<p>So that is my situation. I am garuanteed to be a member of next year's class at Yale, unless someone withdraws by the end of the summer (which is highly unlikely). I never considered a gap year before, and don't really have anything lined up yet...are there still very meaningful things I can set up to become a part of in this coming month? (I would like to do research, volunteer work, and perhaps travel). Any programs, internships I can stil l apply for?</p>
<p>On the other hand, I can go to Duke this year.</p>
<p>I intend to go to med school...so one of my thoughts is: why wait?! By the end of all my studying, I will be like 29/30 (I'm currently 18)! The other thing I'm thinking is: will going to Yale help in any way in terms of grad school applications-are there any more/diff/better opps at Yale?</p>
<p>I really like both schools, even though they have very different atmospheres. Is it true that students at Yale are snobby? One way I would like to judge whether Yale is right for me is by answering the question: will I be embarrassed or uncofortable asking questions and/or making comments by raising my hand in a typical class? I feel pretty confident that I will have no problem with this at Duke, but not sure about Yale. Any feedback from students at Yale?</p>
<p>This is a really tough decision so I would appreciate any thoughts. I only have a few days to decide, so hurry pls!!</p>
<p>You can always volunteer work in your community even if the official “gap year programs” aren’t available. You can always hop on a Greyhound and travel.</p>
<p>Both schools are wonderful, as you know. Is the money comparable? If one will let you get out with less debt than the other, that would be great with med school bills. How about the weather? It’s vastly different at the two schools.</p>
<p>Hmmm thanks for the input but unfortunately aid (I’m not getting any at either school) or weather aren’t important factors for me. Still really tough to decide. I don’t think I want to just do local things. I feel like if I am going to take a gap year, it should really be meaningful and I should do something noteworthy-otherwise I can just do the regular stuff in college…</p>
<p>What’s the cost delta? What do your parents advise? </p>
<p>In the grand scheme of life, an extra year til done with college is not a big deal… if you think Yale is a better decision. It may not matter for med school.</p>
<p>Both are great schools and you can get anywhere you want in life if you do well at either Duke or Yale. The questions are (1) Do you strongly prefer Yale? and (2) if you do prefer Yale, what would you do with the gap year? </p>
<p>There are many ways to get a lot out of a gap year. A couple of ideas are that some great gap year programs where you can travel, and/or you can volunteer at a hospital and gain valuable experience. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents, make a decision, and never look back. There can be no bad decision.</p>
<p>I would add queston (3) How important is it to you to not wait a year? When you are 18 and looking at 12 years of undergrad/med school/residency another year on top of that can seem like an eternity. It is natural for teenagers to want to get on with their lives.</p>
<p>Waiting a year might cause your study skills and habits to erode a bit, or even for you to lose a bit of your enthusiasm for learning.</p>
<p>Waiting a year before college will have a negative effect on your study habits IMHO which are vital in college. You need to be on top of your game right from the get go at Duke or Yale to be successful in the weedout premedical classes (Bio, Organic Chem, Multiavariable Calc, etc).</p>
<p>While Yale is bit more prestigious overall, Duke grads are about as well represented as Yale grads at the elite medical schools from what I’ve seen.</p>
<p>We have a great gal in our community that was accepted to Yale, with a gap year through YWAM. She had the time of her life working abroad and just finished her freshman year at Yale. She had a fabulous year at Yale. For her the time abroad was very significant and allowed her to further develop her goals for the future.</p>
<p>Uh, Yale is a lot more prestigious than Duke overall. That being said OP, you don’t seem like you want to wait based on your first post. Think really hard about what you would do with a gap year. </p>
<p>Doing extensive traveling could be a once in a lifetime opportunity if you can afford it (you’ll be busy for the next 12 years, as you said, but very busy afterwards as well. ) The experience could give you perspective that changes your life. (perhaps travels in Africa might show you that this like to be a part of Doctors Without Borders; or perhaps you could even intern with them! )</p>
<p>Goldenboy brings up some good points but realize that he’s a Duke partisan that would recommend Duke whatever the circumstances and would likely choose Yale if he were in your situation.</p>
<p>As for what I’d do, if traveling was a serious option, is choose Yale; if not, Duke.</p>
<p>well it’s not that I really just want to go to college, although the OP may sound like that. Hey, if I can do somethign amazing over a gap year, I would def not mind doing that either. I’m just wondering what people’s own opinons regarding starting now vs later are…</p>
<p>Probably in order to be accepted to Yale and Duke you have worked your butt off in high school. As a pre-med you will work your butt off in college.</p>
<p>What you need is life experience outside a classroom, and preferably some in a medical setting so you can decide if it is for you. This is a great opportunity to get it. Since you are not looking for FA, maybe your family can help you finance living expenses for a gap year - volunteering in an African public health program. Americorps has openings. Volunteer at a hospital. Get involved with medical research, e-mail professors and offer your services. Any family that you could go visit to get a change of location for any of these activities? Basically poke around and send a lot of e-mails with cv attached.</p>
<p>Yale may also offer to help you arrange hospital shadowing and a lab internship. </p>
<p>These types of activities will be extremely valuable for your med school application and eventual career. Even if you start in January and spend half the year, it will make you stand out in a very good way.</p>
<p>A gap year, if you can afford to do something meaningful with it, could be a great opportunity to grow up a little and expand your horizons. It may also give you a different perspective on life that will make you a better person and student. Go for it!
Once you get done with your education, you will be working until you are 70 or so, so what is the rush to get done sooner?</p>
<p>If you got into Duke and Yale, you certainly should have the aptitude to get into med school. At this point the real decision is where do you want to be for the next 4 years? There is a difference in campus life between the two, so at this point, it’s really about the fit. Go where up you feel you will be the happiest.</p>
<p>You have been in school for 13 or more years at this point, and you are looking at something like 12 more (college, med school, residencies, etc.). This may be your very las chance to take some time off. So step off that treadmill. Your academic skills will not suddenly dry up if you aren’t in college this fall.</p>
<p>A gap year is just a year between high school and college. You do not have to fill it with resume-building activities, or try to save the world. As long as what you do is acceptable to whoever is helping you pay for it, and won’t cause the kind of criminal record that might make Yale pull that offer of admission, whatever you opt to do is just fine.</p>
<p>I personally think that it is more beneficial for a med school aspirant to conduct research, volunteer abroad, and take some time off after college for a year or two before starting medical school.</p>
<p>If you take this gap year, you may not start medical school till the age of 25 if you take some time off after college as well to pursue other interests, conduct clinical research, etc.</p>
<p>It’s much more common to take time off after college and before medical school. That’s when most students will be yearning for their “break”. Something to consider…</p>
<p>OP, read this. Duke is really polarizing on CC, and to a lesser extent in real life.</p>
<p>We got a lot of people on CC who thinks that Duke is like a community college when compared some members of the “Ivy League.” We also got a ton of Duke homers trying to push Duke on every student.</p>