Medical Gap year planning?

[Question]

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Hi there,

I've seen so much discussion about how important a gap year is and what one should do during it. I have two questions: how "important" is a gap year, and what should I do?

1) I've heard people say that a gap year "doesn't matter" because the only time you share what you do is during interviews. Thus, they advise working, or traveling, or just "being an adult". The other camp stresses that this is an arms race and that every experience counts. But even if I had many experiences during the gap year, how would I share them with the med schools? Who is right?

2) I'm debating about what to do on my gap year:
- work to make money
- work MA or some other clinical role to increase hands-on patient interaction hours.
- continue to do research with current lab with more publication prospects

Appreciate any insight or comments.

— Experts please respond to this post —

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

You're asking the wrong question. The question is why you are thinking about doing a gap year and how it would (better) help you as a future professional. Your questions focus more on "the game" and not about you.

On the statistics, a majority take at last one gap year, and many accepted applicants in the 2025 Profile of the Accepted Applicant have taken up to 4 gap years (i.e., likely career changers).

The main point is that everyone takes a personal journey. You ultimately must stop comparing yourself or try to conform to the average.

No one will criticize you for making money. The application process is expensive, and medical school tempts you to spend even more than what you should budget for your cost of living. Ten years of education plus residency is a commitment.

However, if you have an MCAT score, you have 3 years to convert it into a medical school offer. I presume you have a plan. You seem to know your weaknesses or have advisors who should tell you. You should secure your letters from professors before you graduate. But you should know this regardless of a gap year.

You are probably too young to understand the key to happiness is when you finally realize other peoples' opinions don't matter. Of course, they definitely matter when you are starting out if you want to impress friends, get married, get promoted. You may obsess over persuading others to like you when that becomes futile. Ultimately, you will learn you can't please everyone: "you are not a taco."

What have advisors told you about your profile or your 2+ year plan? Post a WAMC profile in public or here. You are much more than your numbers or your credit score (though that will be important going forward).

 

[GoSpursGo]

Agree.

You have the luxury of having a strong app. So ask yourself how you want to spend this last year before you jump on the medical training treadmill