hey premeds Options

[Melissa]

I'm going to talk to my premed adviser about this, of course, but I want to get other opinions from people who've gone through this or are going through this.

My general adviser told me that it might be a good idea to take a lag year between senior year and med school - that way, my junior year wont be cramped with orgo, physics, and advanced bio (for neuroscience, too) and I could take my mcats senior year, then apply to med schools during my year off.

My cousin's doing this and is doing research at Columbia Presby during her year off, but my uncle thinks it's a really bad idea.

I mean, I guess the pros would be to have a year off - 15+ years of school/residency/internships/etc in a row is extremely intense. Another pro would be the med school interview process - flying off for an interview in the middle of school must really suck.

I'm not sure. I'm not discussing this with my parents until I talk to the premed advisers, though.

[batman]

^ Well, I talked to a few premed students and the advisors as well. I haven't completely made up my mind yet, but I think I'm just going to go straight from college to med school.

But GODDAMN, when I was discussing it with my mom, she got all annoying. She doesn't understand what it's like trying to fulfill requirements for the Core, Neuro, & medicine all at the same time. And then she gives me the whole "Well, your cousin Laura's doesn't have to take language over the summer and she has to take a core at Wellesly, too!" and it just really frustrates me! The Core requirement at Columbia is a hell of a lot more intensive than Wellesly's core. I ended up hanging up on her after she threatened not to pay my tuition bill that's due in about a week.

[Just_Dream]

As Kris said, some medical schools might see it good that you did take time off to consider your options. Medical school is competitive, but just remember that you have to stay focused if you do take time off. And it depends on what you want to do once you get into medical school. Like, what programs you would take, etc.

Also, not everyone gets into the medical school that they want. Think about it - if you did not get into that one or the ones you might want to go to, and ended up having to go to one that you didn't, would you still go? Lately since so many more people are going to college every year, there's so many to compete with. You also have those students who get their bachelor's after 3 years of undergrad to compete with.

If you do take time off, make sure that you are doing something relevant to what you want to do. This might even be the determining factor. My friend worked part time at CVS pharmacy while he was in school, and he realized that he didn't want to do pharmacy anymore. Now he wants to go to dental school, since his parents think he's good with his hands (rofl double entendre!). And you have more time to study, also, especially since you're not swamped with school and a bunch of other classes that might not be important. More time to study for MCATs is good. My other friend is taking a year off as well after he graduates this year.

Just determine what your options are, that's all. It's important to talk to your parents fully about it though, since they are supporting you so much, but if it's hard to talk to them about it, you can always get someone else (counselor) to help you. GLUCK.

GTG Maybe I'll reply back later. Gotta go to work! <3

[angelrevelation]

Maybe you could take the year off and do medical related work, like with the Red Cross or some other charity thing in South America or Africa.

I'm earning my nursing assistant certificate right now (I'm a senior in high school) and hoping I'll be able to work a bit to get some contacts, and show that I really want to go into medicine, even though an NAC isn't exactly a doctor.

[Just_Dream]

Oh yea I forgot to mention that you should talk to some people from clubs at your school.

My college, UCSD, has a pre-dental society that I joined and they have a lot of connections as well as advice. We also have pre-pharm clubs and other clubs geared toward students aiming for med school and whatnot.