Applying During a Gap Year??

[violetflower1]

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I'm a junior college student planning on taking a gap year. Currently, what I feel is my weakest application point is clinical experience/shadowing. I'm hoping to get some in this summer and during my senior year, but my senior year will be quite busy so I plan to shore up this experience during the gap year. My issue is, how would I reflect this in my initial application(s)? If I submit at the earliest date (May), I'll have barely started my gap year and it seems to me that my application would still be missing this component. Currently, I have some experience but this is mostly in the first half of my college career. I shadowed a pediatrician for a few hours per week for a month, and have shadowed a trauma surgeon on a 24-hour shift. I have been able to discuss with and follow around doctors while abroad (though this was more like an extended hospital tour with some access to viewing procedures and seeing patients).

How would I communicate my intent to pursue more clinical experience/shadowing in the application, and will what I have be enough to get me through the primaries?

 

[violetflower1]

Okay, well is the experience I have right now enough? I'm planning on gaining more during the summer. And how do I talk about my gap year experiences during the application process?

 

[Marr97]

I applied during my gap year- started my job in May and submitted my AMCAS by mid-June. I think if you're able to secure some kind of specific position by the time you apply, like a scribing job, it'll look stronger to state that in your application than to just give projected hours for shadowing or volunteering, as those can vary much more than a regular full-time job. You could describe your job and then mention that you're also shadowing/volunteering/whatever for x hours a week. Almost all my secondaries had a question about if I took a gap year and allowed me to give details on what I was doing.

 

[Rachapkis]

Okay, well is the experience I have right now enough? I'm planning on gaining more during the summer. And how do I talk about my gap year experiences during the application process?

What Gonnif is wisely saying to you is that adcoms will discount statements in your application about what you plan to do, because plans do not always come to fruition. You should do what it takes to make sure that your application is fully ready before applying. Remember, 60% of applicants do not get into med school. Do your best to apply once and get it right--excellence, not speed, is rewarded in this process.