Gap Year-Confused

[Youngm2194]

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I'm kinda confused in regards to gap year. Obviously I know it's a year off but I don't understand it in terms of the med school app cycle. Basically I will be a senior this fall, aka plan on going to med school in the fall of 2017. From what I've read on here, it seems that most begin to apply in June/July, as in if I was planning on going right after I graduate I would have to apply now/very soon. I'm taking the mcat in September and I want to take a few extra classes to raise my gpa(3 or 4 classes maybe). If people apply in June/July, how does anything you do in the gap year influence your application if you're basically applying before your gap year really starts. Essentially how can one do more ECs, take classes, gain experience etc. if application cycles begin right after I graduate for the following year? Sorry if I'm very confused, but do items such as transcript, CV, etc. not get sent in to schools until much later in the process (like sept oct, etc.)?

Thanks for the help just very confused

 

[HCHopeful]

A traditional applicant applies after his or her junior year, enabling them to enter the fall after graduation. What you're proposing is a gap year simply because it gives you one year more of activities than those applying now. You're basically dedicating your senior year (gap year) to improving your application, whereas others in your class are using that same year to try to get into medical school.

The term gap year just means there will be a year between when you graduate and when you start medical school.

 

[HCHopeful]

All application materials (transcripts, activities, etc.) are submitted when you submit AMCAS (June/July).

 

[lhooq]

If people apply in June/July, how does anything you do in the gap year influence your application if you're basically applying before your gap year really starts.

You are correct, your gap year activities won't show up when you initially submit your AMCAS application in June/July right after your senior year. However, your application will include activities/grades from your senior year, unlike applicants who apply the summer after their junior year. Moreover, you can update schools with your gap year activities during the application cycle.

Essentially how can one do more ECs, take classes, gain experience etc. if application cycles begin right after I graduate for the following year?

If you need to improve your ECs and GPA and want your gap year activities to appear on your application, then you would have to apply after your first gap year and take two years off total.