YEAR OFF

[together]

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Dear All,

Have any of you done something else -- professional or otherwise -- before entering medical school? If so, what did you do and for how long? Also, any suggestions for what to do for a year before potential entry into medical school?

Thanks,

Together

"It never meant as much as it does right now"

 

[Mango]

I took two years off and it was the best decision I could have made. I graduated from college in May of 98, and then took the MCAT in April of 99. Therefore I had plenty of time to prepare for it, while I wasn't bothered with classes. I then applied in 99, and started med school this fall.

During the time off, I traveled, read books, enjoyed real life, and got a full time job as a PCT (nurse's aid) in a major hospital. Be advised, if you do plan on taking time off, med schools will ask you why, and what you were doing in the interim. If the answer is doing nothing but sitting around playing video games, that's not going to go over very well. However, if you were exploring Europe to expand your mind, or working in a lab, or doing hands-on patient care in a hospital, then you will look very impressive.

Let's face it, most med school applicants are almost identical. They all have great grades, great scores, tons of volunteering, and great recs. What taking a year can do, is set you apart from the rest. That is IF and only if you use that time to your advantage. Do something that will put you into a different pile, and give you and your interviewer something interesting to talk about. Do you think they enjoy hearing about the same old shadowing crap they hear about every day?

Of course, this is just my opinion, and I could be wrong. But I am convinced that I was accepted to multiple med schools based on my life experiences, not on my rather pathetic 3.3 GPA! And I will also mention that I spent a semester abroad in Europe, studying Marine biology in Copenhage. That too changed my life, made me a more well rounded person, and set me apart from other applicants. So I waould also encourage any college student to take that opertuity as well.

Last point: taking time off will allow you time to rest up, and enjoy having free time, because once med school begins, that becomes a precious commodity!

 

[together]

Mango,

Thank you for your response! I completely agree with you that the interim between undergrad and medical school should be occupied with involvements that will set the applicant apart from other applicants in some way -- usually worldly experience.

By the way, how did you arrange your studies abroad? Did you do it through your undergraduate institution? Also, where are you now a medical student? Thanks again for your honest and sincere reply. I really appreciate it.

I wish you the best of success with your career,

Thanks again,

Together

 

[alceria]

Okay, I kinda have a weird situation. Because I won't be able to take physics until Fall of '01 due to scheduling problems, I have to put off the MCAT until April '02, which sucks, because I should graduate either January '02 or in May of '02. So I will be done with college a year before I'll be starting med school, assuming I get in on my first try.

I know it's a year before I graduate, but I'm trying to figure out what to do. These are my options so far:

1.) Elect to stay in school longer, delay graduation so I'm not sitting around doing nothing while I wait to hear back from schools. I could take more bio classes this way and also get a math minor, but I'm anxious to get a degree since this is my 5th year in college because I changed my mind about my major so many times. On one hand, I'll be able to take lighter loads, but on the other hand, I kinda want to take a heavy load to show the adcoms that I can handle a big work load.

2.) Finish college in Winter/Spring of '02, and travel for a bit and then find a job in the health field. This is good because I'll be able to save some money, and it's been a dream of mine to travel for a long time. On the other hand, I would feel kinda bad taking a good job if I knew I'd be leaving in a matter of months to go to med school, if I was accepted.

3.) Find a one year masters program to finish before starting med school.

What should I do???

------------------
^v^

 

[gower]

Cheers to you, Mango. In my opinion, you did exactly the right thing, and if I were on an admissions committee, I would not have hesitated to cast my vote for you. Alas, I can only cast my vote in November.

 

[PimplePopperMD]

Originally posted by alceria:
Okay, I kinda have a weird situation.

I had a similar situation, and also have a "travel bug". I vote travel. AdComs certainly won't look at travel as something bad... you could incorporate your growth into your essay (if in fact you do any growing).

Don't stay in school just to pass the time. How much time will you have where you'll have the opportunity to travel for an extensive period of time?! As an M2, I certainly won't have the time to travel as I did after college (for 4 months).

Happy trails to you!

 

[Mango]

Together,

I am at University of Cincinnati, and am enjoying it emensely. The fact that I can say that just two hours after taking a test, should say something!

As for my studying abroad, yes, it was through my undergrad university. I went to a small Liberal Arts college, that basically considered spending a semester off-campus as part of the curriculum. The usual path was to go during your junior year, and during my junior year, over two thirds of my class spent a semester abroad! We have an off-campus study office, and literally hundreds of programs around the world to choose from. The university further simplified the process, by making studying abroad affordable. Every student paid normal tuition to the school, and then the school paid the program fees for you. That way, all your scholarships and grants still get applied for that semester! I guess you can tell that I was very impressed with the program. That was one of the main reasons I chose to attend that school. I guess since I'm talking it up, I should tell you what school I went to! It was DePauw University in Indiana.

Anyhow, just a few more thoughts. Many people will tell you that pre-meds can't afford to take a semester abroad, or that it will only delay your admissions, blah blah blah! To hell with them, if you get the chance to spend a semester abroad, TAKE IT! It will be the best thing you've ever done for yourself, and your personal growth. And you CAN do it with a premed major. My program in Denmark was called DiS, and it offered courses (in English) in Marine Biology. I was therefore able to get two full course credits(8 hours) toward my major at DePauw! Plus the classes were awesome; there's not much marine biology going on in Indiana, if you catch my drift! Also, DiS gives you the opertunity to spend a week in Russia, so I got to see Moscow, St. Petersberg, and even Estonia! Plus we took numerous study tours (the bio class), including a week touring Denmark, and a week at the Sea Fisheries intstitute in Gdansk Poland. They took us to castles, and even to a concentration camp (which was aweful, as you can imagine). I also traveled with friends through Germany, Holland, Prague, Sweden, and the Fjords of Norway! Now do you see why I have said that studying abroad will change your life?

Incidentally, DiS also recently introduced a program called Medical Practice and Policy, that is designed specifically for premed students! I am not sure how that would work with your major course credits though. Check it out at http://www.disp.dk/.

Well, I've rambled on enough, I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have. Also, another member of this forum Simul, spent a semester in Denmark in the DiS program. He and I both agree about what a wonderful program it is!

[This message has been edited by Mango (edited 12-11-2000).]

 

[together]

Mango,

Thank you for both your responses! I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions!

I have been abroad numerous times on my own -- I have family in Poland and England -- and absolutely love it! If I could spend a few months combining my travel interest with my interests in medicine and research, I think it would make for an educational experience as well as a wonderful time! At this point in my life, however, I am still exploring my options before committing myself to anything in particular. I am taking the MCAT in April 2001 and after that, will have to have made some decisions with respect to my "year off." I have been looking into public health programs and biomedical science graduate programs (my school has a "fifth-year free" BA/MA program in which you complete a master's degree in one year -- the degree can be completed at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, if so desired). However, I want to do something exotic and something that will contribute to my standing out as an applicant once the time rolls around for me to submit my applications to medical school.

Your suggestions have sparked an interest and I plan to pursue it! Thanks for the link! I wish you continued success!

Together

P.S. I'm sure you did phenomenally well on your exam! Thanks (future) doc!

 

[Orange]

You should look into doing an AmeriCorps progam. I'm in one now, and it's easily the best thing I've ever done. They have humdreds of different projects, so you could choose to do anything from building trails, to teaching kids, to doing medical work. I would love to go into it more, but no time. Look into it. www.americorps.org