Mind the gap: an analysis of 'gap year' prevalence, productivity, and perspectives among radiation oncology residency applicants.

PURPOSE: Medical students may take a year off during medical school (a "gap year") to strengthen their applications for competitive specialties such as radiation oncology. This can incur significant financial and opportunity costs. We sought to understand the prevalence, nature, and funding of gap years undertaken by radiation oncology applicants.

MATERIALS/METHODS: An anonymous survey was emailed to all applicants to a single radiation oncology program from 2015-2017. Survey questions assessed gap year utilization, funding, motivations, and perceptions. Separately, all 2017 ERAS (n=176) applications to this program were reviewed for reference.

RESULTS: The 2017 cohort had a response rate of 69% (n=121), with the overall response rate of 39% (n=194) for applicants between 2015-2017. Of non-MD/PhD respondents, 33% (n=53) reported taking a gap year. The main reason for a gap year (68%) was to produce more publications, and 50% of all respondents viewed a gap year as "important" or "very important" for matching in radiation oncology. Twenty-eight students (53%) reported using personal loans, savings, or family support to cover gap year expenses. Most who took a gap year (83%) viewed funding as "difficult" or "extremely difficult" to obtain. Fewer publications prior to gap year, and more dedicated research time were significant predictors of undertaking a gap year while gender, marital status, dependent status, financial aid were not significant CONCLUSIONS: Research productivity is commonly perceived as important for matching in radiation oncology, leading many applicants to take gap years, which are usually supported by personal financial resources. We did not identify statistically significant socioeconomic disparities between applicants that took a gap year and those who did not. However, further study is warranted to determine whether pressure to take a gap year, particularly in the absence of readily available funding sources, deters some potential applicants from pursuing radiation oncology altogether.