Time off before MD-PhD?

[rmj11]

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Given how long MD-PhD programs are, how common is it for people to take time off before starting them to do other things?

I know I want to go into academic medicine for a career, but I would really like to spend 2-3 years beforehand doing Teach for America, traveling, and/or some form of military service.

Do MD-PhD programs grant deferrals for things like that, and would taking those 2-3 years make the rest of one's career significantly more difficult given the already later age that an MD-PhD candidate starts residency? I don't want to give the impression that I'm reluctant to go into academic medicine- it's certainly what I want to spend my career doing. However, before jumping into 14 years or so of schooling, residency and fellowship, I'd like to get some other life experiences for a few years. But if that would cripple my later career I'd rethink it.

I assume a deferral would be the best way to do something like that since right now I have a solid MCAT, and unlike my GPA, that score will expire (and my research recc's will grow stale). I also would imagine it'd be tough applying to an MD-PhD program and having them ask you why you spent three years doing something totally unrelated to science.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OncDoc19]

Given how long MD-PhD programs are, how common is it for people to take time off before starting them to do other things?

I know I want to go into academic medicine for a career, but I would really like to spend 2-3 years beforehand doing Teach for America, traveling, and/or some form of military service.

Do MD-PhD programs grant deferrals for things like that, and would taking those 2-3 years make the rest of one's career significantly more difficult given the already later age that an MD-PhD candidate starts residency? I don't want to give the impression that I'm reluctant to go into academic medicine- it's certainly what I want to spend my career doing. However, before jumping into 14 years or so of schooling, residency and fellowship, I'd like to get some other life experiences for a few years. But if that would cripple my later career I'd rethink it.

I assume a deferral would be the best way to do something like that since right now I have a solid MCAT, and unlike my GPA, that score will expire (and my research recc's will grow stale). I also would imagine it'd be tough applying to an MD-PhD program and having them ask you why you spent three years doing something totally unrelated to science.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I applied this year and will defer entrance for 1-2 years to study abroad in the UK. You can certainly apply for a deferral but whether you get one will depend on the school. Some places, UCLA comes to mind, will defer only for "once in a lifetime, time-limited academic opportunities" (read major scholarships - Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, Fulbright, etc). This is something to keep in mind when applying. Also some schools have limits on the amount of time you can defer. Usually the maximum is 2 years. Before you apply I would decide what activity you would like to do in your years off. I certainly understand your desire to do something non-academic for a couple of years but I wouldn't go into an interview asking for a deferral for an unspecified reason. If you say what you said in this post to an interviewer you will likely come across as indecisive. That is not a good thing to be. The rate of return from a deferral in below 50% so coming off as indecisive is not a good thing at all.

I don't think you will be at much of a disadvantage in your career. Yes, it is a long process already but 2 years is not that much time really. A deferral would be ideal but I would find out first if the places you are really interested in would let you defer for something besides a scholarship. If the deferral seriously hinders your school choices I would think about either not deferring or applying after your time off.

 

[meowkat444]

Oh Oh Oh! I did Teach for America and am matriculating at an MSTP next year. I feel like it helped me at some schools and hurt me at some, but ultimately I'll be happier at the places that respect that. Feel free to PM me--and DO TFA! It's hard as hell but you will be so happy you did.

Note--I was a science teacher, and given that, I didn't often need to defend this at interviews.

I didn't defer, though. Not sure they'll let you do that, but check with individual schools.

 

[greg12345]

Won't affect your career. But I would be careful having the attitude that "since it is a long program anyways, what do I have to lose by putting it off another xyz years". You will see what I mean in a decade.

 

[MedRower]

Won't affect your career. But I would be careful having the attitude that "since it is a long program anyways, what do I have to lose by putting it off another xyz years". You will see what I mean in a decade.

Uh oh... What will I be thinking at that point?

 

[mudphudwannabe]

I think if this is something you really want to do, you should absolutely do it. You won't lose anything by taking a couple years off. While many MD/PhD's start right out of undergrad, I've definitely talked to/heard of a fair number who took a year or two off or even pursued another career first before deciding on MD/PhD.

I wouldn't count on being able to defer, though. Deferring for 1 year can possibly be arranged, but longer than that is kind of iffy. Applying MD/PhD with the intention of deferring for >1 year might not be such a good idea -- the deferrals (1 year) I have heard of have been due to some kind of crisis or other extenuating circumstance, not something that was planned. Your safest bet is to just apply at the appropriate time for when you want to start. Having a couple years off won't put you at a disadvantage - it will give you something interesting to talk about in interviews. 😀