What are some strong activities for a year off between College and Med School?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>Hey everyone. I'm currently a sophomore in college, and I just switched to premed last semester, so things are a bit cluttered for me. Up to now, it seemed like I'd be able to sneak in my life science classes in time and take the MCATs at the end of my junior year, however the latest hitch in my plan has forced me to start to consider the possibility of instead taking the MCATs my senior year and then having a year off between College and Med School.</p>

<p>The thing is, most of the premeds at my school glorify the physiology class that is offered here. They've all said that it helped tremendously in pulling everything they'd learned beforehand together, and really strengthened their understanding overall.</p>

<p>My plan was to clutter my schedule for next year in order to be ready for the MCATS: o-chem 1 & 2 + lab as well as some bio classes + physiology, as well as taking a kaplan class second semester. This would have put me on pace to take the MCATs in either May or June of next year, and then have my interviews senior year, etc. However, I just discovered there may be a problem with that plan. Physiology was going to be taken during my spring semester, but it has a bio prerequisite that I haven't met yet. I planned on taking that prereq in the fall, but it seems like that class is only offered in the spring, meaning I'd never be able to take physiology before the MCATs.</p>

<p>Now, I know that it's not impossible to get a good score on the MCATs without having taken specific classes, however they certainly do help, and I'm starting to think of an alternate plan. Instead of cramming everything into my junior year and possibly missing out on physiology, would it be better for me to just take the classes that I can next year, take physiology and any other remnants senior year, take kaplan senior year and take my MCATs senior year? This plan would be less stressful, but I'm worried.</p>

<p>It doesn't seem like having a year between medical school and college would be a bad thing, but what could I do during that year to strengthen myself? I would have already applied, so it's not really a matter of strengthening my application, however I could do something during this period that would improve my interview skills, since that would be what I am doing during this time.</p>

<p>Also, maybe some of you can give me an idea of the financial implications? Initially, I thought it'd be best to get everything in and take the MCATs junior year so that there would be no break between college and medical school because of loans. I won't have a ridiculous amount of debt upon graduation, but I will have ~15-25k or more. Should I start paying that off? When I go to medical school, will whatever debt I still have left to pay go back into the banks and start accruing interest with no payments like they are right now while I'm in college?</p>

<p>Essentially, it comes down to what would be the best option overall. I understand that it's ultimately up to me, but I was hoping you folks could give me some insight on this matter. Thank you!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
It doesn't seem like having a year between medical school and college would be a bad thing, but what could I do during that year to strengthen myself? I would have already applied, so it's not really a matter of strengthening my application, however I could do something during this period that would improve my interview skills, since that would be what I am doing during this time.

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<p>...Or you can do something that truly interests you. Do research, AmeriCorps, work with a biotech company, whatever you want. A year off can't hurt you as long as you are productive (ie you're not sitting on the couch all day). I'm currently doing research but I'm also taking a Spanish course at a local college (cuz I love learning Spanish) and have started learning how to draw w/ pastels. It's been great because I have time to do and learn things I didn't have time for in college and won't have time for in medical school.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, maybe some of you can give me an idea of the financial implications? Initially, I thought it'd be best to get everything in and take the MCATs junior year so that there would be no break between college and medical school because of loans. I won't have a ridiculous amount of debt upon graduation, but I will have ~15-25k or more. Should I start paying that off? When I go to medical school, will whatever debt I still have left to pay go back into the banks and start accruing interest with no payments like they are right now while I'm in college?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You will have to start paying back loans during your year off after the grace period. It's not that bad really. I graduated with $32,000 in debt. I'm paying back both loans right now on a $25,000/yr salary. I live in a nice place, eat out most nights, and have still saved up around $4000 after 7 months of working. I don't have/need a car and my parents are paying for most of my med school apps expenses so if you don't have those two expenses, you should be able to live pretty comfortably no matter what job you get.</p>

<p>You will be able to defer your undergrad loans when you start med school. Whether your loans will accrue interest when you're in med school will depend on whether they're subsidized loans or not. If they're unsubsidized, then, yes, they have been accruing interest while you have been in college and will accrue interest while you're in med school. Welcome to the life of a doctor.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the quick response NCG, I have another question for you pertaining to the productive period between college and med school.</p>

<p>I would definitely want to be productive, sitting on the couch all day isn't my idea of fun (breaks before tended to be kind of boring, however my latest Christmas break I did a little bit of doctor shadowing, and it was the least boring break I've had). Here's my question though:</p>

<p>My major is premedicine. Last semester, I switched from Architectural Engineering to premed because I decided I wanted to be a doctor, not an engineer (I was losing love for the major by the second, which is why I didn't just continue majoring in AE and take the med school prereqs), and that's what I want to do. I'm interested in science and physics, but I don't particularly want to major in Biochemistry or Chemistry or Molecular Biology, I want to go to medical school, that's why it seemed like premedicine was a good fit for me. Is there anything during that year off that I could do with a degree in premedicine?</p>

<p>And just to clarify, it really is the name of my major. I know that there are students that classify themselves as premed, but are majoring in something like economics, biology, whatever. My major is premedicine. I don't know if other colleges do this or if that is a disadvantage, so my question is, if I'm going to have a year off between college and medical school, would it be in my best interest to explore other majors?</p>

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<p>Well, I think a degree in premed is pretty useless. Major in something that's at least academically useful for godsakes.</p>

<p>That said, you can probably find a research position if you have the right coursework and research experience, regardless of your degree. If you don't want to do research, then everything's wide open. You can get certified and start working as an EMT. You can get certified and start working as a CNA or a medical assistant. You can do some type of volunteering (although you will have to find income to live off of if you choose this route). You can even bartend or do something that's not sciency. It's up to you.</p>

<p>The other thing is that, yes, you are taking a year off to squeeze in the MCAT. That's fine. That's a lot of people's reasoning for taking a year off. I'm unusual in that I could've applied last year and gotten in but I actually wanted to take a year off. If you go into the year with that kind of mentality and really use the year to explore and do things you've always wanted to do, I think you will find the year much more enjoyable.</p>

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<p>See that's the thing, I don't know that I'd want to major in anything else. Is there a point to majoring in something just for the sake of majoring in something?</p>

<p>As far as plan B goes, if I didn't get accepted into medical school, I'd want to go on for further schooling in something else. I have a few ideas that I'm going to keep to myself, but my main point is, would a degree in something else make my chances any stronger at getting into any type of grad school, including med school?</p>

<p>For instance, if I were to switch my major to chemistry, I'd go through a lot of chemistry courses that, while interesting, wouldn't exactly be my favorite thing in the world. Or, I could major in biology, or economics, or engineering; all of these are wonderful degrees that I'd say I'm interested in, however I don't have any particular passion for any of those things really. I'm essentially undecided, and that's why I chose premed, because all I really know is that I want to go to medical school.</p>

<p>Would you suggest switching my major to something else as a backup? As a premed, I take a wide variety of science and non science courses. What better preparation for medical school is there?</p>

<p>Is it really useful for me to force myself into a major that I'm not sure about just for the sake of saying that I graduated in something?</p>

<p>That's really where I'm at right now. I know that I want to go to medical school, I don't know what I'd want to major in, so I chose premedicine because it doesn't seem like it'd hurt me in my current situation.</p>

<p>EDIT: And just to add, if I had to choose, I'd say the subject that I have been most passionate about in my life is probably math. If anything, I'd choose to major in Mathematics, but what if that interfered with my ability to complete certain premed courses before the MCATs?</p>

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<p>Premed isn't an academic interest. It's just a conglomerate of random courses that med schools require. I find it hard to believe you have no academic interests. History? Bio? It doesn't matter. But, with so many majors out there, surely there has to be something that interests you.</p>

<p>I don't know how a premed degree is perceived in med school admissions but it will hurt you for grad school obviously since a premed degree doesn't qualify you for further schooling in anything except medicine.</p>

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<p>Sorry I did an edit to that last post while you were replying.</p>

<p>I'd say Mathematics is what I'd choose, but I'm already going to be a junior next year. Switching to Mathematics right now while also completing premed prereqs would probably mean another year of college, which means instead of a year off, I'd be doing an extra year of school, which means more debt. You're saying in the long run I'd be better off doing that?</p>

<p>Also one thing is that my school has a 75% acceptance rate for students majoring in premed. That's not saying 75% of the kids from my school that apply to medical school get into medical school, it's saying that 75% of the students that major in premedicine specifically get accepted to at least one medical school. This statistic also affected my decision last semester when I was deciding how to proceed.</p>

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<p>Just another addition, I also enjoy physics a lot, and there is an option to the Physics major called Medical Physics that I could pursue that wouldn't really put me behind too much. Is that an avenue that I should look into more?</p>

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<p>OP, u know how u said in your 1st post that the stuff u did in the gap yr wouldn't count for med school apps? i think they would count (at least in the summer), since u would be applying during the next academic yr</p>

<p>can someone check my accuracy on this?</p>

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<p>Well, I'd apply my senior year around the time juniors would be applying, so whatever I do during my time off would occur after I'd already applied. Correct?</p>

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<p>yeah good pt, that was what i was thinking, oh well at least summer would count lol</p>

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<p>Being able to list your activities on AMCAS is a fairly trivial component of their importance. While you will not yet be able to write strong descriptions of them in your personal statement and secondary essays, you will be able to mention them prominently and focus on what your interest in them is, which is perhaps the most telling part of them.</p>

<p>Beyond that, you will certainly be able to talk about them in depth during interview season (October-January).</p>

<p>They will very much count.</p>

<p>This isn't some "Checklist" where you have to arbitrarily finish them in time. This is a learning exercise where you're trying to demonstrate what these things show about you as a person.</p>

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<p>BDM I've browsed a lot of threads on this forum and have read a lot of information put forth by you--believe me, I know that it's not just a checklist. I want to do something during that year off that will help make me a better doctor, plain and simple. I suppose if that means working as a bartender to get people skills, then so be it; I realize after what NCG said that it is really up to me to decide the best way to spend that year.</p>

<p>However, NCG has me concerned about something else entirely now. Is majoring in premedicine really as big of a waste as he seems to suggest? I switched to premedicine because my advisor thought it was a good idea and I wasn't ready to commit to any other major because the only thing I was sure about is that I wanted to become a doctor. Will majoring in premedicine hurt me in some way?</p>

<p>I realize that there isn't much you can do with a degree in premedicine other than go to medical school. I always thought that if I was unable to get into medical school (after exhausting all possibilities), I'd try and become a high school teacher (I figured premed would give me the background I needed to pursue teaching in chemistry or biology or possibly both). Then, after securing a job, I'd see what my options were as far as graduate schools went.</p>

<p>Is this a bad backup plan? Is it in my best interest to start pursuing another major? I've been researching some different things, and at this point a lot of majors that I'd potentially be interested in could mean summer sessions or at worst a 5th year of school. That doesn't look good on a medical school application.</p>

<p>So now I'm in a pickle. Am I committed to premedicine at this time if I want the best possible chance at getting into medical school? I have felt confident in choosing premedicine as my major because of the 75% acceptance rate of my school's premed students, but something NCG said has started worrying me.</p>

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<p>I agree with NCG's assessment that it's a bad thing (and therefore had nothing to add to the discussion.)</p>

<p>First off, majoring in "premed" is -- exactly as NCG described -- a very fast way to close off all your other options. It removes any doubt from anybody's mind that you are either a failed premed (not a good sign) or a flake (slightly worse) or that you plan on bailing on them just as soon as you can get in someplace (worst of all). It would harm you both in job-seeking and in graduate school. Even besides that, how on earth were you planning to compete for a biology teaching position against actual biology majors?</p>

<p>Second, it's actually bad for medical school itself. You are going to get a lot of vocational, job-specific training in medical school -- but the idea is that they want to build that around a solid, liberal arts foundation which has approached the sciences in a flexible, research-appreciative mindset. This is probably why "pre-health" majors, nationally speaking, have the worst outcomes come application time. Medicine is a scientific discipline that requires intellectual diversity and creativity, things which advanced coursework in a science (or any academic subject!) would have both developed and measured. Vocational majors are very effective ways of ensuring that you don't get those skills, or at least that you don't have an opportunity to demonstrate them.</p>

<p>Third, don't make the mistake of confusing correlation (Premed majors at your school do acceptably) with causation (they do well BECAUSE they're premed majors). More likely those same students would have done even better in a liberal arts major like biology.</p>

<p>Fourth, a fifth year of school might or might not be a problem depending on where you currently go to school. Many big state schools generally keep a lot of students for a fifth year -- in which case it's perfectly normal and not a big deal. Most smaller private schools do this only for severe academic deficiencies, in which case it's a very bad signal.</p>

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<p>Well, we know that major, for the most part, doesn't matter. The fact that premed majors get into med school at a 75% clip is probably meaningless. Other majors are probably getting into med school at the same rate. What is it about the premed major that you think offers you an advantage in applying to med school? Aren't the other premeds at your school taking the same courses?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Well, we know that major, for the most part, doesn't matter.

[/quote]
Unless you major in a pre-health science. That's the ONLY exception to the rule. Those students are the only group that does worse than the others.</p>

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<p>I go to Penn State. When I was an Architectural Engineering major, that program itself is 5+ years, however it allows for a combined BS/MS option. Like I said, I've been researching a few majors that I'd think I'd be interested in, and I intend on meeting with an adviser alter this week, but an extra year of school isn't something I can consider lightly. The most important thing to me is that it won't hurt my chances to get into medical school, but another year of school means another year of debt, which is not something I can just dismiss.</p>

<p>Overall, it's starting to sink in that I should really start considering an alternate route. Like I said earlier, I just switched to premedicine, I was Computer Science my first semester and Architectural Engineering my second and third semesters. I know that a lot of the other posts say that my major doesn't matter, however that can't be completely true. For instance, some things I've been considering:</p>

<p>Physics - Medical Physics Option
Mathematics
Science - Mathematics Option</p>

<p>The first two would probably require summers + 1-2 more semesters of coursework. The last one I could probably handle easily with med school prereqs and graduate on time. However, does majoring in Science - Mathematics Option put me at a disadvantage? It doesn't even sound like a major to me.</p>

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<p>In response to NCG:</p>

<p>Nothing about the premed major makes me think that it offers me an advantage except the fact that my adviser seemed to think that. I've always been cautious about it because plenty of people say premedicine as a major is a waste, but I thought my adviser would be an authority on the subject. Like I said, my major reasoning behind choosing premedicine is that it seemed to be the "undecided" major for people that wanted to go to medical school, and I was under the impression that it wouldn't hurt me.</p>

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<p>Don't do anything that has "medical" in the title. And I don't even know what the third option means.</p>

<p>
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my major doesn't matter, however that can't be completely true.

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Again, it's not completely true. Anything which is obviously labeled as a vocational major is bad.</p>

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<p>The third option is a BS in Science with a focus on Mathematics.</p>