Medical school is a long journey. It’s only normal that you’re considering a gap year, looking for some rest, travel opportunities, or some hands-on medical experience. Many aspiring medical students wonder how to plan a gap year before medical school and what to do to make this year count. If you’re one of them, you’ll be glad to know that you can have the best of both worlds—rest, travel, and gain experience.
A gap year before med school could be one of the most important things you do!
The last two are possible thanks to medical internships, volunteer programs, and courses abroad that give you access to training, resources, and a network. All while learning about a new culture in a different country.
Why take a gap year before medical school?
is in your own hands. Study, rest, work, travel, or do all at the same time! Here are four benefits of taking a gap year before medical school:
- Make your med school application stand out: A gap year will give you the time, energy, and resources to work on your med school application. By studying for the MCAT, doing an internship, or working on your resume, you can make your application truly shine.
- Gain work experience: One whole year is a long time to plan voluntary work, internships, and shadowing in the medical field. Not only do these experiences strengthen your application but they also let you experience what life is like as a doctor.
- Take a break: After four years of medical school, you also need to attend a residency program to become a doctor. A gap year right before med school will help you prepare yourself before you get into a busy schedule.
- Build your network: Your gap year is an invaluable opportunity to meet doctors, medical students, and professors. Whether you choose to work, volunteer, or intern abroad or at home, take the time to build connections and learn from others.
How to plan a gap year before medical school
Plan accordingly and make your gap year count.
Many students choose to before medical school. They do this to gain experience, broaden their horizons, and make new memories while contributing to another country in a meaningful way. With a few simple steps, you can start planning your gap year and have no regrets when you start med school the next year.
1. Set goals.
The first question to answer is why you want to take a gap year. Do you want to rest and have more time to study for your exams? Do you want to gain more experience? Do you want to travel? While they are all valid reasons, the core reason behind why you want to take a gap year will help you decide what to do and even where to go.
2. Decide what to do.
Once you've clarified your goals, it's time to decide what will best align with your objectives. For example, if you want to gain clinical work experience and travel, you can consider . Such internships send you to international hospitals where you help the local communities and learn from experienced doctors. Alternatively, if you want your grades to be the main focus of your gap year, you can consider looking at study abroad programs or foundation courses.
3. Plan where to go.
Your gap year destination will have a huge influence on how you spend your time.
When considering , take into account your future career goals and interests. For example, if you want to contribute to global health, you can consider choosing a in a developing country. Since many countries lack medical staff and healthcare resources, your help as an aspiring doctor would be crucial all over the world. Associations such as organize programs in Africa and South America every year.
4. Research gap year programs.
Now that you have some activities and countries in mind, it’s time to research gap year programs and program providers. Look into programs offered by reputable providers, including , , or . You can use to get personalized recommendations, compare programs that align with your preferences and budget, and read reviews.
5. Consider your budget and academic commitments.
Ideally, your chosen program would align with your budget. If it doesn’t, make sure to check some (MyGoAbroad can even !). Some program providers also let you shorten your stay so that it becomes more affordable. Besides budget, consider if you have to sit some exams at home or if you will have to work to make some extra cash for the rest of your gap year.
6. Apply!
Read the program requirements carefully, gather the necessary documents, and . You will need to have travel documents, including a passport and visa. In addition to this, for most programs, you will need to provide a resume, cover letter, academic transcript, and (in some cases) a background check. You’ll want to reach out directly to the programs you’re interested in to find out the specifics, as they can vary depending on focus and destination.
5 cool ideas for a gap year before medical school
Interning, volunteering, work experience—there are so many valuable experiences to have during a gap year!
And here’s the big question: What should you do during a gap year before medical school? From internships to training courses, here are some cool ideas for your gap year before medical school. With these programs, you get to travel and explore while staying connected to the medical world.
1. Do an internship abroad.
In a medical internship, you shadow doctors, receive medical training, and learn about multiple medical specialties. Your day-to-day tasks would depend on local needs but in any case, an internship is one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience. Besides the fact that it looks amazing on your resume, it also puts you in contact with professionals who would be able to give you career advice and med school application tips.
2. Volunteer abroad.
have a lot of similarities but they are not quite the same. One of the key differences is their focus. In internships, your medical career is in focus. In volunteer programs, on the other hand, the local community is. If you want to learn, give back, and explore your opportunities in the medical field but need a break from academics, volunteering would be the way to go.
3. Join a foundation program abroad.
The connections you make during your gap year may stay with you for a lifetime.
Can’t decide between preparing for exams and traveling? You don’t have to. There are many overseas programs that provide training courses for admission exams. Besides exam prep, they also offer scientific courses, access to university lectures, language classes, and presentation preparations. In your free time, you can discover the city you’re in, and organize weekend trips.
4. Complete a medical shadowing abroad.
To see what life is like as a doctor, be one for a couple of weeks. By joining a shadowing program, you observe what healthcare professionals of different specialties do on a daily basis. In addition to practical experience, you also get to discover what areas of medicine interest you the most.
5. Go on a language course.
would help you communicate with patients and healthcare providers from different backgrounds. It would also open up more job opportunities, both in the US and abroad. If an international career is one of your goals, brushing up on your language skills during your pre-med gap year would be a great idea.
Plan your gap year right and it could be your ticket to med school!
Next stop—your future medical career!
Make your gap year count, have a wonderful time, and add it to your resume when you’re back. Your new skills, practical knowledge, and international experience will surely impress admission officers and help make your application for med school stand out!
This article was written with help from , who also provided all photos seen above. IMA is a not-for-profit organization that offers medical programs for students in places like East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean through an ethics-based approach to care. They offer summer, fall, and winter programs.
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