Medical Gap Year Options

[Mr.Smile12]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi🙂
First of all let me just break down my stats, I am sitting at a 3.34 undergrad GPA with 1 more semester of (probably) all A's still to be added and an MCAT of 502 (I know, the definition of mediocre). I have had 1 interview at Ohio University, and am waitlisted. I am not opposed at all to DO schools and would actually prefer to go to one. I have good extracurriculars including several med-themed mission trips, leadership positions, a lot of research experience (no papers published though), and I founded a non profit.
So basically, I am now planning for a gap year in case OU never calls me. The way I see it, my options are
A) take a clinical kind of job at a hospital/nursing home/health care facility (I have my STNA)
B) take a research job
C) do a special masters program or post bac program to improve my gpa and possibly my MCAT. I would want to do a record-enhancing one, not one for people who haven't completed all their required course work.

All the advice I've received is so conflicting. I don't want to drop a ton of money on a flashy SMP or post bac program unless I absolutely need to (which I'm extremely unsure if I do). I also don't want to work for a year and spend time doing something that will not improve my chances of getting in. Literally, any help at all would be SO appreciated. Also if there is a glaring gap year option I am missing please fill me in🙂 Thank you!!

Not knowing what major you have been pursuing, a strong SMP is the only chance you might have with addressing your low GPA. If anything your GPA will creep up to near 3.4, and you'll have to really shine to get any MD program's attention. OU isn't a horrible DO program, and they have lots of spaces, so don't lose your hope too much. But if you really aren't that excited about going...

If you have an STNA/CRA certification, you can continue to work in that environment. That said, some schools may wonder what motivated you to get that certification and why you would want to get an MD/DO. Your GPA in rigorous science classes becomes very important because most nursing coursework isn't considered science-rigorous in a way that is comparable to what traditional biomedical science premed courses are (i.e., for science majors). That makes pursuing an SMP to address your GPA even more convincing.

You can always continue to manage your non-profit and make it sustainable so that it can still run without your direct involvement when you get to medical school. You can try a scribing program. You control your own destiny when it comes to experiences to add to whatever you have already done. But you need to really get some advice on your academic record and how to really shape it up for a stronger application and preparation for medical school.