University of Michigan-Flint

Following a premedical curriculum is intense. Between studying for classes, volunteering, and being active in a club, you might find it worthwhile to take a semester or even a year off of college to explore medical opportunities otherwise unavailable during such a rigorous program of study. Gap years are particularly useful toward furthering your ambitions, because while living and working in the community you can refine your understanding of medicine in a familiar, tangible system.

There are, of course, many options available to you during a gap year. Perhaps you would be interested in volunteering at an understaffed community clinic—even one out of the country. You could take an extended internship in a non-governmental organization, such as the World Health Organization or Doctors without Borders. There are nonprofits in most major cities that would greatly benefit from your assistance. Similarly, you could consider taking a year off and join AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, making a difference in people’s lives in ways you hadn’t fathomed.