Plans for the "Gap Year"

Because I'm a planner, I'm already thinking of ways to spend the year between the time I submit my medical school application in early June and the day I (hopefully) matriculate in August of the following year. And right now I'm torn.

Part of me wants to do something clinical or medical just because. But another part of me wants to say "Screw it!" and mess around during that time. I'm already planning a month-long trip abroad for next February or March, but I'm also thinking of extending that and making it more of a 6-month trip. All of this is obviously dependent on the success of my application cycle, but for once I'm leaning towards the optimistic side of things and thinking I'll get in somewhere and won't have to spend the year building up my application for another cycle.

For example, if I don't get into my local medical school, I am less likely to move abroad for the 6 months that I'm dreaming of. Even though I haven't hung out with my brother much lately (and by that I mean, at all), I still would like to maximize the time I see him if I have to move. And that means hanging around here until I go away to school elsewhere.

I love where I live and life is becoming pretty awesome lately, so this wouldn't be too bad of an option, but I still would like to get away if I'm going to be bogged down with school come late summer. I need a vacation like crazy and this would be the perfect time.

But, if I were to have an acceptance to the school here, I could go away for a long time and not feel guilty about missing out on bonding time with family. Most likely, though, I will have to make this decision in a year's time when more of these things are clear. And that means having plenty of back-up options and multiple planned vacations so once I know what's going on, I can get on with whichever idea sounds the best.