Gap Year Help

[EmpathMan]

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Hi all,

So I've read over quite a few forum threads seeing what people usually do in their year off after college, but I was hoping I could get some more specific responses tailored to my situation.

I recently got my MCAT score back and only got a 26S, which was quite below my averages on the full lengths I took. I kind of freaked out really hard during the test. So I think I'm going to withdraw my application and retake the MCAT next year. I get out of school at the end of April so I think I'll try for a June 20 something MCAT and do better.

cGPA is 3.84 and sGPA ~3.71 (will have AMCAS verification soon).

My resume:

1. Musician - quite a few years, been song writing and working on an album with band mates.
2. Tennis - been involved with the USTA competitive league for quite a few years also, got a few awards
3. EMT volunteering - did this through my training and through the organization at my college
4. Shadowing - done over a few years, covered quite a few specialties and amassed a few hundred hours
5. Research - got a conference poster presentation here being first author and also co-author on a journal article
6. Soup kitchen volunteering - one year, 2-3 hours a week
7. Academic Awards - dean's list, presidential service award 2x
8. Mission Trips - went on two. first one was at an HIV clinic and the second one was teaching CPR, first aid, e.t.c
9. Tennis Instructor - 1.5 years
10. Organic Chem TA - 1 year
11. President of EMS club at school - 2 years
12. Church worship leader - 1.5 years
13. Volunteered at a mobile outreach clinic for under-served people - semester

Anyways, sorry for a long post, just wanted to be specific to see if I could get any suggestions as to what I could do after I try for the MCAT again. Thanks so much for your time and input, I appreciate it very much!

 

[Courtjester8]

I think with solid ECs like that, you might want to try rolling the dice at your state schools. Just my humble opinion though.

-cj8

 

[pacersfan712]

Im in the same boat, I haven't decided if I am going to roll the dice with my state school or not. I've heard both sides, that it is not a good idea and that it is.

 

[Courtjester8]

Well some think that if you apply and don't get accepted, you're stigmatizing yourself as an applicant for the following cycle. My personal experience thus far has suggested just the opposite, especially if you make a lot of improvement to your app over a very short amount of time. I suggested the OP try because of the solid GPA and fantastic list of ECs. However, at this point we're also approaching another topic: the downside of applying late in the cycle which is something my last post neglected to mention. I'd be very torn if I were in this position. So its really a matter of what you think will be your best option given the strength of your candidacy as a whole. If you're not too sure as to whether your app would hold up, don't apply and beef up your application somehow.

cj8

 

[EmpathMan]

Thanks for your opinion cj8, I appreciate it very much. You've said it pretty perfectly, I am definitely torn. I've heard of quite a few people that were accepted to my state schools (Florida) with 26-28 MCATs. If that's the case, they most likely had very good ECs and GPAs to account for the MCAT. So I feel I will probably just apply to my state schools just to see what happens, but plan on retaking it next summer. I don't think my application should be ostracized if I reapply since I feel that my MCAT score is the only big red flag in my application you know? If I apply again next year with a significantly improved score, I'm on the side that tends to believe that shows improvement and diligence to try again.