Medical Apply this upcoming cycle or delay to next summer (2023 cycle)?

[TheBoneDoctah]

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Hello. I'm an undergrad graduating in May 2021. I was originally thinking of applying to medical schools this summer (2022 cycle) but unsure now because of gap in clinical experience since March 2020. Which I understand that many other applicants are also experiencing, but I wanted to get thoughts on my case?
i.e. Am I comfortable to apply this summer or should I take two gap years and apply next summer (2023 cycle)?

cGPA: 3.90, sGPA: 3.85, MCAT: 520
Clinical experiences:
- 90 hours shadowing several doctors
- 150 hours volunteer at children's hospital (over a bit >1 year, suspended in March 2020 b/c of the pandemic)
- 150 hours volunteer at a different hospital (one summer)
- Getting trained for hospice volunteering. The position is remote currently (ex: phone calling patients) but have plans to transition to in-person around April/May. Maybe <30 hours by this summer (including both remote and in-person). Would continue throughout gap year.

Then I have non-clinical volunteering, research, and other experiences. 🙂
It's also complicated because I've committed to a 1 year post-grad position at a research lab. If I take two gap years instead, might need to find a different job for the 2nd year.

Will be applying to a broad range of schools, but definitely applying to U of Rochester, Cornell, and Northwestern because of reasons lol

Thank you in advance!

How many hours do you have for non-clinical. Everything else looks fantastic and with a broad list of schools, should have zero issues getting interviews (unless you have red flags that we can't see with what you posted).

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Thank you for the response!

120 hours with a college org, volunteering with senior home residents + adults with disabilities
80 hours as K-12 tutor (remote, since April 2020)
Just started volunteering in a soup kitchen, will continue in gap year. ~50 hours by May.

*Also realized a typo in the first post. I started Hospice training/volunteering now Feb 2021, not last year.

You should be gravy. Start honing your interview skills.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Yeah you're fine. Your stats are very good but just make sure that you include a range of schools to be safe. You should get plenty of interviews provided that you don't take anything for granted.

 

[Goro]

I agree with my wise colleagues, but continue to accrue service to others during the mean time. Your ECs merit the stats and target list you want to shoot for.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Worth a shot. How about your state residency? Networking with students at the schools?

I emphasize: apply when your application is strongest in your clinical experience and non clinical volunteer experience. A second gap year would be okay because med school will not be going away.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

State residency in NJ, so I would also apply to Rutgers NJMS, Rutgers Robert Wood, and Cooper Medical of Rowan.
Haven't done in-person networking, but have gone to a few med school webinars/"virtual visits" if that's what you mean?

Not opposed to a 2nd gap year and will consider!
I was more worried b/c my intended gap year position is in the same lab of my undergrad research (junior+senior years), and I already committed to being there for 1 post-grad year for which the PI confirmed the funding for me. Not sure if they could fund a 2nd year (based on lab size, it's smol), but guess I'd find a different thing to do if that's the case.
Planned activities would be the same either way for at least one year: continuing hospice and soup kitchen volunteering

I am not sure why you would take this second gap year? You have a great application at this point and taking 2 years is just delaying your career at this point (because you have a great chance at getting in).