Gap year opportunities

[Scrizzy]

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So I am currently wait listed at one med school and am waiting to hear back from the other. In the scenario that I get re-.... rejec-...... do not get pulled off the wait list, I want to take a look at my options. Personally, I would like to do research as I enjoy doing undergrad research in the chem lab I am in, but don't know if anyone will hire a person for only 1 year, so I might take 2 gap years instead. Honestly, the only occupation that I can think that will allow a 1 year commitment is a scribe, feel free to prove me wrong though.

I'm also looking into a SMP, but feel like I might shoot myself in the foot rather than help myself. My cGPA is 3.83 and sGPA is 3.71, only the MCAT is too low for my taste (506). Is there a higher chance that poor grade in the SMP will worsen my chances, since med schools do not care what your degree is, and should I keep the GPA that I have now?

I firmly believe that a bit of stress increases brainstorming, so I'll just leave this here....

Thanks in advance!

 

[saabbro]

def look what part of your app is weakest and hit that. if you need more clinical exp, scribe. seems like your grades are good so id say no smp. there are also year long opportunities out there outside of medicine that are worthwhile for you and your app like different americorps apps and whatnot which could give you exp w underserved populations. In any of these things you could study and retake mcat on the side if your score concerns you, but that would probably be more stressful if youre taking classes in a smp on top of that. Hope this helps!

 

[Scrizzy]

def look what part of your app is weakest and hit that. if you need more clinical exp, scribe. seems like your grades are good so id say no smp. there are also year long opportunities out there outside of medicine that are worthwhile for you and your app like different americorps apps and whatnot which could give you exp w underserved populations. In any of these things you could study and retake mcat on the side if your score concerns you, but that would probably be more stressful if youre taking classes in a smp on top of that. Hope this helps!

Thanks a lot!
I'm planning to retake the MCAT and had already signed up for it late April (hoping for a 508+). Other than that, I need a lot more volunteer work which I have been doing for my last semester of college and plan on continuing afterwards.

I also looked at the Americorps and find the work interesting. One of the things that's pushing me more to being a scribe is the clinical experience and that the income (stipend) for Americorps is severely low, less than half of what a scribe makes in Texas according to Glassdoor. I really don't know if that is enough to live off of and hate the idea of burdening my parents more than I already did (4 years college and living expenses). But I have not mixed taxes into the calculations yet, so I'll have to take another look.

 

[GinnyWeasley]

Thanks a lot!
I'm planning to retake the MCAT and had already signed up for it late April (hoping for a 508+). Other than that, I need a lot more volunteer work which I have been doing for my last semester of college and plan on continuing afterwards.

I also looked at the Americorps and find the work interesting. One of the things that's pushing me more to being a scribe is the clinical experience and that the income (stipend) for Americorps is severely low, less than half of what a scribe makes in Texas according to Glassdoor. I really don't know if that is enough to live off of and hate the idea of burdening my parents more than I already did (4 years college and living expenses). But I have not mixed taxes into the calculations yet, so I'll have to take another look.

Did you interview at UTMB? I'm asking because your stats are literally their exact averages. TX loves high gpas, so I'm confused as to why you only got 2 IIs, as a 506 MCAT in TX isn't bad at all.

 

[BehindBlueEyes]

Your GPA is in good shape, so I think an SMP would be a waste of your time. Part of me would say to just forego the job search until after the MCAT retake, if you're going to retake it you'll want to make sure it's a higher score. It may end up hurting you if you do the same or worse the second time around!

 

[Scrizzy]

Did you interview at UTMB? I'm asking because your stats are literally their exact averages. TX loves high gpas, so I'm confused as to why you only got 2 IIs, as a 506 MCAT in TX isn't bad at all.

Yep. I thought I was a prime candidate for UTMB as well (my stats were the exact average they gave from the interview day), so I was sure that I would be matched with it. The thing that probably worsen my chance with IIs is that I had a very late application due to me taking the MCAT in late July. Which is why the only IIs I got were from schools with no secondaries. I also had a bad EC since I only had a years worth of research (maybe 300+ hr?) and 50+ hr of shadowing under my belt, not much volunteering until the latter half of last semester.

 

[Scrizzy]

Your GPA is in good shape, so I think an SMP would be a waste of your time. Part of me would say to just forego the job search until after the MCAT retake, if you're going to retake it you'll want to make sure it's a higher score. It may end up hurting you if you do the same or worse the second time around!

Yea, I don't plan on looking for a job until this semester is over and I retake my MCAT. Just want to get all my options for a gap year down on the table. I'm glad everyone seem to agree that the SMP is a waste of time, since I don't think I can balance that while working and volunteering.