Extending

What if I need more time?

Many students ask if they can take an extra year to do research; to have some additional time for maternity/paternity leave; to travel; or explore what they want to do in medicine. We have an open policy about extending your program, without going through faculty committees or other hoops. You merely have to meet with your faculty mentor or career advisor and design a program that is focused and one be accomplished in the time allotted. You must also meet with the Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs for planning and final approval. There is a form in the Office of Curricular Affairs that helps you sort out the various elements of your program: timing, goals, and funding. It is called the "blue form" and must be signed by the Associate Dean, so take a copy of the form with you when you meet. A copy of the form is also sent to Student Financial Services.

There is no perfect time to extend medical school; the best time is when it fits your needs. Some students find they need to decompress their schedule during the first two years and are given permission to complete this segment in three years. Others want time to solidify what they have learned in the basic science courses before they start clerkships, and might, for example, take the UCSF pathology fellowship (offered to two students each year) after passing Step One of U.S. Medical Licensing Exam. More commonly, students will take a year after the third-year core clerkships to work full-time in a laboratory, to take additional clerkships or to travel to foreign countries and hone their clinical skills in a variety of settings. There are ten slots for medical students to take a Masters in Public Health at UC Berkeley each year. Most students will fit this in as an extra year between third and fourth years. Remember, UCB is on a semester schedule and classes begin late August and end in mid-May, with a one-month break in January.

Although there are no required goals for extending medical school, it is a good idea to have a few personal goals in mind when you design your program. Try to focus on one or two. Do you want to use the time to answer a burning research question? Do you want to travel the world as a physician to get a broader idea of health care as it is practiced in different countries? Do you want to sample several different specialties so you can choose your career path? Do you want to set up a teaching program or develop health policy? Do you want to take time off to be with your family? There are many things you can do, just make sure you aren't spread too thin and can accomplish your goals in the time set aside.

There are many fellowships that provide stipends for one year. The most well-known of these are in basic science research, like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. They all require advanced planning and are competitive, so get started early! Daniel Lowenstein, M.D., director of the Physician-Scientist Program, and Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, M.D., Ph.D. (assistant director), have information about research fellowships, and can help you with your application. Some departments also have research stipends or have support for clinical or international reserach. These may be for one quarter, or longer. There is also support for funding for international travel. Please consult the director of the Office of International Programs, Dr. Tom Novotny, and the OIP Web site for further information.

If you are staying in San Francisco, you will probably want to stay enrolled so you can use the library, Millberry Union, and Student Health. The interest on some of your student loans will become due if you are not enrolled for more than six months, and most students will not take a Leave of Absence (which requires filing a form in the Office of the Registrar) for more than two quarters. Speak with your financial aid officer, or the Director of Curricular Affairs, about the pros and cons of staying enrolled.

Student Financial Services has promised us that students can get a fifth year of loans, as long as money is available. But you will receive higher interest loans in your final year, as you will be closer to paying them off. Stipends will be added to your financial aid packet, so your debt will be reduced. Funding from the work-study program is another option to look into if you are in town and need to stay enrolled. Although the funds are limited it is a good option for both your employer and the university.

Lastly, do not hesitate to discuss ideas with your faculty mentors, fellow students, or recent graduates. There are many people on campus who can give you advice or point you in the right direction. Over forty percent of UCSF students take an extra year at some point in medical school. None of them has ever said it was a waste of time!