Best gap year options?

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matthouser195

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Hi. I have decided to defer a year and take a gap year. I have a 3.7 gpa and 508 mcat (Texas resident). I have a decent amount of shadowing and both clinical/nonclinical volunteering. I am trying to consider my options for my gap year. So far I have considered an MPH or masters in biomedical sciences with research on the side or completing an SMP. If anyone could give me any thoughts on what would boost my chances for an MD program the most, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!
 
Don't do an SMP.

Do a master's IF it is in a field you are passionate about and one that will have alternative job prospects just in case you happen to not get into med school (not saying you won't, but may as well be prepared/not get a master's that is totally useless outside of medicine).

Alternatively, just work somewhere (medically relevant or not and buff your research/community service stats.
 
I've heard medical schools don't look at an MPH favorably (as a good use of a gap year) because it isn't a hard science so that is my concern with an MPH. I don't know much about masters in biomedical sciences though so any experience/thoughts of that would be appreciated!
 
I've heard medical schools don't look at an MPH favorably (as a good use of a gap year) because it isn't a hard science so that is my concern with an MPH. I don't know much about masters in biomedical sciences though so any experience/thoughts of that would be appreciated!

If you don't actually want another degree, don't get one. Your GPA is already great, so doing a whole new degree just to get into med school is at best an unhelpful and expensive waste of time and at worst a bunch of debt and a big red flag on your application (if, say, your GPA is low or you don't mesh with any professors for a letter).

Since your numbers are good, if I were you I would calculate my rough number of research and patient care hours and find a job or project of some kind of that increases whichever one is lower (or both).
 
The only reason to get another degree is if you need it to do what you want to do or if it's going to substantially increase your income. Or if you just have money you can throw away (which is fine--I'm all for enriching oneself).

I don't see any gain from doing and SMP or masters in biomedical science (which is pretty much the same thing as an SMP--a degree that really doesn't help increase your marketability and just costs you money). Neither degree is going to help you get a job, increase your odds of getting into medical school, etc. They're both there for the sole purpose of increasing your GPA to get into medical school (and/or to make the school money), and your GPA is already good. The MPH could potentially turn into a career so if you're really interested in public health then you could make an argument for it, but I don't think it'll make you competitive of an applicant compared to someone that worked/volunteered full time.

If you really want to go back to school and spend money, do something more useful, like learn Spanish. Talk about a great way to spend a gap year--go live in Central or South America for a year or two. Do volunteer work and learn the language through immersion--you have no idea how useful it will be (and it WILL increase your marketability for medical school and a career if you're fluent in Spanish). Consider the Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, etc. Need more action? Join the Army, Coast Guard, etc.--that will give you unique life experiences (experiences you often can't get later in life, due to family obligations, etc.)

If you're going to take time off and your GPA doesn't need work (which it doesn't), and you aren't interested in the above options, then I'd recommend working and continuing volunteering gigs. I took a gap year (two actually). The first year I TA'd physics for my post-bac program, took one course a semester for free due to TA'ing benefits, worked another 34hrs a week (more social-work related job), and kept up my 10hrs/week of volunteering. The following year I worked full time. I'm glad I worked instead of paying for another degree, but I think it would've been great to have been able to do any of what I mentioned above-- it would've made for a really great experience.

Bottom line is do something of value/meaning with your gap year.
 
Should I take the time to retake my MCAT if thats a concern? I feel as though I am not a very competitive applicant for MD so I'd like to increase my competitiveness as much as possible
 
Should I take the time to retake my MCAT if thats a concern? I feel as though I am not a very competitive applicant for MD so I'd like to increase my competitiveness as much as possible

If you could get your MCAT up >515 that could be worth it, but seriously, just work on your research and volunteering. More academics is really just more risk in your case.
 
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