Hey guys, I hope all is well. I am a junior this year and was now considering a gap year. I took my mcat this past August and got a 36 on it and am very happy with it. However, I have heard I will be fine for this upcoming cycle in terms of schools accepting my old mcat. Will I be ok if I end up taking a gap year? Or will a retake be necessary. Thanks for all the help.
Gap year possible without mcat retake
- Thread starter mmgggee1
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Best to email schools. Most say MCAT is good for 3 years
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You should be fine for most schools, but by the 2017 cycle more will prefer or require the new MCAT. This seems to be mostly low-tier schools though, which I'm assuming you won't be focusing on because of your good score. You definitely wouldn't want to end up taking two gap years, because by then most schols will only accept the new MCAT. https://www.aamc.org/students/download/398586/data/mcatexampolicy.pdf
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The MCAT is generally good for two application cycles, from what I've been told. The "3 year" time period includes the time from application to matriculation. I'm not 100% certain on that, but that's been the word of mouth. I would apply this year with your 36, and defer if you want a gap year.
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Not all schools will allow deferrals, so as long as you continue to do well and continue in your EC's, you will probably be a stronger applicant if you do a gap year. I also like it as you can enjoy senior year without having to go on a bunch of interviews (a tough life you will likely lead 😉 ). I would hold onto that score (very solid btw, congrats) and you could probably safely apply next year for the majority of programs (2016-2017 cycle). However, delaying more than that and you would probably have to retake.
I am in the same boat, I looked into policies carefully and asked my premed advisor.
You should be fine with one gap year (except at some low-tier schools, see the table posted earlier), but you will need to retake if you do two gap years.
The policies are that MCAT scores go stale after 2 or 3 years, and that is measured either from date of application or date of matriculation. Usually when you look at the whole policy, they are all pretty similar. 2 years from date of application at one school, 3 years from date of matriculation at another school, same difference. (Unless you deferred.) The fact that schools will give preference to the MCAT2015 is also a factor, but except for a few low-tier schools, the preference change for you (and me) will occur at the same time our scores go stale.
Anyhow, we should be fine with one gap year, and applying to begin in August 2017.
You should be fine with one gap year (except at some low-tier schools, see the table posted earlier), but you will need to retake if you do two gap years.
The policies are that MCAT scores go stale after 2 or 3 years, and that is measured either from date of application or date of matriculation. Usually when you look at the whole policy, they are all pretty similar. 2 years from date of application at one school, 3 years from date of matriculation at another school, same difference. (Unless you deferred.) The fact that schools will give preference to the MCAT2015 is also a factor, but except for a few low-tier schools, the preference change for you (and me) will occur at the same time our scores go stale.
Anyhow, we should be fine with one gap year, and applying to begin in August 2017.
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Why are you taking time off if your application is in order?
Not saying it's a bad thing, just curious.
Not saying it's a bad thing, just curious.
My application is mostly in order. Academics are fine as the mcat kinda shows. My ecs are good. I have one other question though, I won't be doing any shadowing until May, but I'll do a good 40-50 hours prior to applying IF I apply this year. Will that be ok or will I be hurt by the late shadowing?
Also, I would take a year off for more personal reasons and things I would like to do (spend time with family, work fun job, travel, etc) that I don't necessarily think I'll be able to do once med school starts. I would also be able to build up my app more. I guess I want to be competitive for top tier schools.
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You'll be fine. I did my shadowing a couple months later than that even.
If you take that gap year, make 100% certain that your MCAT score will count. You're really playing with fire by potentially throwing away that 36, especially with the new 2015 MCAT.
