Gap Year/General Application Advice

[OhGreatPremed]

Hello SDN community,

I'm looking for some advice on the best path forward regarding a job for my upcoming gap year. I'm currently deciding between pursuing a position as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) or a more traditional clinical role as a Medical Assistant (MA) or medical scribe. I'll be applying in the 2025-2026 cycle, so I want to make sure I'm setting myself up well in terms of experience, but financial considerations are also a significant factor for me. I am a senior graduating a semester early this Fall and will be seeking employment directly after graduation.

My current stats and experience:

• Undergrad: T25 Public University
• cGPA: 3.9
• sGPA: 3.8
• MCAT: 518

Work and clinical experience:

• Research:
  • 2,500 hours in a wet lab (biochem focus) with multiple publications, posters, talks, awards, and a prestigious national scholarship. My PI is well-known in the field.
• Clinical:
  • 500 hours as a Rehab Aide (Physical Therapy clinic)
  • 300 hours clinical hospital volunteering
  • 100 hours shadowing multiple specialties
• Non-clinical volunteering: 250 hours with an underserved group
• Leadership: President of a major student organization

My main question:

I'm concerned about whether my current clinical experience might be seen as too unrelated to medical school (mainly my Rehab Aide position). I enjoyed it but want to ensure that I have enough direct clinical experience interacting with patients in settings more relevant to a physician's work.

On the other hand, I'm drawn to the CRC position because of the higher salary. Coming from a low-income background, the difference between making $35k as an MA/scribe and $60k as a CRC would significantly impact my financial stability during my gap year.

So, do I have any significant gaps or "holes" in my application I should be focusing on? Will choosing the CRC job, even if it's less patient-facing, put me at a disadvantage compared to a more traditional clinical role like MA or scribe?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

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[Hollow Knight]

Honestly I know what it's like to be too broke for Taco Bell and I'd take the money bro. But I'm interested to see what others think

 

[AJS59]

You hit the minimum bar for volunteering already. Take the money and run.

 

[surelycalm]

As long as you have enough topics to write meaningfully about your clinical and underserved volunteering you should be good.

They do however like to see continued work so that it doesn't look like you were just checking off a box. With that said, you can try to continue those activities 1 day a week and then use the rest of your time for income based activities.

You might want to start pre-writing secondaries now. You will also find that your writing continually improves as you start to edit and revise them so the more time you have the more satisfied you will be with the finished product.

 

[LizzyM]

Concur with the above. The best paying job is the best option for you now.

 

[jvquarterback]

Why didn’t you apply this year? You didn’t need anything else. The whole gap year is utter nonsense. Why people waste a year of their life is beyond me.

 

[AJS59]

Why didn’t you apply this year? You didn’t need anything else. The whole gap year is utter nonsense. Why people waste a year of their life is beyond me.

Many compelling reasons for people to take a gap year, not all of which are about improving the quality of your application.

A gap year is not a year of life "wasted" - it's an opportunity to grow, to travel, to do things that you otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Not everything in life should be about rushing to get that first attending paycheck

 

[OhGreatPremed]

Thank you all so much for the feedback! I really appreciate the input. Based on the advice, I’m leaning toward pursuing the CRC position, as the financial stability aligns best with my current goals. I also plan to continue my volunteering throughout the application cycle.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[jvquarterback]

The gap year is part of the game these days but the OP is asking MA vs CRC. Is either going to add to their resume? Absolutely not. Is it going to give some life altering experience that’s going to make their case for admission? Again no.

I think OP should apply now even though it’s late even though every advisor would weigh in against it this late in the game. They’re just looking for yield protection for their applicant pool rather than the interests of the applicant. The gap year for an applicant like this is entirely unnecessary. If they are considering a career as an MA or CRC I think a gap year is a great idea but come on.

Apply, get accepted, travel or do whatever next spring.

 

[AJS59]

The gap year is part of the game these days but the OP is asking MA vs CRC. Is either going to add to their resume? Absolutely not. Is it going to give some life altering experience that’s going to make their case for admission? Again no.

I think OP should apply now even though it’s late even though every advisor would weigh in against it this late in the game. They’re just looking for yield protection for their applicant pool rather than the interests of the applicant. The gap year for an applicant like this is entirely unnecessary. If they are considering a career as an MA or CRC I think a gap year is a great idea but come on.

Apply, get accepted, travel or do whatever next spring.

We're well past LizzyM's target date of having applications complete by Labor Day. If OP had all their ducks in a row with respect to letters of recommendation, personal statement etc then maybe, but it takes a lot of time to get that sorted out. Additionally, a rushed application that is also late might lead to the no acceptance/reapplicant problem, where OP would be labelled as a reapplicant.

IMO let OP live and let live. The idea of a gap year for them may not be just to add to their resume; perhaps they do not feel ready yet; perhaps, frankly, they want to enjoy their life for a little bit for medical school. Everyone has different reasons for not applying right away, and OP is not putting themselves at any disadvantage by waiting.

 

[ecobio]

FWIW, i know every CRC position is different, but i get a TON of direct patient care with my role as a CRC. Probably around 30-40% of it is working with patients. So, if you're worried about lack of clinical experience, the CRC role is a great way to bolster it. Plus, the double salary is nothing to sneeze at.

Side note: I am very grateful for my several gap years. I grew a lot personally and wouldn't have changed a thing. Everyone's journey is different, there is no shame in taking a year off.