<p>momjr, I had actually wondered about taking a year off when the training that follows is what 6-10 years? In effect, when do the new docs become fully fledge participants and not trainees (which probably affects their income). In the old days, almost all of the folks I knew who became docs went to med school immediately. Now I’m seeing the gap year as much more common than not. Is that different than what you are seeing? </p>
<p>D was going to take her MCAT in May and then apply for this year’s cycle for med school. But late in April, she decided she wasn’t ready for the MCAT and would prefer to take a gap year instead. I am actually kind of glad - I think the break will be good for her. She was also able to relax a bit at home during the 3 weeks before her internship for the summer. I do worry about them burning out…they seem to be so constantly on the go…</p>
<p>Yes, Shawbridge, it’s much more common to take a gap year than it used to be. A student needs to be pretty focused early in college to complete all the required courses, prep and take the MCAT the summer before senior year. I’ve seen D1’s friends have success using both strategies. A friend that took 2 years off to do research and study for the MCATs was accepted to many top med schools. On the other hand, a physician I know who selects residents for his specialty prefers to see students who ploughed through without a break like he did. Like everything else, it’s a trade-off. </p>
<p>Some people take a year off before med school because unless you take the MCAT your junior year, you will not have all of your scores/applications ready to apply the summer between junior and senior year so you can start the fall after senior year. SO if you take MCATs during senior year, you are going to end up with a gap year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the kudos for S.</p>
<p>He is considering a gap year for law school. He plans to take the LSAT this fall and only if he scores over 170 and gets into a top 14 will he move forward. Otherwise he will try to land a good job for a year or two and then reasses law or business school options.</p>
<p>DS isn’t really in a position to take a gap year. Since he’s on ROTC scholarship, if he didn’t go directly to medical school with an educational delay, he would be going into the military. It’s been his plan all along, so he’s good with it. He has been stressed, though.</p>
<p>He got some antibiotics so I think he’s starting to feel better, although he’s still sleeping a lot. He submitted his med school application last night! 
I know he’s happy to have it submitted. Now to work on those secondary application essays. </p>
<p>Has everyone gotten their hotel reservations for next years graduations? DS’s school fills up fast since they also have reunions the same weekend. We found a hotel, but it’s not right in town. So if you haven’t done it yet, get those reservations!</p>
<p>@VAMom2015, people also might consider Airbnb or equivalent for graduation rooms if you have a bunch of people coming. For ShawSon’s, I had to get several rooms (us, our daughter, my mother and one other). Renting a house for the weekend would probably have been less expensive but I didn’t think of that.</p>
<p>For ShawD’s graduation, we have no problem as we live in the sub/exurbs of the same city. We can drive in and drive the grandmas in.</p>
<p>@AvonHSDad, you are more up on this than I but I know that there is substantial bifurcation in income for lawyers – you either get into one of the big top-tier law firms or you don’t. Is it the top 14 schools that place there? I thought the number was smaller, but that is just an impression. ShawSon loved constitutional law in HS and competed in Moot Court and later on his college debate team and thought, “I love this. Maybe I should be a lawyer.” It was a bad idea because he is so dyslexic. But, our lawyer friends actually tried to dissuade him because they don’t love the career. This was have been a very small and perhaps unrepresentative sampling of lawyers, but I would have been a little chastened if successful lawyers were telling me that I should think about another field. Has your son talked with practicing lawyers about whether they would choose this career again if they had the choice? On a wholly different note, I just spent a week teaching at one of the top 3(?) law schools but I’m not a lawyer. Being a law professor at a top tier school doesn’t seem like a bad life at all.</p>
<p>Shawbridge–thanks for the info on airbnb. I didn’t know about that sight. Luckily DH was checking his reservations for a work trip and found the hotel we like to stay at with rooms available! Even got a good price! I guess they must have blocked out all rooms (so showed no rooms available) then opened them up. So we are set! I will keep airbnb in mind if anyone else decides to come to the graduation!</p>
<p>Anyone else still around here? It’s been pretty quiet. DS has submitted his medical school application and now has to wait for them to review/verify or whatever they call it before they send it on to the schools he’s chosen. He’s supposed to be writing essays in anticipation on secondary applications. He’s not done that yet. He only has three weeks to work on them, then he’s off to summer ROTC training for a month. I hope he kicks it in high gear soon!</p>
<p>I haven’t been on this thread in waaay too long. It is nice to see everyone keeping up to date with each other. I cannot believe the talk of MCAT’s and Law School. The time went quickly. My S is away for the summer, working at his internship that he began last summer and did throughout the year. I am not too worried about graduation rooms, as we live within driving distance of his school. A nice perk.</p>
<p>We rented a house for graduation. I think we did it about 2 years ago – Ithaca has a horrible hotel room shortage!</p>
<p>H made a reservation at a hotel we typically stay at. But it looks like my parents might want to come - in which case, we will need a house or an apartment (a kitchen is a must with my parents around!). Have sent emails and have leads on two houses/apartments - hoping to finalize shortly. It’s kind of crazy to think we are booking this for next May!</p>
<p>D is having a great time at her internship. She’s logging way more hours than she needs to, but she is thoroughly enjoying the work. Bonus perk happens to be that another girl who has been working at the same place is also studying for the MCAT - so both D and she study together for a while each day. @VAMom2015 - D was originally planning to apply to med school this year, but has since changed her mind. She’s going to try next year. Will follow your S’s cycle closely to get any tips :)</p>
<p>My S does not plan on attending graduation, which is fine with us. He has completed all his classwork, just needs the equivalent of 2 co-op sessions to graduate. I have been very concerned that he left it too late to find a co-op job. He got a permanent job offer today. Once he works 6 months he will have fulfilled the co-op requirements and be eligible to graduate. I am very relieved that he found a job, it is in Manhattan which is not his ideal location, and is expensive to live, but it is a job!!!</p>
<p>@mamabear1234 congrats to your S on his job offer! That’s great that it is all working out like this!</p>
<p>Mamabear, congrats to your S! My D1 is loves living in Manhattan despite the expense. Best of luck to your S as he starts the next step. </p>
<p>@mamabear1234 0 congratulations! A permanent job is fabulous news!</p>
<p>Happy 4th of July to everyone. Let’s hope its a safe and dry holiday for all!</p>
<p>Happy Saturday, folks! It is about lunch time already, come on over for a post holiday bbq!</p>
<p>I was away last week, but thanks for the congrats for S. momjr, I may PM you when I get caught up from my vacation to find out more about NY living.</p>
<p>Had a very relaxing weekend with S. We all missed D however - she was out for a weekend on an island near Florida. Rented a condo there with a few of her friends and had a blast. She was texting us pictures during the weekend from the beach! She’s already half way through her internship there - so far, it seems to be going well. She’s enjoying the work, putting in long hours and also having fun with friends.</p>
<p>Both our girls were away over the 4th- very strange. D1 took the train down from NY to DC and met up with a group of her college friends. Facebook tells me they had a great weekend. D2 is at camp for 4 weeks. H and I are flying up to NY this weekend - looking forward to seeing D1 and catching an insight into her life in the big city.</p>