The Center for Career Development recently hosted a panel featuring two UConn Alumni who took growth years prior to attending medical school. Check out the interview and see some highlights below!
Avni Jain – University of Connecticut, ‘21
Avni Jain graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2021 where she majored in Physiology and Neurobiology and Human Rights. In 2022 she will matriculate into medical school. She is currently in the midst of her growth year where she is working as a Research Assistant in a neuroscience lab at UConn Health. In this position, she conducts hearing tests on mice to determine their hearing status and the presence of tinnitus.
Kelly Rios – University of Connecticut School of Medicine, ‘24
Kelly Rios graduated from UConn in 2014, majoring in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a minor in Molecular and Cell Biology. After graduating she worked as a temporary research associate for four months, before accepting a permanent position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) as a clinical molecular diagnostics technologist in the Department of Molecular Oncology. After moving to New York City in 2015, she picked up long-distance running which gave her time to reconsider a dream she had as a senior at UConn: becoming a physician. From fall 2016 to winter 2018, while still working at MSK, she completed a post-baccalaureate program at CUNY – Hunter College. Kelly took the MCAT and applied to medical school in 2019, and is now a second-year student.
The best advice that Avni and Kelly have to offer to students considering a growth year prior to medical school includes:
- Taking a growth year gives you extra time to focus on aspects of your application to make sure it is the best it can be
- There is no single “best thing” that you can do during your growth year, it is dependent on what you feel you need more experience in. If you have numerous volunteer hours consider taking on a research position! To learn more about what the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) considers to be good experiences for pre-health students to have, check out this link
- A growth year can be the perfect time to take a natural pause from academics where you can rediscover hobbies and confirm your passions
- The maturity and experience that comes with taking a year or more off is highly valued by medical school admission committees
- Taking a growth year can only go in your favor whether it means you gain more experience or if it makes you realize medicine isn’t the right fit for you
- The UConn Pre-med office is very helpful even after graduation, check out these resources they provide for students taking growth years here!
Not sure if a growth year is right for you? Consider scheduling an appointment with a Career Coach to discuss your options!
