Adcom hates Gap year?

[Endoxifen]

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So my mother was recently talking to a former adcom member (she didn't ask what school, which is really annoying). I'm thinking about a gap year and she mentioned it to him. Apparently, he emphatically rejected the idea saying "it shows doubt and aimlessness in the student" and "gap years are between high school and college, not medical school". From what I've seen, this view is completely contrary to the reigning wisdom on SDN.

What does everyone think? Is this guy and anomaly to be ignored or should we be more cautious about gap years?

 

[gyngyn]

So my mother was recently talking to a former adcom member (she didn't ask what school, which is really annoying). I'm thinking about a gap year and she mentioned it to him. Apparently, he emphatically rejected the idea saying "it shows doubt and aimlessness in the student" and "gap years are between high school and college, not medical school". From what I've seen, this view is completely contrary to the reigning wisdom on SDN.

What does everyone think? Is this guy and anomaly to be ignored or should we be more cautious about gap years?

This opinion (as stated by your Mom) is not generally recognized as true.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Given that more than half of successful applicants take gap years, I don't think we can say that it severely detracts from your app.

 

[Scrizzy]

I believe someone on the forum said that the average age of a med student is 24. No idea how true this is, but sounds right. Even in this cycle of my senior year, I found more people taking a gap year than applying with me.

 

[mvenus929]

Probably about half of my class had taken at least 1 gap year. The key is to make sure the gap year strengthens your application in some way, by doing things in the year you would normally be applying for med school, or by taking a unique opportunity in the time off.

 

[Lawpy]

So my mother was recently talking to a former adcom member (she didn't ask what school, which is really annoying). I'm thinking about a gap year and she mentioned it to him. Apparently, he emphatically rejected the idea saying "it shows doubt and aimlessness in the student" and "gap years are between high school and college, not medical school". From what I've seen, this view is completely contrary to the reigning wisdom on SDN.

What does everyone think? Is this guy and anomaly to be ignored or should we be more cautious about gap years?

it also doesn't even matter what one adcom member says since admissions decisions are made by the committee and not a single member. i doubt his views represent those of the adcom at his school, seeing that ample data illustrate the growing popularity of gap years (average age of matriculation being 24, large fraction of successful applicants took a gap year etc.)

additionally, he's a former adcom member, so his views can be outdated and not representative of current adcom policy.

 

[Ignatius413]

I took a Gap year, and spent it boozing around Europe and working random jobs like a hostel assistant (in Spain), diesel truck driver (In Kansas) and apartment sitter (in Budapest).

Both people who interviewed me were really interested in how I spent my Gap Year and the actual M.D. who was my first interviewer was far more interested in my experiences in Spain than my research experience. I also got accepted.

So, I honestly don't think so.

 

[aldol16]

The average age of matriculants at the top schools is slowly creeping up. From what I've seen, over half of the students at the top schools have taken gap year(s) (1/3 straight through, 1/3 gap year, 1/3 gap years).

 

[Redpancreas]

No.

 

[efle]

1-2 gap years will probably be the most common type of successful applicant by next cycle:

At some top programs a gap year is actually the norm (recently learned that Penn for example is ~70% nontrad)

 

[Lucca]

I have no experience or reason to believe that opinion to be widely held.

However, I have decades of experience and great confidence that moms will say anything to their children in order to influence their actions in a particular way.

 

[armybound]

My adcom loved gap years. I had gap years. I would strongly encourage it.

 

[Endoxifen]

I have no experience or reason to believe that opinion to be widely held.

However, I have decades of experience and great confidence that moms will say anything to their children in order to influence their actions in a particular way.

I have no doubt that my mom would try and do that (she's not exactly thrilled with the idea of a gap year).

I've scheduled a time to talk to the doc this week. It'll be interesting to hear what he has to say.

 

[candbgirl]

I have no doubt that my mom would try and do that (she's not exactly thrilled with the idea of a gap year.

Well there is your answer. Find out how long ago he was an ADCOMS , why he would say that in this day and age with matriculation ages creeping up etc.. Let us know what happens.



Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[deleted738762]

I took a Gap year, and spent it boozing around Europe and working random jobs like a hostel assistant (in Spain), diesel truck driver (In Kansas) and apartment sitter (in Budapest).

Both people who interviewed me were really interested in how I spent my Gap Year and the actual M.D. who was my first interviewer was far more interested in my experiences in Spain than my research experience. I also got accepted.

So, I honestly don't think so.

LoL dude that's so surreal. That's great!

Plus your profile picture fits so well it's hilarious! Big bad Ignatius awaiting to go on another adventure on his ship lol haha

 

[Goro]

I've seen tons of posts from SDNers who took a gap year and got into Really Top Schools.

So my mother was recently talking to a former adcom member (she didn't ask what school, which is really annoying). I'm thinking about a gap year and she mentioned it to him. Apparently, he emphatically rejected the idea saying "it shows doubt and aimlessness in the student" and "gap years are between high school and college, not medical school". From what I've seen, this view is completely contrary to the reigning wisdom on SDN.

What does everyone think? Is this guy and anomaly to be ignored or should we be more cautious about gap years?

 

[flapjack3d]

I talked to an admissions dean at a very low ranking MD school and he had the same opinion of gap years. He thought they are for selfish, immature, lazy brats. MMMMK (didn't apply there).

 

[Lawpy]

I talked to an admissions dean at a very low ranking MD school and he had the same opinion of gap years. He thought they are for selfish, immature, lazy brats. MMMMK (didn't apply there).

well i suppose it's a good thing it's the admissions committee and not the admissions dean who makes the decisions on who to admit! after all, if the admissions dean tries to act on his inaccurate beliefs and override the adcom decisions, he would probably get in trouble and lose his job.

 

[BurghStudent]

My gap year has helped a lot. Attendings still ask about it.