Taking a year before starting medical school

[derma12]

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I have been thinking about this over the past few days. If I don't use the opportunity to do something for myself, I KNOW I will never find the time to later. I was thinking of traveling abroad for an entire year. Should something about the year off be relevant to medicine? Secondly, when do I apply for schools? I would rather have the MCATs taken care of before I leave. If you have any stories to share, please do. Has this turned out well for any of you? 😳

 

[savant]

How do you plan on doing interviews?

 

[Divine Furor]

Let's see. I took a total of four years between graduating and medical school, although I wasn't 100% committed to MS before doing that (I was still indulging in my roaring twenties). I had a career, traveled in the Middle East and worked there as a volunteer, bartended while studying for my MCATS . . . and generally had a good time. Should what you do in a year off be directly relevant to MS? Maybe. A lot of people will argue yes. My girlfriend, who was on last year's ADCOM, interviewed a lot of fresh-faced newly grads and a handful of people who did interesting non-medical things with their life. Generally, she was more impressed with the people who traveled, led community lives, started families . . . in other words, established their "real-life" credibility with experience. That's not to say new grads don't have what it takes to be great doctors--of course they do! Only you know the limits and peculiarities of your own emotional health, though. The nontrads I know don't complain that they're missing out on being "young," while some of my new-grad friends often bitterly complain that their friends are having a good time while they're slaving away.

 

[derma12]

Let's see. I took a total of four years between graduating and medical school, although I wasn't 100% committed to MS before doing that (I was still indulging in my roaring twenties). I had a career, traveled in the Middle East and worked there as a volunteer, bartended while studying for my MCATS . . . and generally had a good time. Should what you do in a year off be directly relevant to MS? Maybe. A lot of people will argue yes. My girlfriend, who was on last year's ADCOM, interviewed a lot of fresh-faced newly grads and a handful of people who did interesting non-medical things with their life. Generally, she was more impressed with the people who traveled, led community lives, started families . . . in other words, established their "real-life" credibility with experience. That's not to say new grads don't have what it takes to be great doctors--of course they do! Only you know the limits and peculiarities of your own emotional health, though. The nontrads I know don't complain that they're missing out on being "young," while some of my new-grad friends often bitterly complain that their friends are having a good time while they're slaving away.

Well that is reassuring to hear. I don't know quite yet. I have a cousin that lives in Belgium and she has given me an offer to stay with her. However, I would still like to do something productive during that time. I am trying to find some abroad volunteer programs, but we'll see. Thanks for insightful feedback!

 

[derma12]

How do you plan on doing interviews?

I honestly have no idea. I am pretty new to this site so still doing my research. Do you happen to know if they let us interview first and upon acceptance tell them why we want to take a year off?

 

[itsallthesame]

Different schools have different policies regarding deferral. A few won't let you, period. Most will let you with a good reason (usually medical or research related or a very serious family matter) but you need to apply. A few will let anyone defer.

Generally, it is recommended to just take the time off and apply during that time. What you do doesn't have to be medical/research related, BUT you should do something other than apply. Either work full time doing something interesting, travel, volunteer, or do something that you enjoy. Become more interesting.

If you have a strong app, do something fun. Mid/bad, you can take time to make it stronger. Just make sure that you can get to the schools that you applied to from about mid october to march on a 2-3 weeks notice.

 

[146233]

Do something productive (applied loosely), yes. Related to medicine or science, perfectly acceptable but by no means necessary. Enjoy yourself! 🙂

 

[SuperSaiyan3]

go to europe and help out the prostitutes