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Started by mariposas905
Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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I took three gap years.
I took the MCAT, a pre-req I needed, worked a job 30 hours a week, plus significant volunteering and more shadowing.

Do things that matter to you during your time off.
 
You're doing way more than I did and med school never said anything. For my first gap year I spent the summer traveling and then I studied for the mcat and did volunteering (both of these amounted to max 20 hours a week). After that I nannied for six months, then traveled for the summer. While I was applying I worked as a barista in a coffee shop part time. I've literally done nothing productive towards med school. Just enjoy your time and chill. Med school will be hard enough.


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Definitely do things you enjoy. Travel, read, learn a new skill. If your app is lacking in an area (volunteering, shadowing, etc) work on building those areas. I would also recommend trying to get a part-time job, medically-related or not. I've been able to work full-time during my gap year and have a decent savings built up. Although it's a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of school, I feel much more secure knowing that I have a safety net if I need it. Plus, at least in my experience, adcoms seem to like applicants with "real world" work experience.
 
If you're close to a medical school, you could just keep emailing doctors with open clinical trials, until one accepts you. That's how I got my current research project. My projects are all clinical, but I'm sure you could find wet bench research if too. I doubt anyone will pay you, but if that's not an issue, then this may be a good strategy.
 
After multiple rejections and waitlisted last year, I took a gap year.

I know exactly how you feel. I was feeling very low and had no idea what the heck I was gonna do. This has been hands down, the best experience.

I got a full time job in high-end retail, I travelled to the Dominican Republic and volunteered there, I started reading more novels, I cook a lot more now, I took a Spanish class. Take up new passions, do fun things and just enjoy yourself


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