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Hello Everyone.
This is my first post on SDN and I am in a unique situation. I am 21 years old and have been out of high school now for almost two years. Due to some health problems as a child, I was home schooled. After graduating from high school, (through a program with the state I was able to get a real diploma) I had very little direction in my life. Since I hadn't been in a school as a student since the age of eight, I was apprehensive about college. Since graduating however I have been working on improving myself and have gained a lot of confidence. I am hoping to start college soon. As I reflected back over the years I have found that the thing I always wanted out of my life was to be in medicine. The greatest thrill of my childhood was listening to my friends hearts with my Fisher Price stethoscope. The question I am left with after reading different books and SDN is "Is that life still possible?" I have heard of a lot of people taking a year or even two off after undregrad, but not before it. I know in England this is a very common practice they call it "gap year" but usually you are supposed to spend it doing charity work, or climbing a mountain or some other noble thing. I have no such story to tell about my time between high school and college. So my question is would it still be possible to get into a medical school with a gap like that in your record? How would I explain it if asked, would the truth suffice, that after all those years away college was a little intimidating? Also by the time I am out of college I will be a good bit older than the average med school matriculant how will this impact me? So those are my big questions, thanks to anyone who took the time to read this far and any advice given will be greatly appreciated.
This is my first post on SDN and I am in a unique situation. I am 21 years old and have been out of high school now for almost two years. Due to some health problems as a child, I was home schooled. After graduating from high school, (through a program with the state I was able to get a real diploma) I had very little direction in my life. Since I hadn't been in a school as a student since the age of eight, I was apprehensive about college. Since graduating however I have been working on improving myself and have gained a lot of confidence. I am hoping to start college soon. As I reflected back over the years I have found that the thing I always wanted out of my life was to be in medicine. The greatest thrill of my childhood was listening to my friends hearts with my Fisher Price stethoscope. The question I am left with after reading different books and SDN is "Is that life still possible?" I have heard of a lot of people taking a year or even two off after undregrad, but not before it. I know in England this is a very common practice they call it "gap year" but usually you are supposed to spend it doing charity work, or climbing a mountain or some other noble thing. I have no such story to tell about my time between high school and college. So my question is would it still be possible to get into a medical school with a gap like that in your record? How would I explain it if asked, would the truth suffice, that after all those years away college was a little intimidating? Also by the time I am out of college I will be a good bit older than the average med school matriculant how will this impact me? So those are my big questions, thanks to anyone who took the time to read this far and any advice given will be greatly appreciated.
