What to do in 2 gap years??

[futureMD4294]

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Hey fam, I have decided to take 2 gap years after my undergrad at UGA due to not being ready for my MCAT on time 🙁 I'm scheduled to take it this January. With either 2 gap years... (Or 1 gap year before Caribbean Med school... not really considering it)... What can I possibly do for this time?

I have a job as an OR assistant right now but find it kinda tedious. I'm 22. I want to live my life to the max and don't want the fun to stop after college. I want to travel while gaining lots of clinical exposure. After all, all I'll be doing after this gap is studying for boards and classes.

Would appreciate the help.

 

[mistafab]

Haha - I really like your love for life. You had me grinning at "I want to live my life to the max..."

Totally awesome. Anyway dude, there are plenty of jobs you can do for 2 years that are good for your app. If you hate your clinical job, you can take this time to go do research (paid preferably). If you hate your menial position in the OR (which btw sounds like it would be stellar on an app), maybe you can switch to hospice? There are also plenty of jobs at homes for people with dementia. In 2 years time, you could also do some EMT work if you wanted to, though it does take money and time to get certified. I hope you can figure out traveling while doing these things.

Anyway, plenty of options. See what you wanna do. Enjoy loving life - it keeps getting better for me. Maybe hold onto that life-loving.

Hey fam, I have decided to take 2 gap years after my undergrad at UGA due to not being ready for my MCAT on time 🙁 I'm scheduled to take it this January. With either 2 gap years... (Or 1 gap year before Caribbean Med school... not really considering it)... What can I possibly do for this time?

I have a job as an OR assistant right now but find it kinda tedious. I'm 22. I want to live my life to the max and don't want the fun to stop after college. I want to travel while gaining lots of clinical exposure. After all, all I'll be doing after this gap is studying for boards and classes.

Would appreciate the help.

 

[FutureOncologist]

I knew a guy that was in your situation. He did research at another medical school before matriculating to my alma mater. Every job, even as a physician (with clinicals, paperwork, patient population, etc.) will have a boring/tedious side to it. OR tech is an amazing gig, especially if you didn't have to do a formal training program at a CC for 2 years. If I were in your shoes (and parts of me wish I could go back to do this,) I'd take up a new hobby. Weightlifting and physique competitions are what I was into, but I could never do it because medical school and (now) residency are top priority. I'll be about 36 - 40 years old before I could even devote adequate time to compete. And, sadly, physique is a young man's game.

You have a lot of time to yourself, even with the MCAT. Really appreciate not bringing home work with you and having that time to enjoy the company of others; find drinking buddies, friends that share your (new) passion, and explore the dating scene in your town/city if you're single. Even if you think it's dumb (like raising horses,) do it.

Hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia.

Do a 31-day challenge to do something new everyday. For instance, my buddy started with something small like "eat at a new restaurant OR go to a favorite restaurant and eat something you've never think to try." At the end of the challenge, he had to find a girl he'd never met in his life to go out with him (on a date) THAT NIGHT. It was some sort of way to make him more outgoing, and it worked.

Move into your own place and learn to be an adult. It will do wonders for you in the long run. The non-trads/independent traditional students in my class whom worked and made a living on their own fared much better than those who've just graduated college and had mommy and daddy pay for everything. Learn how to budget, make payments, and still have money to throw around. F*ck it, blow an entire paycheck on something stupid, like upgrading your car, getting an Xbox 1/PS4, go out of town, spend it on a date/girlfriend/boyfriend.

You're at the prime of your life friend; take advantage of it. Medicine is NOT the end-all be-all of your life. It boils down to a career that you devote your life to for the next 60 or so years.

 

[DrChef94]

If you want to travel, a couple of years ago I was looking into funded opportunities for researching in Germany/other European countries. I've since forgotten/misplaced all of the information about that, but I'm sure a quick google search will show you what research institutes are currently looking for "short-term" research or lab assistants (6-12 months).

Also in response to @FutureOncologist 's post, I can attest to the benefit of having a fitness goal. I started training for my first half marathon a month ago and also do yoga 3 times a week. Definitely has made the time pass a little bit faster and made me feel more satisfied despite the very tedious work I'm doing for my Master's thesis.

 

[futureMD4294]

Haha - I really like your love for life. You had me grinning at "I want to live my life to the max..."

Totally awesome. Anyway dude, there are plenty of jobs you can do for 2 years that are good for your app. If you hate your clinical job, you can take this time to go do research (paid preferably). If you hate your menial position in the OR (which btw sounds like it would be stellar on an app), maybe you can switch to hospice? There are also plenty of jobs at homes for people with dementia. In 2 years time, you could also do some EMT work if you wanted to, though it does take money and time to get certified. I hope you can figure out traveling while doing these things.

Anyway, plenty of options. See what you wanna do. Enjoy loving life - it keeps getting better for me. Maybe hold onto that life-loving.

Gotcha. Thanks man. I decide to keep to my OR job and add hobbies like improving my health and sports. Spend this time to relax and make new connections. Volunteer more at my place of worship while also studying for the MCAT. I really appreciate he help.

 

[futureMD4294]

I knew a guy that was in your situation. He did research at another medical school before matriculating to my alma mater. Every job, even as a physician (with clinicals, paperwork, patient population, etc.) will have a boring/tedious side to it. OR tech is an amazing gig, especially if you didn't have to do a formal training program at a CC for 2 years. If I were in your shoes (and parts of me wish I could go back to do this,) I'd take up a new hobby. Weightlifting and physique competitions are what I was into, but I could never do it because medical school and (now) residency are top priority. I'll be about 36 - 40 years old before I could even devote adequate time to compete. And, sadly, physique is a young man's game.

You have a lot of time to yourself, even with the MCAT. Really appreciate not bringing home work with you and having that time to enjoy the company of others; find drinking buddies, friends that share your (new) passion, and explore the dating scene in your town/city if you're single. Even if you think it's dumb (like raising horses,) do it.

Hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia.

Do a 31-day challenge to do something new everyday. For instance, my buddy started with something small like "eat at a new restaurant OR go to a favorite restaurant and eat something you've never think to try." At the end of the challenge, he had to find a girl he'd never met in his life to go out with him (on a date) THAT NIGHT. It was some sort of way to make him more outgoing, and it worked.

Move into your own place and learn to be an adult. It will do wonders for you in the long run. The non-trads/independent traditional students in my class whom worked and made a living on their own fared much better than those who've just graduated college and had mommy and daddy pay for everything. Learn how to budget, make payments, and still have money to throw around. F*ck it, blow an entire paycheck on something stupid, like upgrading your car, getting an Xbox 1/PS4, go out of town, spend it on a date/girlfriend/boyfriend.

You're at the prime of your life friend; take advantage of it. Medicine is NOT the end-all be-all of your life. It boils down to a career that you devote your life to for the next 60 or so years.

Thank you so much for all that information. To be honest YOU WER AN AMAZING help! The way you phrased your words truly showed your excitement for the thing I could be doing. Really means a lot.
I have decided to spend my time continuing to work at the OR while improving my physical health. I'm currently obese and want to get into the best shape of my life. (Something I've been procrastinating on in college). On top of this I will spend time trying new things and meeting new people through these adventures. Who knows... May end up finding a special someone haha. And can't forget the MCAT and apps. I guess the hardest thing in all this is going to be to stay motivated and excited for my future while seeing other friends already in Med school or still in college doing big things.

 

[To be MD]

Hey fam, I have decided to take 2 gap years after my undergrad at UGA due to not being ready for my MCAT on time 🙁 I'm scheduled to take it this January. With either 2 gap years... (Or 1 gap year before Caribbean Med school... not really considering it)... What can I possibly do for this time?

I have a job as an OR assistant right now but find it kinda tedious. I'm 22. I want to live my life to the max and don't want the fun to stop after college. I want to travel while gaining lots of clinical exposure. After all, all I'll be doing after this gap is studying for boards and classes.

Would appreciate the help.

If you really want to travel and make money, buy a ticket to Australia and get a 1-year work visa. You can work anywhere from a hostel, to a cannery, to a restaurant. Minimum wage there is ~$20/hour.

Surfs up, dude.

 

[FutureOncologist]

Thank you so much for all that information. To be honest YOU WER AN AMAZING help! The way you phrased your words truly showed your excitement for the thing I could be doing. Really means a lot.
I have decided to spend my time continuing to work at the OR while improving my physical health. I'm currently obese and want to get into the best shape of my life. (Something I've been procrastinating on in college). On top of this I will spend time trying new things and meeting new people through these adventures. Who knows... May end up finding a special someone haha. And can't forget the MCAT and apps. I guess the hardest thing in all this is going to be to stay motivated and excited for my future while seeing other friends already in Med school or still in college doing big things.

No problem man. The gap years may look daunting, but once you get out there and into a groove, you'll realize the blessing it is to take time off. After all, the average entering med student age is 24. Others are younger, most are around that or older. I believe Dartmouth is 27 or 28!

Also, you'll have all of your classmates jealous of you. I polled my entire class (we were small then) and asked "if you could, would you take at least one gap year before medical school?" Something like 60% or so said "yes!"

 

[tessellations]

Other options include the Peace Corps and Americorps. Definitely more intense - but I imagine very rewarding!