Understanding reasons for electing gap years between undergraduate education and medical school and the impact of gap years on the student experience of medical education

Gap years have grown in popularity among students attempting to go to medical school in recent years. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more than half of matriculated students now have taken time off between their undergraduate studies and medical school. Although many claim benefits to taking gap years, research on the impacts of these experiences on medical students is largely nonexistent. This study aimed to qualitatively analyze the gap year phenomenon and its impacts on medical students through semistructured interviews conducted at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Through these interviews, the research team collected in-depth responses that were thematically analyzed. Analysis revealed the following major themes regarding the impacts of gap years: 1) adaptability to change and failure, 2) professional identity formation and understanding of team role, 3) understanding the "real world," 4) refocusing of goals, 5) resilience and stress management, and 6) reinforcement of motivation.