Many students struggle over the decision of whether to take a gap year before medical school. In particular, students have questions about finding the right match.
Before medical school interviewers ask the common question of what you would do if you weren’t going into medicine, step back and think about the answer. Take the time to consider if your answer is something you should try during a gap year. If it is at all possible, go for it, or at least something close.
[Learn how to plan for a successful gap year before medical school.]
An increasing number of applicants are taking a gap year, but the reasons are varied.
One student might surmise he or she has the coursework for the medical school application but didn’t shadow enough.
Scribing could allow you to watch physicians in the outpatient clinic in many specialties or in the emergency room. Maybe you need to earn and save money to go to medical school; you can make a case that scribing will allow you to observe, learn and be in a better financial state when you matriculate.
If you need volunteer efforts, throw yourself into something worthwhile, even though it pays little to nothing. Preferably choose a place where you can work with people over a lengthy period of time.
[Consider alternative options for a gap year before medical school.]
For some applicants, the decision revolves around grades. Place yourself in science classes that will prove you can get A’s in the hard science courses. Learning how to study for challenging material is a must before you start medical school. If these courses are still overwhelming for you during your gap year, chat with a counselor about other careers in medicine.
Another applicant might have reasonable grades and an MCAT score, volunteer efforts and shadowing experience, but is interested in doing something related to technology before entering medical school. This applicant might want to look at opportunities to work for a company designing new ways to practice medicine.
For instance, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, which is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, has accepted applicants who previously worked for Medtronic, a medical technology firm, and Epic Systems Corp., a health care software company.
Telemedicine or distance medicine will be extremely important in the future and is already growing. It might be a fun area to pursue before starting the hard years of study. Some students chose to help program avatars for online teaching, for example, before entering medical school. Or, you might want to work for someone creating iPhone apps that can help patients monitor vital signs, fitness or electrocardiograms.
One risk: You might decide to stay in the tech industry instead of going into medicine. But if finding your passion is the purpose of a gap year, then it is worth making that leap.
[Weigh the pros, cons of taking a gap year before medical school.]
A few applicants are drawn to the business of medicine and wish to become administrators. Some have started with an MBA or other master’s degree with a focus on health care administration.
If they do attend medical school, they will find themselves knowing a great deal more about health care economics and comparative health systems. Their future classmates will benefit from this special knowledge shared through class discussions.
One applicant spent his gap year exploring politics. During the interim period between college and medical school, he had been a staffer, campaign assistant and lobbyist. Physicians who wish to advocate for their patients will be better prepared if they understand the political system prior to entering medical school, where there is little time for that activity.
Before medical school, take stock of what you might need to be a strong applicant as well as what passions you might have yet to explore that could make you an even more fascinating candidate. If you feel you have lapses in your application, identify them and actively plan what is needed to fill the gaps.
If you are uncertain about considerations like the length of time required for training in medical school and residency, the student loan debt accumulation or the demands on your lifestyle once in practice, then try other preferences first.
As the saying goes, it is better to look before you leap. Medicine is a wonderful career for one who understands and accepts the sacrifices before starting.
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Choose the Right Gap Year Experience for Medical School originally appeared on usnews.com
