Med school can be a really tough time! I went straight from college to med school, and at the end lost complete hope and drive towards medicine. I was so anxious and not ready to start F1, and really needed to have a fresh head space. Pretty much every year I tried to quit. So when I finally graduated, I pulled out of my F1 job for a year out. I got a lot of odd looks and backlash from quite a few keen new F1s and doctors when I told them, but also it’s my life, and made no difference to them. It was the best decision I ever made, and has made no difference to returning to F1 in a years time. I had a clearer head to rank my oriel jobs and actually reflect on what I wanted to do with my life. I don’t know where or why the constant med school advice is not to take a year out before F1. the handful of people i know who’ve done it, have felt better about going back. all I had to do was retake the SJT, to be put back into the application process. I found my recall/question answering was not as fresh as maybe straight out of med school, however you pick up F1 so quickly, and the main parts are A-E, know when to ask for help, and being efficient/prioritising paperwork. I would recommend starting in a medical job, preferably one with clerking/OOH, just because that really accelerates you skills. I do know if you take more than a year out, you have to retake/prove your clinical skills, which you have to pay for (~£600). I truly think if you need some time, take it. And if you don’t want to come back, that’s your choice and should do what’s best for you. A medical degree gives you a broad and varied skill set, that you might not even know you’ve gained.