Waiting a Year

[Narmerguy]

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I was wondering if you could help me consider the potential pros and cons of waiting a year before applying med school.

I consider it to be beneficial for several reasons (correct me on these if I'm wrong).

I feel it would allow you time to gain some more medical experience, and learn more about medical process.

It would give you more time to study for the MCAT, and more time to enjoy life while you have one.

It would give you time to gain in state residency to a school you may looking at.

It may give you time to beef up your resume for your applications.


Are these benefits true and what are the possible cons to this? Mainly, I wonder if taking an extra year might hurt me in applying. Thanks guys.

 

[Dr_Dan_the_man]

how will taking a year hurt you in applying?

Take a year, enjoy life, improve your application in the process.
no downside

 

[Funky]

the downside is waiting a year

 

[EyeballLove]

True, true, true, true, and true 🙂 (I don't remember how many statements you made)

Just to warn you though, in the beginning, it's going to be rough. If you choose to work in a lab, you're going to spend the first 6 months wondering what the heck everybody is doing in the lab (Don't get me wrong. You'll be learning like crazy...but it'll take a while before you get the "big picture")

It's tough also because everybody you graduated with is either 1) applying to medical schools 2)accepted into schools and starting/about to start schools, so you feel like you're the only person in the world who is not "doing something"

but after a few months, things will start to look better 🙂 You'll definitely get to know yourself better, and you'll know exactly what you want 🙂

Good luck!

 

[EyeballLove]

the downside is waiting a year

Time goes by even more quickly when you're not in school😉 A year is nothing😀

 

[riversoul]

I was wondering if you could help me consider the potential pros and cons of waiting a year before applying med school.

I consider it to be beneficial for several reasons (correct me on these if I'm wrong).

I feel it would allow you time to gain some more medical experience, and learn more about medical process.

It would give you more time to study for the MCAT, and more time to enjoy life while you have one.

It would give you time to gain in state residency to a school you may looking at.

It may give you time to beef up your resume for your applications.


Are these benefits true and what are the possible cons to this? Mainly, I wonder if taking an extra year might hurt me in applying. Thanks guys.

So you mean a gap year between college graduation and med school matriculation, right?

I'm doing that right now, just graduated in June, and have since been working in my research lab and doc's office. The freedom is awesome, no studying to worry about, more time to work on applications, work out, hang out with friends, travel, and do so many things that you won't be able to do as often when you're in med school. I'm planning to travel to the Philippines and Europe early next year. I've spoken to several MS1's at UC Irvine who went straight through w/o time off after graduation and they regret it. They've recommended taking at least one year off to do as many enjoyable things as possible, before you hunker down and get the serious stuff done in med school + residency.

I view a gap year as a rejuvenation year. If you don't feel at all burnt out from 4 yrs of undergrad, competing with a whole bunch premeds (in my case, almost every bio major at my university) then I commend you in advance.

Other benefits are:
- don't have to worry about scheduling flights and hotels and then flying out for interviews DURING school and possibly having your GPA decrease.
- if your GPA is on the low side by the end of your 3rd year, then you'll have your hopefully higher senior year grades to put on the AMCAS
- and like you said, more time to "beef up" your apps by partaking in more EC's, especially if clinical experience is lacking
- and as others have said, more experiences could lead to improved maturity and grasp of your career path.

My recommendations:

- Take a year off (don't take too many years though, b/c you might have to take the MCAT again since schools only accept scores less than 3-4 yrs old).
- Don't worry so much that some of your friends may have full-time jobs or going to med school already while you're still applying...career-wise, one year really doesn't matter much, but during your college ages, one year can dramatically change your character, outlook on life, personality traits, maturity, etc.
- Live it up during your year off!

 

[atomi]

I was wondering if you could help me consider the potential pros and cons of waiting a year before applying med school.

I consider it to be beneficial for several reasons (correct me on these if I'm wrong).

I feel it would allow you time to gain some more medical experience, and learn more about medical process.

It would give you more time to study for the MCAT, and more time to enjoy life while you have one.

It would give you time to gain in state residency to a school you may looking at.

It may give you time to beef up your resume for your applications.


Are these benefits true and what are the possible cons to this? Mainly, I wonder if taking an extra year might hurt me in applying. Thanks guys.

I'm waiting at least 3. To make sure I'm ready and also because I'd rather have enough money to pay for school before I start than be burdened with debt pressure all the way through. I also believe it is beneficial to students and doctors to have had real world experience before beginning this endeavor.

 

[Hkoser]

I took a year off and it has been great. Time really does go faster and I feel like I have a lot more important experiences to write about in secondaries than if I had gone straight out of school. As long as you do something worth while in your year off. Pay checks are nice 😛

 

[etf]

i was forced to take a year off by the admissions committees at the schools that waitlisted me. i have accomplished a lot this year, but still would much rather have went straight to med school.

 

[Aynsl156]

I'm taking two years, mostly because I think one year isn't enough time to do anything major. I'm working as a tech in lab, which, from the number of pre-med tech I see around, seems to becoming more and more common.

Paychecks certainly are nice.

 

[DrBubbles]

Take the year off! I took 3: went abroad, worked, volunteered, got a master's degree, and learned a whole lot about who I am, how I prefer to live, and what kind of study habits actually work best for me. (My MCAT scores got old, though, so I had to take those again.) I feel much more grounded as a person, and I know I have a lot more learning to do. But the fresh ones in my class straight out of undergrad are pretty apparent. (Especially when the average age of my class is 26.) Also, it'll enhance your application! Med schools love to see a little maturity, life experience, and ability to work with others outside your social circle and academic bubble. If you can wait the year, I strongly encourage you to do so. I think you'll be really happy with your decision.

 

[yellowumbrella]

I'm taking two years off, and it's been a great time to relax, get things together, try new things, learn more about myself...

I was talking to an adviser this week, and she said she has never heard of anyone who has regretted taking a year off. but i'm sure there are exceptions...

 

[ysk1]

If you can use those three years to develop more maturity and gain more experience on different things, then will adcoms like that?

 

[Dulcina]

i'm all for taking a year off. I'm actually applying 1 1/2 yrs after I graduated (i graduated in dec), so I'll have 2 1/2 years off between school--Im pretty happy about that!🙂

 

[Dulcina]

If you can use those three years to develop more maturity and gain more experience on different things, then will adcoms like that?

yes. i've heard quite often that they like older applicants, because A) they have more time to get mroe experience, and B) even if they dont get more experience, they're older, and thus (presumably) more mature

 

[artaxerxes]

the way I think of it, the more time you take off, the less real $$$ you'll be making. SO instead of out of medical school by 25, having a real life by 30 maybe, the waiter will still be slaving away in residency, getting pennies into the mid 30s.

 

[novawildcat]

I didn't even take the MCAT until I was year out of school. Look at the average age for entering classes. At a lot of schools the average age of matriculants is getting closer and closer to 24-25. Right after college I still about going out all the time/going out on weeknight etc. But by the time you are 24 it just gets old and too tiring to do it. You will be a better applicant once you get all that partying out of you system. I'm glad I took 3 years off too. So far I have been able to travel around in the States, go to Europe, and am planning to go to Japan and Australia. It is nice getting a paycheck. People that go onto med school at 22/23 will be in med school and residencies for the next 8 years. By then they are 30 and will be crushed with huge amounts of debt. By the time they pay it off and start to live a comfortable life they will be in their 40's and have a family. They won't have had anytime at all to see the world on their own. You DONT want to piss away your 20's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your mid 20's will be the best years of your life.

 

[Dulcina]

the way I think of it, the more time you take off, the less real $$$ you'll be making. SO instead of out of medical school by 25, having a real life by 30 maybe, the waiter will still be slaving away in residency, getting pennies into the mid 30s.

Well, the tradeoff is not having a "real life" when you're 20. By applying right away, you lose that critical period when you can just take off and do whatever you want--travel, etc etc. Personally, I'd rather have some fun when I'm younger; I don't mind pushing back my "settling down" one more year into the 30s.

 

[artaxerxes]

Well, the tradeoff is not having a "real life" when you're 20. By applying right away, you lose that critical period when you can just take off and do whatever you want--travel, etc etc. Personally, I'd rather have some fun when I'm younger; I don't mind pushing back my "settling down" one more year into the 30s.

I guess it depends on what the situation is. For me, this year off is going to be filled with work, and trying to not get stabbed at work. And I think medical school isn't THAT stiffling. If you get out at say 25/26, you're still in you're 20s and can do pretty much everything you can do at 21/22 unless you're married or something.

 

[Dulcina]

I guess it depends on what the situation is. For me, this year off is going to be filled with work, and trying to not get stabbed at work. And I think medical school isn't THAT stiffling. If you get out at say 25/26, you're still in you're 20s and can do pretty much everything you can do at 21/22 unless you're married or something.

lol yeah, i think my nesting/mating instinct is gonna kick in and i'll want a house and kids lol.

 

[novawildcat]

I guess it depends on what the situation is. For me, this year off is going to be filled with work, and trying to not get stabbed at work. And I think medical school isn't THAT stiffling. If you get out at say 25/26, you're still in you're 20s and can do pretty much everything you can do at 21/22 unless you're married or something.

The average med school grad leaves with around $150 K in debt. When your 25/26 as a resident you WON'T be able to do the same things as when you were 21/22. You will be working 6-7 days and 80 hours per week. On top of that you will only be making what? 40-60 grand for the first couple of years? Take a few years off after graduating and live it up now. You won't be able to do it after you graduate from med school. Your early/mid 20's should be the best years of your life.

 

[hp540]

I'm sort of mixed on the "taking year off".

I made a half-hearted application last year to 4 med schools and obviously didn't get in so now I'm taking a gap year as I re-apply for matriculation in 2008.

It's a great experience, as I spent 3 months living out of a knapsack, always on the road in SE Asia. But I can't help but feel I should've been doing something more "resume-ish". After a while, I got way too much guilt that I wasn't working (even though it wasn't too much of an issue because money goes stupidly far in Asia) or toiling away in a lab etc.

 

[artaxerxes]

The average med school grad leaves with around $150 K in debt. When your 25/26 as a resident you WON'T be able to do the same things as when you were 21/22. You will be working 6-7 days and 80 hours per week. On top of that you will only be making what? 40-60 grand for the first couple of years? Take a few years off after graduating and live it up now. You won't be able to do it after you graduate from med school. Your early/mid 20's should be the best years of your life.

I guess its the asian in me...I won't be living it up anyways, might as well get it over with. It also burns me that some people I know are already in med school with lesser stats than me. From a financial standpoint, I've heard a lot of people say that working before med school doesn't make much sense, especially if you're borderline for fin aide since you'll just be forced to spend your own money anyways. About residency though, do you have to go directly into a residency? I know with radiology anyways you are forced to wait a year.

 

[novawildcat]

But I can't help but feel I should've been doing something more "resume-ish". After a while, I got way too much guilt that I wasn't working (even though it wasn't too much of an issue because money goes stupidly far in Asia) or toiling away in a lab etc.

I feel sorry for anyone who feels like they need to live their life to make it more "resume-ish". Seriously you need to be enjoying life, not living it to impress some adcom. Not getting into med school isn't the end of the world. You can keep trying until they day that you die. You'll look back when your 65 and be immensely glad that you were traveling all over SE Asia when you were 22/23 instead of reading some text book in med school. Med school will always be there, your 20's won't be.

I guess its the asian in me...I won't be living it up anyways, might as well get it over with. It also burns me that some people I know are already in med school with lesser stats than me. From a financial standpoint, I've heard a lot of people say that working before med school doesn't make much sense, especially if you're borderline for fin aide since you'll just be forced to spend your own money anyways. About residency though, do you have to go directly into a residency? I know with radiology anyways you are forced to wait a year.

I would imagine you would want to go directly into residency. How else are you gonna pay the bills? Once you leave med school you won't have any loans that will cover stuff like housing and food costs. There is also a short grace period when you have to start paying off student loans, once that time is up you HAVE to start paying them. If you aren't a resident how else are you going to be pulling in the filthy lucre? I mean you could always get a job as a MD without being a practicing physician and not having to go through residency like working for a biopharm company or something.

 

[hp540]

I feel sorry for anyone who feels like they need to live their life to make it more "resume-ish". Seriously you need to be enjoying life, not living it to impress some adcom. Not getting into med school isn't the end of the world. You can keep trying until they day that you die. You'll look back when your 65 and be immensely glad that you were traveling all over SE Asia when you were 22/23 instead of reading some text book in med school. Med school will always be there, your 20's won't be.

I'm all for living my life. But you can only do so much "living your life" before you realize it's time to get serious about it and do something productive. It's a fine balance. I was gone for 5 months backpacking and I likely could have gone much longer...but then you realize you need to do something productive because med school *won't* always be there.

 

[Law2Doc]

I was wondering if you could help me consider the potential pros and cons of waiting a year before applying med school.

I consider it to be beneficial for several reasons (correct me on these if I'm wrong).

I feel it would allow you time to gain some more medical experience, and learn more about medical process.

It would give you more time to study for the MCAT, and more time to enjoy life while you have one.

It would give you time to gain in state residency to a school you may looking at.

It may give you time to beef up your resume for your applications.


Are these benefits true and what are the possible cons to this? Mainly, I wonder if taking an extra year might hurt me in applying. Thanks guys.

There are no downsides if you use your time productively. Certainly nothing in terms of competitiveness. As others have suggested, you lose a year of medical income down the road, but that's not usually the best way to look at things (lots of people on the nontrad board are forgoing a ton of income just to do medicine in the first place -- probably at a loss-- and it doesn't affect their analysis. An emphasis on ROI is a bad way to live life.) -- you have to do what's right for you.