1 answer
Elizabeth
Student
Phillips, Wisconsin
1
Question
Asked
167 views
What to do before med school?
To all doctors who took a gap year before medical school: what did you do during the time between undergrad and med school? Work, internship, research, hobbies, etc.?
Login to comment
1 answer
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Elizabeth,
What you do in your gap year is totally up to you but depends somewhat on your reasons for the gap year.
If you want to take a gap year to strengthen your application by studying for the MCAT, getting more medical experience or research experience under your belt, you'd of course study, maybe get a medical certification and/or work in a hospital or find a job in medical/biological research.
If you want to take a gap year because you want to save up some money for medical school, you'd find a job with decent pay and work for a year.
If you need to take a gap year because of health reasons or family obligations etc, you'd take care of those things first so you can go to med school next year.
If you just find yourself with a year on your hands because the timing of graduation and med school applications did not work out, I would recommend to find medical work and save some money. Unless your family is well off, you'll most likely be in debt anyway, but you can be in less debt and have some spending money too.
If you have some doubts about med school and have discovered that your undergraduate major is also very interesting and opens up career opportunities, take some time to sit back and explore your options. Get some work experience in that field.
If you just want to take a break (which is understandable) and can afford it, you can go and travel or pursue some hobbies. Just remember that your brain only works well if you keep it working and challenged. It takes a while to get up to speed when you have taken a year off.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
What you do in your gap year is totally up to you but depends somewhat on your reasons for the gap year.
If you want to take a gap year to strengthen your application by studying for the MCAT, getting more medical experience or research experience under your belt, you'd of course study, maybe get a medical certification and/or work in a hospital or find a job in medical/biological research.
If you want to take a gap year because you want to save up some money for medical school, you'd find a job with decent pay and work for a year.
If you need to take a gap year because of health reasons or family obligations etc, you'd take care of those things first so you can go to med school next year.
If you just find yourself with a year on your hands because the timing of graduation and med school applications did not work out, I would recommend to find medical work and save some money. Unless your family is well off, you'll most likely be in debt anyway, but you can be in less debt and have some spending money too.
If you have some doubts about med school and have discovered that your undergraduate major is also very interesting and opens up career opportunities, take some time to sit back and explore your options. Get some work experience in that field.
If you just want to take a break (which is understandable) and can afford it, you can go and travel or pursue some hobbies. Just remember that your brain only works well if you keep it working and challenged. It takes a while to get up to speed when you have taken a year off.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP