I'm not sure if the deferral rules have changed. They gave a few out last year, but if you've heard they've stopped the best thing to do is check. As far as difficulty goes, it depends. I personally did not have a difficult time, but I had also taken a lot of time to write a proposal discussing why I need the year off and what I plan to do with it. I already had plans for the year arranged, and so I went into the deferral-request process really prepared. Which, I think, helped a great deal. Then it was easy. They really liked my proposal, agreed that it was worth the year "off" {it wasn't really "off" I've been working like crazy during it.....no pina coladas by the beach.. darn..
] and then we just made it official with some paperwork which took a little time.
Now the quick post-deferral run-down : do I think it was worth it. no and yes. Yes, because going into medical school with a "oh, if only i could have done this one thing before i started....." itching in your brain is bad. so i don't have that. and i'm more ready to start then i've ever been and I have some perspective. Also, I'm probably a little calmer going into the whole thing
I did what I needed/wanted to do, and now its med school time.
As for the no .... I think i could have just started and been just as happy. Much of the time I think I should have just started. Ah, but then there would have been that itch........ so.......
think really carefully if a deferral is what you want to do. make sure you have a really good reason before asking. and make sure you are realistic about what you want to accomplish in your year, that's important, but less discussed.
Good luck with asking for your deferral (if they still take the requests)
what do you want to do with your year? [feel free to PM me]
