Gap year/MCAT probz

[lumpyduster]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm going into my senior year and am signed up for a late July MCAT test date, since I planned on taking a gap year. Plot twist - my state school which was my first choice/ideal safety is not taking the old MCAT after this cycle and so I couldn't apply with this MCAT! I've been studying about 6-7 hours a day for a month now, and I'm not sure what I should do.

I could -
1. Take this MCAT, not apply to state school and hope a nearby school in another state will accept me next year when I apply.
2. Take the new MCAT next year - very sad but whatever.
3. Apply to med schools and defer a year or just not take my precious gap year adventure. App would be hella late.
4. Do option 3 and if/when I get rejected take the new MCAT and reapply.

Not the end of the world but it's kind of a pain in the a** :'(

 

[mariambaby3]

Most people I met during interviews have taken gap years.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

im worried too that I would have to retake my solid mcat if i don't get in this year. what state school OP?

 

[lmn]

If you think you're competitive you could apply just to your state school this year

 

[el_duderino]

How strong would your app be right now? What's your GPA, what ECs do you have, etc?

 

[lumpyduster]

How strong would your app be right now? What's your GPA, what ECs do you have, etc?

In brief,
GPA = 3.95

ECs
Research: 1,000+ hours over 3 years+summers; 2 presentations; 1 first author publication to be submitted (I can safely say it will be out by the time I graduate)
Tutoring - 400 hours over 2 years
Boys and Girls Club - 3 hr/wk since January 2013
Free health clinic volunteer - 150 hr
Hospital volunteer - 60 hr
Shadowing - 50 hr; will be roughly 100 by end of summer
Will be a TA next year, but can't put that on this year's appy, unfortunately.


PS - your avatar makes me think of the moon in Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. 🙂

 

[el_duderino]

As much as I love Zelda, this is actually an Iron Maiden illustration 😉

I think you should apply now. You should have a great shot with a 30+ MCAT.

 

[lumpyduster]

Bumping this back up again because I have another question -

If I do apply to this one school this year and don't get in, when I apply next year as a reapplicant and they ask me why I didn't get into medical school the first time, won't it be kind of alienating/bad to say that I only applied to my state school really late in the season because I didn't want to take the new MCAT?

 

[el_duderino]

They won't ask why you didn't get in. They may ask what makes you a stronger candidate this year. The answer should be an earlier application and a greater variety and strength of clinical and volunteer experience.