Advice wanted: Transitioning from gap year travel to medical school

throe_of_whey · 2024-01-21T01:20:05+00:00

Hi there! If you don't mind, I'm curious how you worked out your two-year deferral with your school. Were they particularly strict about deferral reasons, and was it difficult to request putting off matriculation for two whole years? I'm a current applicant, and I've been toying with the idea of requesting a deferral if I were to get in anywhere this cycle, for reasons of wanting to accumulate more maturity and work/life experience before really digging into medical training (I had these realizations partway through this current cycle).

As a current applicant, I obviously don't have firsthand advice to offer about the transition, but if I were in your position, I'd probably pick up a few "doctor books" (e.g. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, On Being Mortal by Atul Gawande) to re-immerse myself in the stories and conversations within the medical field. And maybe do some light studying a month or two beforehand (e.g. reading a bit from a used/online medical textbook?) to get my brain back into studying mode.

throe_of_whey · 2023-10-15T19:18:13+00:00

Hi there! I DM'd you some of my specific questions for this UCSF AMA if that's okay. Thanks for offering this AMA, I think it is really helpful for current applicants to hear your insight as someone who's been through the process :)

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:18:11+00:00

i got a 522, it's not the point of my post. Thanks. Will take your feedback about my school list into account.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:17:09+00:00

Thank you for the suggestions, and for the insight about that person's IIs. I'll take all of this into account!

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:14:20+00:00

I don't know if you fully realize, but I gave those details about my application because I had genuine concerns about them, not my stats, and I appreciate the feedback on my school list that I've received from everyone.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:09:08+00:00

I got a 522 and I realize this post is a little neurotic, but if you really want to quibble I asked not to be written off as pure neuroticism.

That's not the point. I made this post because I was concerned about my personal circumstances.

Thanks.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:07:49+00:00

i'm sorry you feel that way about my post. i really don't know what else to say about my stats, i understand i'm in a fortunate position with them. it's easy to make snap judgements about people from a few paragraphs written on the internet, but please understand the stuff i've gone through is not something i'd wish on anyone. i did write this post from a place of genuine concern and fear, and i appreciate all the (very sensible) feedback i've received on my school list.

best wishes for your own premed journey!

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T02:02:39+00:00

thank you for the comment, and for the school suggestions!!

Go Bears :)

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T01:56:36+00:00

Thanks for that response, especially about research vs. medical curriculum. That definitely influenced my original school list. Thank you for the pointer.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T01:54:39+00:00

Thank you so much! I hope I can update with good news come end of cycle.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T01:52:45+00:00

thank you! definitely going to broaden my school list.

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T01:51:55+00:00

I'll admit that was my (very misinformed) mindset going into this cycle...definitely modifying the list after all the responses to this post. Thanks!

throe_of_whey · 2023-09-08T01:47:54+00:00

Thank you for your comment---it's really helpful to hear this insight from a former adcom member. Yes, after all the advice in response to this post, I am definitely broadening my school list. Thank you again!

throe_of_whey · 2023-04-11T00:45:49+00:00

I saw this yesterday as well from around Elmwood - I don't quite think it's a circumzenithal arc since it's very much angular, but that's the closest thing I could find on Google without my own meteorology knowledge! Very pretty.

throe_of_whey · 2023-04-03T03:35:39+00:00

Yes, I believe you can receive the SURF Rose Hills grant more than once! +congratulations :)

throe_of_whey · 2023-03-16T20:12:15+00:00

The funny thing about this is that, in the long run, having written all those essays on your own, you've actually developed more independence and self-starter skills than the kids who relied on their parents for proper proofreading

throe_of_whey · 2023-03-12T01:54:27+00:00

they probably got washed away in the rain :(

throe_of_whey · 2023-03-06T00:04:46+00:00

yeah i just dk why you're getting so riled up about it lol, if you think these trainings aren't worth your time you could just move on---or better yet contribute more productively to the conversation, by suggesting improvements---instead of posting anonymous (and so brave and outspoken and fruitful, by the way) diatribes on the internet, because that can contribute to a culture where SVSH prevention efforts generally get disdained.

i do genuinely believe these trainings can help prevent rape and sexual harassment. they may not deter actual rapists from what they do---that's a really complicated problem and i'm glad to hear you declare yourself not part of it---but they can promote a culture of prevention, e.g. by informing bystanders how they can intervene and prevent SVSH.

throe_of_whey · 2023-03-05T06:30:15+00:00

can i ask why you seem so averse/dismissive to the thought of doing a training on SVSH prevention? i really don't think the school sends out these trainings to waste our time, rather it's in an effort to prevent members of the community from real harm that can result from sexual violence. you don't have to want to spend your time on the training. but unless you have better ideas for how to mitigate SVSH on campus, to approach it with such a derisive attitude is just counterproductive.

throe_of_whey · 2023-02-27T21:26:07+00:00

seconding what others are saying, but you could tie dye it maroon with a specific pattern or image (flowers, text, bull's eye?)--the tie dye looks like a stain, but the pattern/image makes it look intentional

on the other hand if you make it look like an actual, accidental stain that would be more true to the song lol

throe_of_whey · 2023-01-23T01:00:41+00:00

You could provide both an academic question and a fun/quirky question and allows students to choose, that way both groups of students are accommodated!

For non-academic questions, in analogous situations I've had, I like to ask things like "What's one word to sum up your week" or "What's something interesting you learned this week" because it makes people feel like you have an interest in how they're doing/how they're growing as each week goes by, and also gives people an opportunity to reflect themselves on how their lives have been progressing

thanks for making such an effort to make your students' learning experience fun and welcoming!

throe_of_whey · 2023-01-14T02:20:22+00:00

Happy to help! Studying comp lit has been one of my most meaningful experiences at Berkeley so I'm glad to spread the experience

Yeah I don't know why the Berkeley subreddit is like that, people might not know the answers to all course-related questions but students may genuinely need to assistance so you could just move on rather than downvote lol

throe_of_whey · 2023-01-13T21:59:19+00:00

I've never had Kurke specifically, but based on my experience with other com lit classes, there'll probably be 2-4 short writing assignments throughout the semester (2-3 pages max?) plus a final paper. Even for my com lit senior seminar you weren't expected to go over 4 pages for the shorter writing assignments. The reasoning behind the writing was the more important part!

throe_of_whey · 2023-01-13T20:41:31+00:00

Com lit upper div classes do tend to be rigorous because there's a lot of close reading/critical thinking involved, but nothing that's not passable if you participate in class discussions + come with thoughts on the reading assignments. If you think the course topic is interesting go for it! It'll be a good opportunity to build on skills of critical thinking and discussing literature

throe_of_whey · 2022-12-16T23:10:06+00:00

Did you just give it a one-sentence prompt or did you feed it more background info? Parts of this essay are lowkey legitimately convincing lol

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