Gap year questions

[Johnny Appleseed]

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I'm graduating next month and then applying to med school this summer. I'll be working at a car dealership with my brother (going to try and pay off all my undergrad loans).

I'll continue to volunteer and shadow every now and then, but I won't be involved in any research and I won't be taking any classes.

Is this an acceptable Gap year? Or will adcoms view this unfavorably? I would take classes, but it just seems worthless to spend more money on something I don't need... I'd rather just work and pay off debt.

(I'm also running a couple marathons and doing a half iron Man during the gap year. I'm excited to focus on that instead of school for once... And my wife just had a baby giving me another reason not to spend money on classes. Not sure if these things are relevant or matter at all to admissions committees...)

Anyone have experience not doing anything academically related during their Gap year? How did you address this in interviews, secondaries, etc.?

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[brew]

Depends on your stats. If you got good stats (MCAT/GPA), I don't think it will be a problem as long as you keep volunteering/shadowing, etc

 

[radian313]

I'm graduating next month and then applying to med school this summer. I'll be working at a car dealership with my brother (going to try and pay off all my undergrad loans).

I'll continue to volunteer and shadow every now and then, but I won't be involved in any research and I won't be taking any classes.

Is this an acceptable Gap year? Or will adcoms view this unfavorably? I would take classes, but it just seems worthless to spend more money on something I don't need... I'd rather just work and pay off debt.

(I'm also running a couple marathons and doing a half iron Man during the gap year. I'm excited to focus on that instead of school for once... And my wife just had a baby giving me another reason not to spend money on classes. Not sure if these things are relevant or matter at all to admissions committees...)

Anyone have experience not doing anything academically related during their Gap year? How did you address this in interviews, secondaries, etc.?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using SDN mobile

A gap year is often used to address any application deficits such as gpa concerns, mcat, or clinical experiences.

Do you have any of these? Everyone in med school comes in with debt. Assuming they are federal loans, you get a deferment for it.

These things become relevant when they are not addressed.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

Depends on your stats. If you got good stats (MCAT/GPA), I don't think it will be a problem as long as you keep volunteering/shadowing, etc

cGPA & sGPA 3.5 with strong upward trend. MCAT in May... Been getting 505-509 range on practice tests (with one or two outliers)

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[radian313]

cGPA & sGPA 3.5 with strong upward trend. MCAT in May... Been getting 505-509 range on practice tests (with one or two outliers)

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And thats the other thing. If your mcat requires a repeat then it may need to be addressed.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

A gap year is often used to address any application deficits such as gpa concerns, mcat, or clinical experiences.

Do you have any of these? Everyone in med school comes in with debt. Assuming they are federal loans, you get a deferment for it.

These things become relevant when they are not addressed.

I have mediocre gpa, but I'd have to take 60+ credits to move it at all now. I have like 180 credits. Worked 1,000 hrs as a CNA. Haven't taken MCAT yet... I feel like I have pretty strong ECs... But they could always be better..

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[Johnny Appleseed]

And thats the other thing. If your mcat requires a repeat then it may need to be addressed.

Okay if I need to retake MCAT I will study and do that this year as well... I feel prepared and still have some time to study so I'm not anticipating needing to retake.

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[radian313]

Okay if I need to retake MCAT I will study and do that this year as well... I feel prepared and still have some time to study so I'm not anticipating needing to retake.

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Ofcourse man. Who the heck goes into an mcAt thinking of a repeat? Lol good luck though

 

[123456ers]

I have mediocre gpa, but I'd have to take 60+ credits to move it at all now. I have like 180 credits. Worked 1,000 hrs as a CNA. Haven't taken MCAT yet... I feel like I have pretty strong ECs... But they could always be better..

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Your stats are good, just know that not really doing any of the "traditional" gap year stuff at all could look bad if you didn't get in this year and had to reapply later.. If I were you I'd have at least some type of component of med school app enhancement in your life, like volunterring or whatever, so you could point to it if you are unfortunately not accepted this time.

Just a thought. You clearly stand a good chance of getting in this cycle. Good luck with the MCAT

 

[SunnyDO]

I knew when I graduated college that I wanted to take some time off from school to travel and do fun/spontaneous stuff that I really wasn't able to while I was in UG (and prior). I believe that any professional position you hold during this time off can be catered towards showing personal growth and experience working in a professional environment. Basically, taking some time off really helped me sink into the idea of "adulting" (the term so cleverly generated by our generation to describe the experience of being an "adult" - whatever that means 😀).

In your case you seem to have a lot on your plate with a kid on the way, which is kind of a HUGE life ordeal (congratulations btw). I feel like an admissions committee would be more than understanding of your circumstance.

For the above stated reasons, I don't think you necessarily have to have a "productive" gap year in terms of improving your application. I feel like you could easily justify your time off to an admissions committee by stating the above. That being said I think it behooves you to passively, if not actively, pursue some medically/volunteer related endeavor in your spare time - it really gives you something to talk about come interview time.

Your stats are good, just know that not really doing any of the "traditional" gap year stuff at all could look bad if you didn't get in this year and had to reapply later.. If I were you I'd have at least some type of component of med school app enhancement in your life, like volunterring or whatever, so you could point to it if you are unfortunately not accepted this time.

Just a thought. You clearly stand a good chance of getting in this cycle. Good luck with the MCAT

Also, like the poster above me mentioned, it's best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

 

[deleted831695]

I don't see it as a big deal. It's not like you're sitting at home doing nothing. You're actively working and supplementing that with volunteering and shadowing.

 

[Medic741]

I 😍 adulting. Your time off is your time off & a 9-5 will feel like you're barely working. Go for it & enjoy.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Sounds like I should be good as long as I do a few things to improve my app for next cycle in case I don't get in anywhere... and also to use as talking points in interviews.