Wanting to take an Leave of Absence (LOA)

[JJonak]

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Hey guys, I'm interested in taking an LOA strictly to expand on my research experiences. How would I go about soliciting this? How long would I be able to be MIA from med school? I'm currenty in 1st year. I wouldn't mind taking it at the end of first year or the end of second. I would mind if it had to be at the end of 3rd.

edit: I can imagine residency programs, especially those that are top-tier, might rise an eye-brow at an LOA, but honestly I'm not interested in derm or ortho, etc. I'm interested in I.M or preventatitve medicine. Then again, i'm not sure if this might be a red-flag for them as well. No idea. Anyone with any knowledge on this?

 

[deleted480308]

Hey guys, I'm interested in taking an LOA strictly to expand on my research experiences. How would I go about soliciting this? How long would I be able to be MIA from med school? I'm currenty in 1st year. I wouldn't mind taking it at the end of first year or the end of second. I would mind if it had to be at the end of 3rd.

edit: I can imagine residency programs, especially those that are top-tier, might rise an eye-brow at an LOA, but honestly I'm not interested in derm or ortho, etc. I'm interested in I.M or preventatitve medicine. Then again, i'm not sure if this might be a red-flag for them as well. No idea. Anyone with any knowledge on this?

I suggest focusing and just finishing the task at hand

 

[Pinocytosis]

I will echo what others have already said. You certainly do not need to take time off to do research. Assuming your school will even allow this, I feel (especially if asked/it comes out during an interview) that a LOA just for research will hurt you. Most students have the ability to simultaneously balance classes/clerkships alongside extracurriculars.

Unless you're truly set on IM at a top academic program, research isn't that necessary. Sure, research helps, but there are far more important criteria (namely Step 2 CK > Step 1 > MSPE > quartile ranking).[1,2]

Additionally, the mean number of research experiences for matched IM is ~3 with a mean number of Abstracts, Presentations, and Publications (AP&P) of ~6.[3] More importantly, you can get a general idea of the "necessity" of research in a particular field by comparing the mean matched vs mean unmatched. Unmatched IM applicants had on average 3 research experiences and 5 AP&P.[3] Comparing this to more research-heavy fields (NSG, plastics, derm, etc), the differences in IM matched vs IM unmatched is essentially moot. By all means, if you enjoy research, you will have time during MS1 and MS2. If you are passionate about research, you will make time during MS3.



[1] https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NRMP-2018-Program-Director-Survey-for-WWW.pdf
[2] Tableau Public
[3] https://mk0nrmp3oyqui6wqfm.kinstacd...utcomes-in-the-Match-2020_MD-Senior_final.pdf

 

[LunaOri]

People do take a "research year". You should start looking for faculty/projects you would like to work on. You can begin research now, and transition to full-time later, after you have found a good project.

 

[JJonak]

I see I see, I completely understand thanks guys, I'm also thinking it's a bit too much.

But yeah I'd like to be able to get into a good I.M program - namely in a center that has a rheumatology fellowship

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You can absolutely take a research year, and in general it will help you match into more research-heavy programs. You should apply for some sort of funding scholarship if you can -- some are national, some are local. Often the national group of the field/disease you're interested in will have one. It will certainly not hurt you, unless you don't actually do any research.

But you don't need to do this. I would only do it if you really have an interest in research. If not, focus on the rest of medical school.

 

[BTR41]

So I have a quick question. I’m really struggling mental health wise my first year. I have a lot of family who have died from COVID, and there are many more still sick. I was wondering instead of taking a LOA for family reasons, would I be acceptable to do a research year closer to home. I feel like a LOA would really hurt my residency chances, but a LOA for research would not. And I know a good amount of people who are involved in research close to my city. Would this be plausible. I can get through the first year but I have no idea how I’ll make it through the second. I’m middle of my class currently (mostly high Bs) so academics aren’t a big issue yet. But am just worried about my mental heath. If you want me to post this in another thread too, I can as well. Thanks!

 

[Mass Effect]

So I have a quick question. I’m really struggling mental health wise my first year. I have a lot of family who have died from COVID, and there are many more still sick. I was wondering instead of taking a LOA for family reasons, would I be acceptable to do a research year closer to home. I feel like a LOA would really hurt my residency chances, but a LOA for research would not. And I know a good amount of people who are involved in research close to my city. Would this be plausible. I can get through the first year but I have no idea how I’ll make it through the second. I’m middle of my class currently (mostly high Bs) so academics aren’t a big issue yet. But am just worried about my mental heath. If you want me to post this in another thread too, I can as well. Thanks!

You should take a LOA and take it now, not after 1st year which is 8 months away. Most program directors will understand taking a LOA after deaths in the family. There's no need to mask it with research. If your school will allow, I would take it now and return to re-start/complete MS1 next summer.

 

[7331poas]

I will echo what others have already said. You certainly do not need to take time off to do research. Assuming your school will even allow this, I feel (especially if asked/it comes out during an interview) that a LOA just for research will hurt you.

What are you talking about. Have you ever heard of a research year?

 

[Pinocytosis]

What are you talking about. Have you ever heard of a research year?

Yes, I have heard of a research year. I still do not think taking a research year, especially for "less competitive" fields, is necessary. If someone takes an entire year off to do research while others, who do not take an entire year off, also do research with equal output/quality, then I could see it coming off poorly. That was my (perhaps poorly articulated) point.

It seems OP added some additional information after my original post, so my point is moot.

 

[7331poas]

If someone takes an entire year off to do research while others, who do not take an entire year off, also do research with equal output/quality, then I could see it coming off poorly.

...okay, yes. If you take an entire year off to do research and you are not able to produce more articles than someone who does not take a year off for research then it will look bad. But the assumption here is you produce more than you otherwise would have.

And using the term "less competitive fields" is incredibly disingenuous. Of course Internal Medicine is "not competitive". You could match IM with a passing step 1 and multiple red flags. But matching IM at the top is most certainly "competitive".

 

[Pinocytosis]

And using the term "less competitive fields" is incredibly disingenuous. Of course Internal Medicine is "not competitive". You could match IM with a passing step 1 and multiple red flags. But matching IM at the top is most certainly "competitive".

I agree. That's why I put it in quotes. I dislike the terminology as medicine itself is competitive and, as you mentioned, there are very competitive programs in all fields.

 

[Yhwach]

I'm thinking about doing this. I just need to think about how I'd find a fellowship for it.

 

[ACSurgeon]

...okay, yes. If you take an entire year off to do research and you are not able to produce more articles than someone who does not take a year off for research then it will look bad. But the assumption here is you produce more than you otherwise would have.

And using the term "less competitive fields" is incredibly disingenuous. Of course Internal Medicine is "not competitive". You could match IM with a passing step 1 and multiple red flags. But matching IM at the top is most certainly "competitive".

I’m not sure you’re using “disingenuous” correctly but anyways IM is less competitive than Ortho or derm. Most consider IM an average competitive field. While any specialty has a spectrum of competitiveness, we typically refer to the average for any given specialty. the least competitive ortho program is still less attainable than an average IM program.

There’s nothing wrong saying some fields are less competitive. It’s not meant to be an insult; it’s more of a fact. For some medical students they’re desperate to match anywhere in their desired field. So when those with red flags and at high risk get told to apply to less competitive fields that’s good advice.

 

[NicMouse64]

As a M3 I am gonna piggyback on this thread to ask a similar question. I got a 230 on Step1, but am heavily interested in a research career. I have connections to the NIH and would likely be able to get the research scholars program there, but is it low yield for a future research career since I didn't get that 250 that is needed for top ranked IM programs?

 

[ACSurgeon]

As a M3 I am gonna piggyback on this thread to ask a similar question. I got a 230 on Step1, but am heavily interested in a research career. I have connections to the NIH and would likely be able to get the research scholars program there, but is it low yield for a future research career since I didn't get that 250 that is needed for top ranked IM programs?

I won’t comment on taking a year off. I am a surgeon so not IM. Nonetheless, you can accomplish anything from a decent Surgery program that you can from a “top ranked” one. I assume similar success can occur in IM. You start at a good university IM program, do a good job, and you should be able to get a fancy fellowship if that’s what you want.

 

[NicMouse64]

I won’t comment on taking a year off. I am a surgeon so not IM. Nonetheless, you can accomplish anything from a decent Surgery program that you can from a “top ranked” one. I assume similar success can occur in IM. You start at a good university IM program, do a good job, and you should be able to get a fancy fellowship if that’s what you want.

less about a fancy fellowship and more of having a clinical research or translational science career.