<p>Do medical schools have summer breaks?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>There's a break between first and second year. It's not as long as a college summer break.</p>
<p>Shades,
Does this mean that there are no other breaks after the second year begins? Is this because you all have to study for Step 1 and 2?</p>
<p>Pharmagal:</p>
<p>Basically, yes.</p>
<p>Speaking for my own school, we second-years technically finish classes in May, and third year starts in July. That month or month and a half could be considered a break, but during that time we have to take Step 1. If you're going to take Step 1, you also need to study. So that little break between second and third year isn't much of a break at all. If you take the boards early in June, then you might be able to relax for a few weeks before third year starts up.</p>
<p>From the fourth-years I've talked to, you don't take time off to do Step 2. You do it along with whatever else is on your schedule at the time. You have to take it by September 30 of your fourth year, so I'm not sure when you would find the time to take off, anyway.</p>