Time off from Medical School?

[Peeshee]

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Has anyone here taken time off from medical school, whether it was a semester or a whole year? What did you do during that time, and looking back, do you feel it was worthwhile, instead of just completing medical school without any breaks? I'd like to hear about your experiences...Thanks!

 

[smithani]

I actually took a year off between my 3rd and 4th year of medical school. It was a really good experience. I stayed at my medical school and did basic science research in the field I am going into. I feel really comfortable with my career goals now, since I had a year with basically no other stressors to explore it. I am interviewing right now for residency, and I know that the work I did definitely reflected well on my consideration for residency positions.

All in all a really positive experience. The only drawback was the graduation of all of my friends, and a somewhat stunted social life my 4th year of med school.

Good luck

 

[doepug]

Lots of people (~40%) in my class are taking/will take at least a year off.

Lots of people are getting an MPH, others are doing research programs (HHMI/NIH, Sarnoff), and two are getting law degrees.

Cheers,

doepug
MS III, Johns Hopkins

 

[Peeshee]

Do you think it is best to take time off between the 3rd and 4th years, or maybe after you graduate before residency?

 

[southerndoc]

You guys should feel lucky. My school doesn't offer any opportunities for time off to persue research, other degrees, etc. It really pisses me off.

I put in a request in early August to take a year off between my third and fourth year to get a MPH. I still haven't heard an official response, despite numerous emails, phone calls, etc.

The end result? I'm now taking a year off between graduation and residency to do the MPH. I'm also now trying to get it where anyone can take a year off for research or other options, but this seems to be hitting a brick wall. Why my school insists on this I dunno.

 

[doepug]

Originally posted by Geek Medic

The end result? I'm now taking a year off between graduation and residency to do the MPH. I'm also now trying to get it where anyone can take a year off for research or other options, but this seems to be hitting a brick wall. Why my school insists on this I dunno.

Hmmm... not sure if this is the best approach.

If you do your residency at a university with a school of public health, chances are excellent that you can do an MPH during a residency or fellowship. At Hopkins, it's really popular for residents and fellows to get the MPH while they're housestaff. I think their departments give them a little leniency, and I don't think they have to pay tuition. This would save you a year and make it so your clinical acumen doesn't get too rusty.

Good luck,
doepug

 

[southerndoc]

Thanks Doe. I don't think it'll get too rusty... considering how rusty it is already. Just kidding.

Seriously, I don't think my skills would drop because I would probably work in the ED or work as a paramedic while in public health school. It's not physician-level experience, but it'll definitely keep me sharp with the basics.

 

[Skip Intro]

Originally posted by doepug
Lots of people (~40%) in my class are taking/will take at least a year off.

Lots of people are getting an MPH, others are doing research programs (HHMI/NIH, Sarnoff), and two are getting law degrees.

Cheers,

doepug
MS III, Johns Hopkins

😱

I'm assuming that the two getting law degrees are the ones taking more than a year off (because, to the best of my knowledge, no law degree can be attained in one year).

My question is: How will this reflect on their residency apps? Are PDs going to look down negatively on these folks because they had such a disruption in the continuity of their medical education? Or, is this not a factor for them because they, perhaps, intend to go more into the "policy making" side of medicine and will not be primarily clinicians?

I'm just curious as to why a medical school, especially Hopkins, would endorse students interrupting their med education for such a protracted amount of time.

-Skip

 

[GoodMonkey]

Originally posted by Skip Intro

I'm just curious as to why a medical school, especially Hopkins, would endorse students interrupting their med education for such a protracted amount of time.

-Skip

just a little tidbit to add in... yale has a large # of people who take time off b/w their 3rd and 4th yr (they call it the "5th year") to do whatever- research, mph/jd/mba pursuits, extra rotations, rotations abroad... it's my impression that they encourage it.

 

[southerndoc]

Taking a few years off to earn a JD is no different than people in the MSTP program who take a few years off to earn their PhD. A lot of the MSTP students go on to enter a residency.

I've been told by a few of the residency directors that my taking a year off between medical school and residency will not hurt my chances of getting into a residency, and may, in fact, improve my chances, provided I do well in public health school.

 

[Skip Intro]

Yeah, but a law degree is three years... that's an awful long time away from medicine.

I think a year doesn't matter (a friend of mine who did M.D. then D.D.S. and is now in oral surgery resident took his fourth year off, but he continued to work in the medical field).

😕

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by Skip Intro
Yeah, but a law degree is three years... that's an awful long time away from medicine.

MSTP (MD/PhD) students also take 3-5 years away from the traditional medical school curriculum to do research for their PhD.

 

[rajneel1]

at my school taking a 5th year is encouraged. 70% of something of the students here take 5 years to graduate. some even longer. they usually do research, family, travel, or complete another degree.