Gap year as a growing soft requirement, necessary or not?

[abdum]

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Hello all!

I'm a junior, and I'm currently in a position where I have to make the choice on whether to take a gap year or not. I have a 522 MCAT and 4.0 GPA (Cali resident ORM) at a T20 private, and my ideaaaal ideal goal (although I'm not terribly picky) is to end up somewhere in California. My extracurriculars check the boxes, and I have a few memorable experiences to center my application on.

Question is... at top schools (T20) nowadays, it feels like the gap year is almost a soft prereq (more people are doing it than not). I know that if I take a gap year, it will only help my application, but if my application is currently good enough to get me into a California school (i.e. be near family), then I'd prefer to avoid the gap year altogether. Thing is though... I don't know if my application IS good enough, as I just don't have a lot of anecdotal/statistical data to get a good understanding of where that cutoff of caliber of students is.

So...What do you guys think? Is the gap year an 'unspoken' soft prereq for those who aren't truly exceptional? Should I apply now and risk being put against those with more life experience (for reference, I'm only 19), or should I spend another year finding some way to gain some form of unique experience? (I have a solid amount of research, clinical hours, shadowing hours, etc., but nothing that makes someone truly say 'wow! that's 1 in 1,000,000!') I originally had a great summer research internship lined up, but because of Covid-19, it's being pushed until next summer.

TL;DR Gap year necessary for top schools nowadays? Thanks so much for the help! Honesty is completely appreciated.

 

[deleted947265]

You're fine.

Good luck.

 

[efle]

It's still only 1/2 to 2/3 that have gap years even at the pickiest of med schools. Highest I have seen is Penn I believe at ~70% nontrad. So it is not rare in the slightest for traditional students to get admitted even at the top.

I took a research year prior to medical school and I would highly recommend waiting to instead do it during medical school. Research years are also becoming a growing requirement for matching well in the competitive surgical subspecialties. So if you're going to have to tack an extra year of research in somewhere, it is best to do it after MS2 or MS3, when you know what field you are going into and can use the year to beef up your CV and nab a great letter in your field.

 

[callmedr55]

Looks like you’re set up to do quite well. Gap year is not a requirement but they will expect maturity. I didn’t take a year and couldn’t have hoped for a better cycle so I’m glad I went with my gut and not what other people were telling me. Feel free to pm me 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

Do you want to bet $7000 that you will get in without a gap year? If so, go for it. If not, you'll be reapplying after a gap year and after having lost that bet.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Hello all!

I'm a junior, and I'm currently in a position where I have to make the choice on whether to take a gap year or not. I have a 522 MCAT and 4.0 GPA (Cali resident ORM) at a T20 private, and my ideaaaal ideal goal (although I'm not terribly picky) is to end up somewhere in California. My extracurriculars check the boxes, and I have a few memorable experiences to center my application on.

Question is... at top schools (T20) nowadays, it feels like the gap year is almost a soft prereq (more people are doing it than not). I know that if I take a gap year, it will only help my application, but if my application is currently good enough to get me into a California school (i.e. be near family), then I'd prefer to avoid the gap year altogether. Thing is though... I don't know if my application IS good enough, as I just don't have a lot of anecdotal/statistical data to get a good understanding of where that cutoff of caliber of students is.

So...What do you guys think? Is the gap year an 'unspoken' soft prereq for those who aren't truly exceptional? Should I apply now and risk being put against those with more life experience (for reference, I'm only 19), or should I spend another year finding some way to gain some form of unique experience? (I have a solid amount of research, clinical hours, shadowing hours, etc., but nothing that makes someone truly say 'wow! that's 1 in 1,000,000!') I originally had a great summer research internship lined up, but because of Covid-19, it's being pushed until next summer.

TL;DR Gap year necessary for top schools nowadays? Thanks so much for the help! Honesty is completely appreciated.

As someone mentioned, it is more about maturity than anything else. Those numbers are sterling. Make sure you dress/speak/act like a professional and any worries about your age will be dissolved. Apply far and wide because Cali is Cali, but if a 4.0/522 with good ECs can't get in, who can?

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors.

 

[MisterMukwa]

It's still only 1/2 to 2/3 that have gap years even at the pickiest of med schools. Highest I have seen is Penn I believe at ~70% nontrad. So it is not rare in the slightest for traditional students to get admitted even at the top.

I took a research year prior to medical school and I would highly recommend waiting to instead do it during medical school. Research years are also becoming a growing requirement for matching well in the competitive surgical subspecialties. So if you're going to have to tack an extra year of research in somewhere, it is best to do it after MS2 or MS3, when you know what field you are going into and can use the year to beef up your CV and nab a great letter in your field.

70% nontrad or takes a gap year?

 

[efle]

70% nontrad or takes a gap year?

I think the stat when I interviewed was 30% straight from college, 70% had one or more gap years