Taking Time Off

[BigAppleDoc]

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Hey all. I'm completely burnt out. I've been burnt out for a while and it's taking its toll on everything I do in medical school. I'm not used to being a mediocre performer but so far that's what I am and before this gets any worse, I think it's best that I take some time off. I'm in my 3rd year currently. I took step 1, passed, but trust me...my score is nothing to brag about. Since I've already started 3rd year, I don't think I'll be able to just take off a year now. That being said, my options are taking off a year between 3rd and 4th year or just waiting until after I graduate. I don't plan on doing anything to strengthen my application during this time off. Frankly, I want to "go find myself"...figure out what the hell I'm doing all this for. If I still feel I want to do medicine, then maybe I'll come back. Anyone have any advice on what I should do? Can you take off time between finishing med. school and starting residency? If so, how would you participate in match? Can you defer an acceptance to residency like you can with med. school? Please help! 🙂

Thinking I should have become a chef...

BigAppleDoc

 

[Seaglass]

Can you take off time between finishing med. school and starting residency?

Yes

If so, how would you participate in match?

IIRC, you just sign up. There are lots of participants in the match that are not US Seniors.

Can you defer an acceptance to residency like you can with med. school?

No.

I would recommend doing it between 3rd and 4th year because you will be able to come back and get good letters if you decide to stick with medicine, and it will be a little easier to explain.

On the flip side, if you take the time off after 4th year at least you would have the degree to show for it if you decided to do something else. You could be the first Chef that people call "dr."

 

[mpp]

Hey all. I'm completely burnt out. I've been burnt out for a while and it's taking its toll on everything I do in medical school. I'm not used to being a mediocre performer but so far that's what I am and before this gets any worse, I think it's best that I take some time off. I'm in my 3rd year currently. I took step 1, passed, but trust me...my score is nothing to brag about. Since I've already started 3rd year, I don't think I'll be able to just take off a year now. That being said, my options are taking off a year between 3rd and 4th year or just waiting until after I graduate. I don't plan on doing anything to strengthen my application during this time off. Frankly, I want to "go find myself"...figure out what the hell I'm doing all this for. If I still feel I want to do medicine, then maybe I'll come back. Anyone have any advice on what I should do? Can you take off time between finishing med. school and starting residency? If so, how would you participate in match? Can you defer an acceptance to residency like you can with med. school? Please help! 🙂

Thinking I should have become a chef...

BigAppleDoc

Yes, between 3rd and 4th year would likely be best. If you are seriously burnt out now, talk to your dean and see if you can take some time off now. Several people at my school have done this, taken time off during the middle of third year or between 3rd and 4th year. The school has been accommodating in fitting these people back into rotations when they return. And also, you may be able to stretch things out a bit. Since any time off will mean you will graduate one year later, your 4th year can be long and leisurely if you decide to return. Talk to your dean.

 

[care bear]

does your school require you to have rotations throughout your entire 4th year? i know that at my school you can fit in a 1-2 month or so vacation during 4th year and be ok to graduate, depending on your elective credits. is there anyway you could just do that at the very beginning of your fourth year?

 

[saiyagirl]

Hey all. I'm completely burnt out. I've been burnt out for a while and it's taking its toll on everything I do in medical school. I'm not used to being a mediocre performer but so far that's what I am and before this gets any worse, I think it's best that I take some time off. I'm in my 3rd year currently. I took step 1, passed, but trust me...my score is nothing to brag about. Since I've already started 3rd year, I don't think I'll be able to just take off a year now. That being said, my options are taking off a year between 3rd and 4th year or just waiting until after I graduate. I don't plan on doing anything to strengthen my application during this time off. Frankly, I want to "go find myself"...figure out what the hell I'm doing all this for. If I still feel I want to do medicine, then maybe I'll come back. Anyone have any advice on what I should do? Can you take off time between finishing med. school and starting residency? If so, how would you participate in match? Can you defer an acceptance to residency like you can with med. school? Please help! 🙂
Thinking I should have become a chef...

BigAppleDoc

a lot of people take time off between their third and fourth year. in fact, some year-out research programs require you finish one year of clerkship before joining the program. one that comes to mind is the fogarty institute's international clinical research program for medical students (part of the nih). i want to do it when i get to that level 🙂 why don't you look into it? it's a way for you to get some time off, still be productive, get out of the country and experience something new, and build up your CV in a way to make up for your board score and what not.

another program you could do is the howard hughes fellowship. someone i know who was in your position took a year off to do that between his third and fourth year. he'll be just fine. so will you! i think HH can be done any where in the country, or in Bethesda. (i don't think it's clinical research, however).

don't lose heart....lots of us get burnt out....who DOESN'T at some point along med school? 🙂 you have a lot of options...go do your research!!

 

[tubbs]

definitely, if you're not sure if meds is the right path for you. you need to take a break. you've still got a very long road ahead of you before you practice on your own. you need to know that it's what you want. it's a huge commitment. and if you're taking a break, take it in between 3rd and 4th year. you probably don't need to take the whole year off to find yourself. you can take a few months off to do some thinking and recooperate. if you realize that it is what you want, then use the rest of the year to do some electives and add some letters of recommendation to your collection.

 

[azzarah]

I would
1. Talk with the Dean ASAP
2. Talk to a school therapist or whatever those ppl are called
3. Take a break and travel to another country... 😉

I hope you feel better soon!