True/False: It's better to take a whole academic year off than to do a half year

[Fakesmile]

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Last semester, I had to withdraw under medical circumstances, getting five Ws. For this spring semester, I have registered for five courses, but I have been suggested by someone I might as well take the whole academic year off to recover completely, because having a half academic year won't look good. Is this true?

Is it better to have the whole academic year off than to have a half academic year?

 

[STAT EKG]

Unless you're still sick or something I don't see why it would matter. Are you still sick?

 

[Fakesmile]

Unless you're still sick or something I don't see why it would matter. Are you still sick?

Currently, I don't see myself as a sick person. Physically I am healthy, eating and sleeping well. But the person urges me so strongly that I am still in the middle of the healing process and I should take this opportunity to heal completely. It's difficult to know the truth because it has to do with depression, which I think I don't have anymore or recovered from. The person is saying that on the basis of how I am constantly in a pressured mode thinking and worrying about my stats and getting into med school.

 

[Tappinfool66]

It could be better to take the whole year off. It's not that it wouldn't "look good" if you only took half a year off. But if you waited a full year, you could take time to get everything together, and then pick up where you left off and graduate a year later rather than trying to adjust everything. Taking an extra year isn't as big of a deal as a lot of people think it is. I had to do it and I'm okay with it.

 

[Fakesmile]

It could be better to take the whole year off. It's not that it wouldn't "look good" if you only took half a year off. But if you waited a full year, you could take time to get everything together, and then pick up where you left off and graduate a year later rather than trying to adjust everything. Taking an extra year isn't as big of a deal as a lot of people think it is. I had to do it and I'm okay with it.

Um... 🙁
Actually, I am currently doing my 5th year, and taking a hiatus for this 2010-2011 year will make me do a total of 6 or 7 years before graduating. The main reason I am taking additional years is to take more BCPM courses to upgrade my BCPM GPA, but then since this explanation has a chance of reducing my attractiveness as an applicant, I have decided to do a double major, though I know you can graduate in 4 years double majoring in biochem and statistics. At least I feel that double majoring is a better explanation for why you took more time to graduate. But note that this isn't the only reason I'm double majoring; I've added stats as an additional major because I have it as a back-up plan to become an actuary in case I don't get into med school.

 

[MilkmanAl]

It doesn't matter. Take off whatever time you need to recover fully. You don't need an explanation for taking medical leave (other than the medical reason itself, of course), and picking up another major to try and cover for yourself is pointless. Get better, and screw the rest. If you want to be an actuary, fine, but that certainly doesn't seem to be the case.

The take-home message is that it's an tragic mistake to live your life to get into med school. Do what makes you happy.

 

[Fakesmile]

It doesn't matter. Take off whatever time you need to recover fully.

The hard part is that I am mentally and physically well, so it doesn't seem to make much sense that I need to recover fully, yet I was told by the person that I haven't fully recovered, and I know him only through online PMing. I am so confused!

It doesn't matter. Take off whatever time you need to recover fully. You don't need an explanation for taking medical leave (other than the medical reason itself, of course), and picking up another major to try and cover for yourself is pointless. Get better, and screw the rest. If you want to be an actuary, fine, but that certainly doesn't seem to be the case.

The take-home message is that it's an tragic mistake to live your life to get into med school. Do what makes you happy.

It's interesting how your original post gradually increased in length with each minute to reach the current size 😉. Do what makes me happy? Easier said than done... Life is so complicated to be able to follow that advice. It just doesn't work that way, and I don't have the risky/adventurous/daring spirit to just do what makes me happy.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Hmmm...methinks we might be treading dangerously close to the land of medical advice on this one, but I will say that you do, indeed, seem very, very preoccupied with getting into med school.

 

[Fakesmile]

Hmmm...methinks we might be treading dangerously close to the land of medical advice on this one, but I will say that you do, indeed, seem very, very preoccupied with getting into med school.

Who doesn't, as a serious, dedicated, ambitious, hardworking premed?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Most of them. SDN is a distillation of the most dedicated pre-meds and the fact that you're on the extreme end of them should tell you something.

 

[Fakesmile]

Most of them. SDN is a distillation of the most dedicated pre-meds and the fact that you're on the extreme end of them should tell you something.

There is no basis for that! At least based on my observations of really serious and dedicated premeds at my school, they were all like me, if not worse. How am I on the most extreme end? Just because I recently got some hospital care and posted this and related threads makes me extreme? I am just highly dedicated with high expectations, which I think played a major role in all the small and big successes I've had in my undergrad career.

 

[MilkmanAl]

There is no basis for that!

You've started 119 threads, the vast majority of them in PA. 'Nuff said.

At least based on my observations of really serious and dedicated premeds at my school, they were all like me, if not worse.

That makes me super glad I didn't go to your school, if accurate.

I am just highly dedicated with high expectations, which I think played a major role in all the small and big successes I've had in my undergrad career.

Wait until your psych rotation, and then revisit this statement. 😉

 

[Musclemass]

I know someone who is working on becoming an actuary. While it's not med school, it's a long and hard slog. You need to love eating math for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do you really think it's something you'd be happy doing?

Is "the person" you keep referring to a family member? If yes, I'm not sure if what you're getting is advice or just (unneeded) pressure.

Good luck

 

[Fakesmile]

You've started 119 threads, the vast majority of them in PA. 'Nuff said.

What's wrong with that?

That makes me super glad I didn't go to your school, if accurate.
Wait until your psych rotation, and then revisit this statement. 😉

Sigh.. I would like to refrain from posting anymore because I'm tired.. I'm just really sad and hopeless. (But don't please lock this thread because I'm definitely not harming myself or anything)

 

[sc4s2cg]

If you feel you need to take a year off, then by all means take a year off. Ask your doctor if another half a year would be beneficial for your health.