taking time off after pod school

[alparkeruab]

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Is it common or possible for someone to take a year or more off after pod school to get married, relocate to move in with their spouse who was geographically separated from them, etc.? Would it look bad to residency programs to take time off for these reasons?

 

[podoc123]

I'm not positive, but I think you will have to start repaying loans within 6 months or so after school ends, so you'll have to come up with the money to pay those off. Secondly, if you go directly into residency you can get your loans deferred until you finish that, but if wait the 6 months and are forced to begin repayment, then I don't think you can defer once you start residency. This is my understanding of it, so if someone has more experience with this please correct me if I'm wrong

 

[alparkeruab]

I'm not positive, but I think you will have to start repaying loans within 6 months or so after school ends, so you'll have to come up with the money to pay those off. Secondly, if you go directly into residency you can get your loans deferred until you finish that, but if wait the 6 months and are forced to begin repayment, then I don't think you can defer once you start residency. This is my understanding of it, so if someone has more experience with this please correct me if I'm wrong

Thanks for the info, but do you know if taking this year off would limit or jeopardize someone's residency chances/possibilities? I'm basically wondering if people do this at all, and how they made it work..

 

[Feli]

Thanks for the info, but do you know if taking this year off would limit or jeopardize someone's residency chances/possibilities? I'm basically wondering if people do this at all, and how they made it work..

It has certainly been done before, the the results have probably been mixed. You could ask mods to move this to residents' forum and maybe find someone who could give more insight.

I'd be sure to bear in mind that the ratio of graduates to entry level spots changes every year. For example, if you were graduating this coming '09 year but chose to take a year off and participate in the '10 match instead, you'd be forgoing a year with a nearly 1:1 ratio for a year when there is a projected shortage of entry level spots (making things significantly more competitive for the good spots - and even a spot at all). That's obviously not advisable. On the other hand, if you were to graduate back in 06 and took a year off, the 07 match was possibly a bit less competitive due to lowest grad:spot ratio in a long time with roughly 100 spots going unfilled even after scramble.

There is also the financial reasoning mentioned; you will probably be in a lot of debt, have interest piling up rapidly, and be looking to keep pushing through by the time you reach pod school graduation. Furthermore, unless you have pretty solid grades, "I took a year off after graduation" may very well be interpreted at a residency interview as "I couldn't get any decent program last year and am trying again." Lastly, the point of 4th year clerkships is to prepare you for residency; a year off could make you a bit rusty for boards and the duties you will have as a resident.

If you need a year off, you may consider taking that vacation time before pod school starts, not after.

 

[alparkeruab]

It has certainly been done before, the the results have probably been mixed. You could ask mods to move this to residents' forum and maybe find someone who could give more insight.

I'd be sure to bear in mind that the ratio of graduates to entry level spots changes every year. For example, if you were graduating this coming '09 year but chose to take a year off and participate in the '10 match instead, you'd be forgoing a year with a nearly 1:1 ratio for a year when there is a projected shortage of entry level spots (making things significantly more competitive for the good spots - and even a spot at all). That's obviously not advisable. On the other hand, if you were to graduate back in 06 and took a year off, the 07 match was possibly a bit less competitive due to lowest grad:spot ratio in a long time with roughly 100 spots going unfilled even after scramble.

There is also the financial reasoning mentioned; you will probably be in a lot of debt, have interest piling up rapidly, and be looking to keep pushing through by the time you reach pod school graduation. Furthermore, unless you have pretty solid grades, "I took a year off after graduation" may very well be interpreted at a residency interview as "I couldn't get any decent program last year and am trying again." Lastly, the point of 4th year clerkships is to prepare you for residency; a year off could make you a bit rusty for boards and the duties you will have as a resident.

If you need a year off, you may consider taking that vacation time before pod school starts, not after.

But assuming that the financial situation could be worked out, taking a year off for good reasons wouldn't destroy your chances at getting a residency spot, right? (Assuming that this was an average to good student in pod school, with average board scores)

 

[alparkeruab]

Is it common or possible for someone to take a year or more off after pod school to get married, relocate to move in with their spouse who was geographically separated from them, etc.? Would it look bad to residency programs to take time off for these reasons (This question is assuming that the financial aspects, such as loan debt, etc., could be taken care of)?

Also, when you are applying for residencies can you request to be within a certain geographic region because of your husband/wife, or would they just be expected to relocate with you?

 

[jonwill]

Is it common or possible for someone to take a year or more off after pod school to get married, relocate to move in with their spouse who was geographically separated from them, etc.? Would it look bad to residency programs to take time off for these reasons (This question is assuming that the financial aspects, such as loan debt, etc., could be taken care of)?

Also, when you are applying for residencies can you request to be within a certain geographic region because of your husband/wife, or would they just be expected to relocate with you?

It is not common to take time off after pod school. The match is fairly competitive. Not to mention that, unless you are in residency, you'll have to start paying loans off.

I'm not quite sure how to answer your second question. I'm not sure what you are asking exactly. You apply to the residencies that you want. If you want to apply to only residencies in a certain geographical area, you are more than welcome to do so. But wherever you match, you obviously have to go so logically, so would your spouse. I don't think most residency programs really care whether you are married or not.

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

Same post is in Residents forum. Merging to that location...

 

[SportPOD]

Is it common or possible for someone to take a year or more off after pod school to get married, relocate to move in with their spouse who was geographically separated from them, etc.? Would it look bad to residency programs to take time off for these reasons (This question is assuming that the financial aspects, such as loan debt, etc., could be taken care of)?

Also, when you are applying for residencies can you request to be within a certain geographic region because of your husband/wife, or would they just be expected to relocate with you?

In the eyes of a residency director, they are looking for a body to fill the spot for the year that you are selected. So, if you are selected to start residency July 2009, the contract is written for you to start on July 2009. If you feel you need to have time off for a year, you can take the year off, but you shouldn't participate in the match and take a slot that can be given to another student who WILL fill that slot for the year he is selected.

You cannot request to be in a geographic area because of your spouse being matched at a certain other program or work. You have to apply to programs that are close to your spouse if he/she cannot move due to work or he/she is applying to programs in a certain area.