for those accepted, how much of a difference did your gap year make in your application?

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doubledoctordoubletrouble

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For those of you that took just ONE gap year, and have been accepted, how much do you think the gap year helped your application? and in what ways? or do you think it didn't really affect your chances at being accepted either way?

I was talking to my advisor the other day who says that since I'll be applying at the beginning of my gap year, that whatever I do in that year would not substantially impact my application and my chances. I get where she's coming from, but at the same time, I'd like to hear from people who have ACTUALLY gone through the process.
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I haven't been accepted to med school and am taking 2 gap years rather than one (so feel free to keep what I say with a grain of salt) but I think my application was both substantially improved with the senior year included, and then the year after that. The advantage of having one gap year is that anything done during your senior year is included. This often means much better LOR's, better involvement in your various activities, and more leadership. The second gap year can give you the opportunity to pursue activities more full time, which is in my mind valuable.

Also side note, people won't really be able to tell you what actually made the difference, as all of the application decisions are not subject to our perusal. We can't say what made the difference in the end and what didn't.
 
My senior year helped with raising my GPA a bit, collecting LORs, more research experience, and getting my app prepared to apply early. My gap year helped shape what I want to do with my career and will help my ERAS via pubz and presentations. Overall I'm at a much better school right now than I would have been without a gap year, despite good stats.
 
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I took a gap year mostly because I was not prepared to take the MCAT. I did not want to risk doing poorly on the MCAT or applying late, so I decided to take a gap year. I think my gap year impacted by application positively. I was able to increase my c/s GPA and add to my repertoire of extracurriculars. Most importantly, I was able to devote my full attention to the MCAT after graduating and able to get a respectable score. Also, since I know how much hard work and heavy courseload is waiting for me in medical school, I am enjoying my gap year by taking a break from academics....visiting friends/family, spending quality time with them, and pursuing a research job that I like.
I'd strongly recommend a gap year if you don't feel confident about any part of your application and believe that you can mitigate your weaknesses with an extra year. View the gap year as an investment but plan your time ahead. Know exactly what you want to work on during your senior year and gap year and work toward your goals.
 
doubledoctordoubletrouble said:
For those of you that took just ONE gap year, and have been accepted, how much do you think the gap year helped your application? and in what ways? or do you think it didn't really affect your chances at being accepted either way?

I was talking to my advisor the other day who says that since I'll be applying at the beginning of my gap year, that whatever I do in that year would not substantially impact my application and my chances. I get where she's coming from, but at the same time, I'd like to hear from people who have ACTUALLY gone through the process.
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I think your adviser is right. Most schools evaluate an applicant based on his/her primary and secondary applications; update letters rarely make an impact. Gap year activities will improve your application only if you have to re-apply, as you could then include those activities in your primary application for your second cycle.

Hope that helps.

-Bill
 
However as a caveat to the above, if you start the activity before you submit the app, you can add projected hours, although I'm not sure exactly how those will be evaluated.
 
BillrothI said:
Most schools evaluate an applicant based on his/her primary and secondary applications; update letters rarely make an impact. Gap year activities will improve your application only if you have to re-apply, as you could then include those activities in your primary application for your second cycle.
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I somewhat agree with this, but from my experience, I lot of secondaries do ask about what you have been doing in your gap year. I was also asked about that in my interviews. If you have been continuing some of your EC's or holding a job or a research position then that could add positively to your application. But yes, for the most part, what you do/have done in your senior year will impact your application more significantly.
 
What if by the time that I apply (very beginning of June) I still don't have anything solidified for my gap year? How detrimental will that be...
 
doubledoctordoubletrouble said:
What if by the time that I apply (very beginning of June) I still don't have anything solidified for my gap year? How detrimental will that be...
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It depends on how solid your primary application is. However, if you submit your primary as early as possible, you will have about a month to line up some gap year activities before you begin receiving secondary applications.

-Bill
 
I was rejected in my first cycle from all ~30 schools I applied to when I was a senior (received only 1 II). While it wasn't my intention to take a gap year, the research I did my senior year, my additional grades, tutoring all made it onto my official AMCAS as opposed to the add-in "what are you planning to do this year" type of thing.

So not only will your senior year activities make it on there, but if you can start a research gig/volunteering activities before you have to submit your AMCAS in June, it'll add even more firepower to your app. I started clinical psych research, volunteering at a senior day care, and started a few days of shadowing before the application submission date and I was able to speak on all of these topics.

In the end, having a gap year allows you to spend a whole year doing an activity (no time commitments for academics) that is not only beneficial to you as a person, but will show adcoms that you're in this for the long haul and will look good for your application. Embrace the gap year, do as much as possible in your free time (including working as you may have loans/living expenses), and apply early and broadly.
 
spyke570 said:
I was rejected in my first cycle from all ~30 schools I applied to when I was a senior (received only 1 II). While it wasn't my intention to take a gap year, the research I did my senior year, my additional grades, tutoring all made it onto my official AMCAS as opposed to the add-in "what are you planning to do this year" type of thing.

So not only will your senior year activities make it on there, but if you can start a research gig/volunteering activities before you have to submit your AMCAS in June, it'll add even more firepower to your app. I started clinical psych research, volunteering at a senior day care, and started a few days of shadowing before the application submission date and I was able to speak on all of these topics.

In the end, having a gap year allows you to spend a whole year doing an activity (no time commitments for academics) that is not only beneficial to you as a person, but will show adcoms that you're in this for the long haul and will look good for your application. Embrace the gap year, do as much as possible in your free time (including working as you may have loans/living expenses), and apply early and broadly.
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If those activities are not started before June, but rather after, do you think it would still be alright in terms of the adcoms recognizing that you are making good use of your time?
 
I took two years. At most of my interviews, the activities I mostly talked about were the ones I did during my gap years so I am pretty sure they played a huge role in my acceptances.
 
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My gap year allowed me to study for the MCAT (and take it, of course) and allowed me to get clinical hours in because I had so very few before. And in general, it just gave me enough time to focus on my application as a whole. I can't imagine having to deal with the application and secondaries while I was working my school job and all my courses. People who go straight in from undergrad are amazing.
 
I took 2 gap years and went from no interviews (applied after my senior year) to 20 interview offers on the next cycle. Gap years can make all the difference if done correctly.
 
I took a gap year to improve my sgpa during my senior year and prepare for the MCAT. When I applied, there were questions asking about what I would be doing during my gap year and I was also asked about them during interviews but in general I don't think they will make a huge impact unless you have obvious weak points that should have been addressed. At all my interviews I'd say 40-50% were in gap years and only about half of those were doing something medically related or research
 
I took a gap year because I had very little clinical experience at the end of junior year. I also didn't want to burn out more by going straight through. At my interview that got me accepted, I mostly talked about my gap year experience as an ER scribe, so I'd say that doing something meaningful during your gap year definitely helps you. Also, >50% of interviewees I've met were non-traditional in the sense that they weren't college seniors. At one school, like 80% of us were non-traditional, which was awesome. I highly recommend taking a gap year or 2 to strengthen your application, have more time to study/take the MCAT, pursue activities you can't during medical school, etc.
 
Accepted two weeks ago. First time applicant. Currently on my first and only gap year. I can honestly say I would most likely be a reapplicant if it were not for my gap year. The key, however, is solidifying your gap year plan while still in your senior year of undergrad, so that you may list the experiences on your app and still submit early in June! For example, I secured a job as a scribe in April, listed it on my app, and by the time I interviewed in December, I could really elaborate on my 40 to 50 hours weekly spent in the ED. I also was able to study for a July MCAT the summer following my graduation and raise my score 3 points, largely to the lack of school-related stress and increase in free time. Besides building myself to be a better applicant on paper, my gap year has truly strengthened me as a soon to be med student. I have the time to utilize all the resources at hand and really ensure that I will be prepared as possible come the first day of class. It has allowed me to grow as a person and, of course, it's been super nice having time to relax, travel, and be social as well.
 
First time applicant, but I graduated in 2010 so I'm kinda non-trad ish except that all my work experience has been at a hospital.

Working in a hospital, doing research, and working with patients certainly gave me more to talk about during interviews than I would have been able to otherwise. I didn't have a ton of clinical experience or shadowing in college so I doubt I would have gotten in.
 
Yah, I don't see how one year really adds much unless you have no shadowing etc before you start that year.

Your primary goes in before you even make much headway doing whatever it is you were doing...

Unless you're pursuing a previous ec or extracurricular full time. That could be interesting. Otherwise it just gives you a bit more time to apply.
 
got me >1000 clinical hours. obviously at a certain point, it stops mattering, but even beyond just helping me get accepted, it has gotten me much better at talking with complete strangers (patients), got me comfortable with patient contact (I give injections and allergy tests), I do my own billing, I do my own insurance verification, etc. It has been a unique experience for sure.

It also allowed me much more time to study for my MCAT as my first go around was during school and did less than stellar. Also was just nice to have a breather. If I could have had just a semester, I would have done that though... a full year is a bit much IMO, especially because it ends up being more like 14 months by the time you start.

It made interviewing a lot easier, but only because my job is so flexible with days off... had my job been inflexible with days off, it would have probably made interviewing more difficult.
 
doubledoctordoubletrouble said:
For those of you that took just ONE gap year, and have been accepted, how much do you think the gap year helped your application? and in what ways? or do you think it didn't really affect your chances at being accepted either way?

I was talking to my advisor the other day who says that since I'll be applying at the beginning of my gap year, that whatever I do in that year would not substantially impact my application and my chances. I get where she's coming from, but at the same time, I'd like to hear from people who have ACTUALLY gone through the process.
Click to expand...

I applied last year. No acceptances, no interviews. I graduated May 2013.

My gap year (2) allowed me to accumulate 4000 clinical hours and improve my MCAT by 3 points.

This year: 8 interviews, 7 acceptances and currently waiting on GW.
 
I didnt do anything significant or medically different during my gap year. But I think it helped a great deal to be able to focus my time on my mcat/application/ interviewing . thinking of my senior year and how busy I was - i would have failed miserably or not have been accepted to the schools I wanted if I tried to cram everything in to my senior year
 
miszfifi820 said:
I didnt do anything significant or medically different during my gap year. But I think it helped a great deal to be able to focus my time on my mcat/application/ interviewing . thinking of my senior year and how busy I was - i would have failed miserably or not have been accepted to the schools I wanted if I tried to cram everything in to my senior year
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agreed, I have no idea how people do it lol. true I work 8 hours/day, but 1) I actually am fortunate to have lots of free time at work which I definitely exploited to study for the MCAT lol, and 2) it's only 8-5... and then it's done unlike classes.
 
baxt1412 said:
agreed, I have no idea how people do it lol. true I work 8 hours/day, but 1) I actually am fortunate to have lots of free time at work which I definitely exploited to study for the MCAT lol, and 2) it's only 8-5... and then it's done unlike classes.
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exactly .. when I was interviewing, I worked a retail job, where I would literally call out of work and head to an interview at the drop of a dime.
when my top choice school extended me an II, I was able to take the one random open/earliest spot listed, which was 2 days after I received the II email. If I was in school and in all of my ECs at school, I would not have been able to do that.
That date was literally 1 month earlier than the remaining days listed in the email and some ppl on here argue that an early Interview date can be a slight advantage.. who knows..

and to be able to sit at work and be on SDN, take notes on interviewing techniques and strengthen my interview response was a great help.
 
I got in a good solid year of working in a research lab and publication, although my job is way more boring than it sounds and I'm miserable- I do think it helped my application. Only 4 months left!
 
Waiting to apply after senior year of college as opposed to prior to it allowed me to include a TA experience and an additional research experience on my application. Plus, my senior year grades were included in my application right off the bat (instead of in updates to med schools) and I was able to secure a full-time, paid research position during my gap year for the same doctor I did research for in my final semester of college.

By far the best part of my gap year, however, is taking time for myself to enjoy my senior year and life outside of college. I've gained a certain mindset/maturity that has definitely shown in my interviews. My decision to take a gap year has definitely helped my application (how much exactly, I can't say).

Also, while interviewing I've met a lot of interviewees also in their gap year and not one of them has regretted the decision.

EDIT: Must add that taking a gap year will help if you have something productive to do during it that will help you grow. A year isn't that long in the grand scheme of things but it shouldn't be a wash year.
 
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Much bigger difference if you're doing something really important to boosting your app (Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc), or if you are covering a critical need like retaking the MCAT, maybe shadowing/showing commitment to profession although if you really had none of this before, just 1 years dedication may not be that much proof that you are truly committed to it.

If you don't think your 1 year of work is going to really make a big difference you might as well apply if you have enough to do your app well and get all your materials in early in the cycle. With a very long school/training period ahead of you and what will end up being an extra year of salary to help pay off debt/buy a house/etc, applying right away might outweigh just working some insignificant job for a year.
 
Spending a gap year working in a clinical setting allowed me to more fully realize my goals in medicine and my eventual career. I had time to establish a better work-life balance, save some money and re-connect with friends and family.

It might not have made my application significantly stronger, but I am a happier and more focused person.
 
I did not take a gap year. Applied summer between junior spring and senior fall. I felt rushed and suffocated through the entire process. and taking my MCAT and working many hours as a scribe that summer certainly did not help. However, I have secured an acceptance and I am very pleased with the institution I will be attending in the fall.

Over the past several months, I have often thought about whether I should have taken a gap year or not. Ultimately, I think I would have had a much smoother application cycle but that is just a hunch and not a guarantee.

On the other hand , I like the thought of being at the younger end of the age spectrum at the start of medical school, especially when I read more about the financial gymnastics that is required to finance such an education.

But I have noticed I have begun recommended my classmates to take a gap year or even two.

For me, I am torn. It seems the stress and work I put in "applying on time" paid off and I an very happy to have a solid plan before I graduate undergrad. However, I guess I will never know what will happen if I did take a gap year.
 
In my case I had not planned to take a gap year, it was more a result of applying too late in the cycle. However, it did allow me to get all my senior grades and experiences during undergrad onto my next AMCAS and an LOR from a physician I had shadowed. Also I had a lot more time to work on my AMCAS and secondaries without the stress of being in classes, etc. I have done some more volunteering and pursued some side interests, such as taking a course on medical interpreting, but for the most part I have had time to just relax and spend time with my family.

(Side note: As a reapplicant I was able to go back and discuss with the medical school I was interested in what I should do to improve my application, which made me a much stronger candidate because it showed I was committed to trying to go to that particular institution.)
 
Benefits of my gap year:

Improved my GPA by 0.5
Gave me a lot of time to work on my personal statement/secondaries/prep for interviews
Gave me time to relatively relax after getting accepted!
De-stress
Volunteer more
Spend time with friends/family

Life is a journey, and so is medical school. Apply when you are ready =)

Good luck OP!
 
Definitely second the option that the quality of your primary app and the nature of your gap year matters more than simply taking any type of gap year. The biggest weakness in my application was research, so I did a research gap year and put that on my primary app and mentioned it in secondaries and interviews. Having come from a relatively low ranked state school, having the weight of a high caliber research institution behind my name probably helped. Result: I got into multiple top-10 schools last cycle, and ended up deferring admission for another year.

Moral of the story: My gap year allowed me to put together my best possible application, shored up some weaknesses, and it worked out for me. I would recommend taking a gap year for sure.
 
If you have major flaws in your app, a year can do a ton to correct those problems. increasing GPA (or more importantly, showing an upward trend), increasing mcat scores, upping your clinical/service hours, the list goes on. don't underestimate the power of taking a year to apply with the best app possible.

For me, taking two extra years of difficult coursework while working clinical jobs allowed me to show I can handle the work academically and that I can handle health care in general. plus, it's always nice to have a year before med school to try and enjoy life a little when possible.
 
took a gap year to improve gpa. ended up being the same.
kinda wish i started medical school a year earlier cause then i'd be a 4th year and relaxing now but i got on a paper and made some good friends that i still talk to so it's all good
 
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