Gap Year Concerns

[IonClaws]

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Hi everyone,

As you may know, I will be reapplying in one year to medical schools, so there will be a gap year.

Originally, I wanted to do a lot of non-clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, big brothers/big sisters, etc.), but since I do not have a car, only the homeless shelter is looking feasible (I can take a bus). Other activities require a car.

There aren't any EMT classes available when I can take them (last one for this year started in May), and they are extremely expensive (over $500), so I can't afford or take them. There are also not many research jobs around here (SE Michigan), so getting a job in that area isn't looking promising either. Certified nursing assistant programs are also too expensive to take.

MCAT is:

13 BS
9 PS
10 VR
S Writing

32S

Eastern Michigan University
cGPA: 3.77
bcpm GPA: 3.66

EC's:

Volunteer at U-M Trauma/Burn Unit (lots of patient contact)
Volunteer for two summers at St. Joseph Hospital (not as much patient contact but still some patient exposure in an Ambulatory surgery recovery room)
Some drawing, art, poetry, playing music on various instruments (nothing huge, just a few hobbies)
Physician shadowing (witnessed orthopedic surgery, amputation, and a DaVinci Robot procedure removing prostate cancer, also witnessed many neurological exams and history taking)

I currently work 30-40 hours a week at two part time jobs (Kmart and Arby's) and am continuing to volunteer in the TBU and shadow at St. Joe's.

If I can only add on homeless shelter volunteering to this list, will med schools look down on my year off? Getting a little frustrated is all...

Thanks so much!

 

[intothedark]

There aren't any EMT classes available when I can take them (last one for this year started in May), and they are extremely expensive (over $500), so I can't afford or take them. There are also not many research jobs around here (SE Michigan), so getting a job in that area isn't looking promising either. Certified nursing assistant programs are also too expensive to take.

I currently work 30-40 hours a week at two part time jobs (Kmart and Arby's) and am continuing to volunteer in the TBU and shadow at St. Joe's.

If I can only add on homeless shelter volunteering to this list, will med schools look down on my year off? Getting a little frustrated is all...

Thanks so much!

You won't be looked down upon for working. Just try to show your continued interest in medicine, which can be done in many ways.

Also, getting a CNA/EMT license just for the sake of bolstering your application won't help your cause all that much, unless you can actually work in those fields for a significant amount of time.