Thoughts on taking more than 1 year off?

[studentdoctor08]

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How do most schools view this? If I do decide to take 2 years off, I will be 23 by the time that I start med school (hopefully) in July, which isn't too old. It seems like taking some time off can only help you nowadays in admissions. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[tn4596]

How do most schools view this? If I do decide to take 2 years off, I will be 23 by the time that I start med school (hopefully) in July, which isn't too old. It seems like taking some time off can only help you nowadays in admissions. Thanks for your feedback.

If you have something worthwhile to do, yes. If it is just to travel and blow off some steams then 1 year should be sufficient.

 

[bruno10]

If you have something worthwhile to do, yes. If it is just to travel and blow off some steams then 1 year should be sufficient.

I agree. 1 year should be more than enough to just take some time off and do nothing.

 

[Geebeejay]

I took two years off to work as an ED tech. I'm applying this cycle, so I'll try to let you know how it goes.

 

[mvenus929]

I took two years off. Best decision I ever made.

 

[Jojokarade]

I've learned more about myself these past three years working in the "real world" than any other time in my life.

 

[Iio]

I took two years off. Best decision I ever made.

What did you do for two years that didn't impede your applications? Also, would it be a bad idea to just volunteer at hospitals around the world? I would be doing it for the sake of traveling, but that would make it look like I'm doing it to learn about world healthcare. (Serious question)

Or just periodically do traveling volunteer work. The only problem with this is that most of them are to 3rd world countries, which I don't particularly want to visit, but I would only temporarily. I'd like to take 2 years off and travel the world. I'll probably also get my EMT certification for the hell of it, but that only takes 3 months.

I'll mostly laze about though for the 2 years, in terms of academics and medicine.

Edit: I will be working minimally or not at all if I travel around for 2 years. So work wouldn't be a good thing listed as far as I have planned at the moment.

 

[deleted103644]

2 years is fine as long as you're actually doing something.

Many lab jobs will ask for at least a 2 year commitment.

 

[LaughingMan]

2 years is fine as long as you're actually doing something.

Many lab jobs will ask for at least a 2 year commitment.

I concur with this statement.

My research adviser said it's fine as long as--in her words--you don't "just travel Europe."

Best of luck in your career aspirations!