leave hurt your application for residency? I'm a senior in college, and I've been accepted to medical school for the coming fall. I'm debating whether I want to defer my matriculation for a year to pursue other things, since I feel that I'd be better prepared to start med school this way.

I've heard some people doing this. However, you usually need a good reason for wanting to defer matriculation by a year. Taking a one year leave of absence before medical school commences shouldn't affect your residency application.

Why are you interested in taking a one year leave of absence before school starts? Relax a bit before the onslaught begins? Probably a smart decision in retrospect... considering you will have the full year to truly relax as you will have peace of mind knowing you have already been accepted into medical school.

 

[operaman]

Deferring prior to matriculation shouldn't matter at all and likely won't even be reported. Schools only consider time since matriculation when calculating how long it took for you to earn the degree. You might get asked about it, but likely more for curiosity about what you did. You will definitely need a good reason as schools don't just grant these deferrals for a year of relaxation.

Taking a year off during med school doesn't really matter either unless there was something shady going on. Many people take a research year; others take a year due to family illness; others take a year for military service; others take a year off for other personal/professional reasons.

 

[Ismet]

Deferring a year is not the same as a leave of absence. If you don't matriculate, there's nothing from which to take a leave of absence. You are not a medical student until you matriculate. Deferring just means you defer your acceptance to matriculate the following year.

 

[noodlelover2233]

Just to clarify - I'm considering deferring my matriculation by a year, but if I don't defer, I'm asking about taking a leave of absence in case I regret not deferring a year. My original post was confusing. @qw098 I wanted to defer a year to meet more people and pursue other interests (travel, finance, fellowships, non-profits, politics, hobbies), since I don't feel quite ready to enter med school yet. @operaman would taking a leave of absence not hurt my chances of getting into the more competitive residency specialties?

 

[qw098]

Oh ok - understood.

Considering you want to travel, finance, politics, hobbies... I recommend you try to defer matriculation as this won't show up on your dossier. You will have to phrase your reasons for wanting to defer very creatively if you hope your request be accepted.

Taking a leave of absence might hurt your chances of getting into the more competitive residency specialities... depending what you choose to do with that year. If you use it to do a research year, MPH, or something academic no problem. But if you use it as a "do nothing sit on my ass" type of year 1) this leave of absence probably won't be accepted and if it does 2) It will be a red flag

 

[operaman]

Yup, what he said.

 

[deleted480308]

You phrased the reason as wanting to be better prepared for medical school......if you got accepted, you are prepared.

What exactly do you want to do with this year?

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Oh ok - understood.

Considering you want to travel, finance, politics, hobbies... I recommend you try to defer matriculation as this won't show up on your dossier. You will have to phrase your reasons for wanting to defer very creatively if you hope your request be accepted.

Taking a leave of absence might hurt your chances of getting into the more competitive residency specialities... depending what you choose to do with that year. If you use it to do a research year, MPH, or something academic no problem. But if you use it as a "do nothing sit on my ass" type of year 1) this leave of absence probably won't be accepted and if it does 2) It will be a red flag

Just out of curiosity, not to derail the thread. But would a gap year after med school but before residency be considered a LOA? Also would the same idea apply? MPH/research is fine but anything non-medical related might be frowned upon?

 

[qw098]

Just out of curiosity, not to derail the thread. But would a gap year after med school but before residency be considered a LOA? Also would the same idea apply? MPH/research is fine but anything non-medical related might be frowned upon?

It would not be considered a LOA. However, a MPH/research after graduation might raise eyebrows in some circles considering it might look like you didn't get your dream residency spot so you are taking a year to pump up your CV. None the less, taking that extra year off after med school to do MPH/research shouldn't hurt you and will help you considering you are indeed pumping your resume. All these things come down to how you sell yourself.

Non-medical related thing will probably hurt you. It shows you aren't committed to medicine. It's probably a healthy idea to take a year off after med to travel, hobbies etc... but unfortunately life isn't fair.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

It would not be considered a LOA. However, a MPH/research after graduation might raise eyebrows in some circles considering it might look like you didn't get your dream residency spot so you are taking a year to pump up your CV. None the less, taking that extra year off after med school to do MPH/research shouldn't hurt you and will help you considering you are indeed pumping your resume. All these things come down to how you sell yourself.

Non-medical related thing will probably hurt you. It shows you aren't committed to medicine. It's probably a healthy idea to take a year off after med to travel, hobbies etc... but unfortunately life isn't fair.

Aw that's unfortunate taking time off for travel and hobbies is looked down upon. Clears a lot up though, thank you!

 

[ACSurgeon]

It would not be considered a LOA. However, a MPH/research after graduation might raise eyebrows in some circles considering it might look like you didn't get your dream residency spot so you are taking a year to pump up your CV. None the less, taking that extra year off after med school to do MPH/research shouldn't hurt you and will help you considering you are indeed pumping your resume. All these things come down to how you sell yourself.

Non-medical related thing will probably hurt you. It shows you aren't committed to medicine. It's probably a healthy idea to take a year off after med to travel, hobbies etc... but unfortunately life isn't fair.

Not sure this is true. Taking a year off after medical school will likely hurt your chances, as you'd be applying as an independent rather than senior medical student. I'd consult with a program director before making that move.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Deferring prior to matriculation shouldn't matter at all and likely won't even be reported. Schools only consider time since matriculation when calculating how long it took for you to earn the degree. You might get asked about it, but likely more for curiosity about what you did. You will definitely need a good reason as schools don't just grant these deferrals for a year of relaxation.

Taking a year off during med school doesn't really matter either unless there was something shady going on. Many people take a research year; others take a year due to family illness; others take a year for military service; others take a year off for other personal/professional reasons.

Actually, some schools offer deferment to all accepted students (obviously they only grant a few). So depending on the school and the number of students interested in deferring, the difficulty may vary. Finally, some schools accept more applicants than they have seats, and thus want people to defer (I had a classmate who was granted free tuition for one year as incentive to defer for one year because of this issue- he did nothing productive that year).

 

[ACSurgeon]

.

 

[WingedOx]

Stafford loans are what? 6.8% interest? Take the leave first if it's available to you.