I am entering medical school this August. Last year, I applied for a Rhodes Scholarship. I was lucky enough to be selected for an interview. I did well in the interview, but fell just short of getting it. I'm looking to reapply this year as I feel my chances are better. However, I'm aware of the situation with M1+M2 leading up to Step 1. In the event I get a Rhodes, I would have to take off only one year between M1 and M2. Would this substantially complicate things, or just be a minor bump on the road? If I got it, could I simply spend a little time each day [during my time at Oxford] reviewing the material I already learned during M1? Would be interested in current medical students' thoughts.
Taking a year off from M1 and M2?
- Thread starter Solara
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You had to look up the Rhodes Scholarship?
Taking off the time will NOT affect your board scores. The stuff during first year is super low yield for Step 1. If you think you have a shot, definitely apply.
Yes, why would you expect a person to know about Rhode's Scholarship? Why would something like that be common knowledge, for a person whom didn't spend their entire college career looking for ways to look down on others for not getting every academic accolade.
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If your school has a traditional curriculum, and they'll let you take the time off, then sure not a big deal to take a year off.
Keep in mind there are many schools that no longer have a traditional curriculum (especially higher ranked ones) so you need to look into what the school you are attending has set up.
There are the ones with 1st year being all of your basic science, then second being clinical rotations and 3rd research. There are the 1.5 yr basic science ones. There are the systems based curricula where you start path on day 1. There are the hybrid systems/basic science curricula.
So really, it depends where you are going to attend school.
Thank you for your response. You also made me realize the most important question to ask: will I even be allowed to take a year off in the event I do even get one. A Rhodes can also be beneficial for the university of a winner, so I hope they let me apply for it.
Are the ones you're referring to Duke and Emory's curricula? I've heard of those before, I wonder why most schools don't look into that (especially those with research opportunities for their students).
Perhaps it shouldn't be deemed common knowledge, but it's arguably one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, so that might be why a lot of people know about it. Bill Clinton, Bobby Jindahl, and Cory Booker, for instance, were Rhodes Scholars (not that everyone knows all those names, but Bill Clinton is a good example). Most universities will have some person or office that encourages students to apply.
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They'll probably let you do it if you have time. Medical schools generally have no problems letting people take time off if you're doing it to go do research, get another degree, (do a Rhodes scholarship), etc.
Whenever I see MD/PhDs done, the 4 year PhD is done between M2 and M3, after you've taken your boards. People who do Masters degrees (e.g. one year MBAs in a combined program) do it after M3. I was initially thinking a school might raise concern doing it between M1 and M2 since it may negatively affect a student's board scores or medical training, but based on some of the feedback I've gotten in this thread, it appears it should be okay.
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Apply for it. If your school doesn't let you take a year off to be a Rhode's scholar they are F*** ridiculous. I would be shocked if they wouldn't accommodate you in some way.
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First off, it's not the "Rhode's" scholarship. It's the Rhodes Scholarship.
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil John Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for selected foreign students to study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as Time, Yale University Press, The McGill Reporter, and Associated Press.
Rhodes Scholars may study any full-time postgraduate course offered by the University, whether a taught Masters programme, a research degree, or a second undergraduate degree (senior status). In the first instance, the scholarship is awarded for two years. However, it may also be held for one year or three years. Applications for a third year are considered during the course of the second year.
University and College fees are paid by the Rhodes Trust. In addition, Scholars receive a monthly maintenance stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses. Although all scholars become affiliated with a residential college while at Oxford, they also enjoy access to Rhodes House, an early 20th century mansion with numerous public rooms, gardens, a library, study areas, and other facilities.
Known as an old and prestigious international graduate scholarship, the Rhodes Scholarships are administered and awarded by the Rhodes Trust, which was established in 1902 under the terms and conditions of the will of Cecil John Rhodes, and funded by his estate under the administration of Nathan Rothschild. Scholarships have been awarded to applicants annually since 1902 on the basis of academic achievement and strength of character. There have been more than 7,000 Rhodes Scholars since the inception of the Trust. More than 4,000 are still living.
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