Gap year recommended?

[brockhamptonfanacct]

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Trad applicant; current sophomore, applying next cycle. ORM. In-state residence: Missouri. Solid upward trend GPA wise; anticipating ~3.65-3.75 for both cGPA and sGPA by the time I apply, with cGPA slightly in the lead. MCAT: have not taken, or really began properly studying. I understand much of my success is contingent upon my MCAT score; this thread is just to ask if I don't have enough hours/variety, so that I can take the gap year and postpone my MCAT plans as well.

I'm mostly worried about my ECs not being substantial enough by the time I apply. Here's a breakdown:


Nonclinical volunteering: current total = 140 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = ~300 hours
-women's shelter (currently on pause)
-low-income psychological evaluation clinic where I maintain and clean a huge referral database of various resources, follow up with patients/clients after their evaluation at the clinic to evaluate progress, etc (currently ongoing)
-suicide hotline


Clinical experience: current total = 125 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = no clue because of corona. Assuming 125
-volunteer as receptionist, patient greeter, administrative assistant, patient registrar, etc at a low-income clinic that only accepts patients without health insurance
-have been here since high school, probably will get a solid LOR and have lots of stuff to say


Leadership: current total = 220 hours
Projected total if I apply on time: ~500+ hours
-senator for Student Government (heavy involvement, lots of stuff I can speak to here)
-chosen to be secretary for Student Government
-recently elected into one of the three executive positions and will take office May 1st (anticipating lots of hours)


Shadowing: current total = 125 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = no clue because of corona
-25 hours primary care at a low-income clinic (NOT the one I volunteer at)
-60 hours cardiology
-30 hours psychiatry
-10 hours proctology (is a DO and has told me he'll write a letter, but really need more hours w/ him for that letter to make any sense)


Employment: current total = 230 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = 1000+
-work as a direct care aide for a developmentally disabled client
-administer her meds, work through basic therapeutic coping practices
-take her to doctor's appointments, help her through all facets of life
-my pride and joy EC. Could talk about this at length, I love the work


Non-med ECs: current total = 50 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = ~150 hours
-intern for a local campaign
-research donors, proficiency with multiple databases required
-attend events, take pictures, mingle with politicians and donors
-I also write poetry as a hobby (figured I might as well put this on here, not anticipating it to mean much)


Research: current total = 130 hours
Projected total if I apply on time = 300 hours
-split between one behavioral neuroscience lab and one organic chemistry lab
-only 30 hours in the orgo lab because of corona, but PI will be my prof this fall and I'm hoping for a solid LOR
-guaranteed 2 posters from behavioral neuroscience lab
-highly expected 1 publication from behavioral neuroscience lab
-possibly expected 1 poster from organic chemistry lab


Other expected opportunities: expecting a political science poster from the research I'm doing this fall. Expecting a position as a gen psych SI.

Please offer any thoughts you have on whether or not I should take a gap year. Thank you!

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

Would especially appreciate any adcom feedback. I know there's no predicting what will happen/how things may go, and the success of my application will depend heavily upon an MCAT score, but I'm wondering if there are any concerning deficiencies that would perhaps be better addressed with a gap year. I also would like to look into the gap year option ASAP if necessary to postpone my MCAT. Thank you!

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Moko @Catalystik @Pathdocmd @Faha @Mr.Smile12

 

[HumanAfterAll]

Don't have much to say but I'm really interested to see what the opinion is for political activities on the app.

 

[Goro]

You're damn close to having an app to submit.

No more shadowing!

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

You're damn close to having an app to submit.

No more shadowing!

That was very kind. I smiled physically after reading your reply. Thank you Goro! You don't think a LOR from someone I only did ten hours with will be an issue?

 

[Goro]

That was very kind. I smiled physically after reading your reply. Thank you Goro! You don't think a LOR from someone I only did ten hours with will be an issue?

You do NOT need a clinician LOR for MD, except for a tiny handful of schools.

You will need one for DO schools, but 10 hrs is fine.

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

You do NOT need a clinician LOR for MD, except for a tiny handful of schools.

You will need one for DO schools, but 10 hrs is fine.

Noted. Thank you!

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

Don't have much to say but I'm really interested to see what the opinion is for political activities on the app.

My major is an offshoot of a political science major (think more geared towards nonprofit administration) and actually ties in to my reason for pursuing medicine, so it'll definitely be a sizable component of my app.

 

[HumanAfterAll]

My major is an offshoot of a political science major (think more geared towards nonprofit administration) and actually ties in to my reason for pursuing medicine, so it'll definitely be a sizable component of my app.

That's really cool! I was thinking it might be a little risky having something that reveals any political affiliation/ideology on the app, but it sounds like you have a great narrative, so I wish you the best! (from one brockhampton fan to another)

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

That's really cool! I was thinking it might be a little risky having something that reveals any political affiliation/ideology on the app, but it sounds like you have a great narrative, so I wish you the best! (from one brockhampton fan to another)

Thank you! I will definitely be tactful with my presentation of my interest in politics.

 

[LizzyM]

You should be in good shape... provided MCAT is good .

 

[brockhamptonfanacct]

You should be in good shape... provided MCAT is good .

Thank you!