Gap Year Suggestion?

[kmedhopeful95]

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Hello all! Thanks in advance for reading..

Just looking for some advice on what to do during my second gap year. I am a First time applicant, currently waiting for some love from the ‘18-‘19 cycle. I graduated last year and spent that time retaking the MCAT and getting clinical experience as a medical assistant at a small private practice. I want to now refocus and work on making my weak areas stronger which are:

1. GPA: I have a 3.68c and 3.60s but AMCAS verified 3.58c due to an unfortunate study abroad semester where I foolishly took too many higher level Spanish courses (nothing I can do now but learn from it and move on). So I am not sure if spending 20k on a post bac would be worth it to get my gpa up maybe only .05 since I have so many credits. Any help here would be great.

2. Research- I only have one year of research. It was great doing something I love, working with breast cancer patients, but it’s not the wet lab experience that so many other applicants have. I was never super keen on research which is why I spent so much of my time volunteering and in leadership roles. Unsure of what I could do for a year here..

I have asked for help before in this forum, when I needed advice on my MCAT retake. So happy I did since I got an 11 point increase which I am so grateful for! I believe I am strong in other aspects as far as shadowing, clinical experience, letters of Rec, and volunteering. Asking for help again from anyone willing to read! Thanks again!

 

[FroYoOreo]

I think anything that is 3.6-ish is not going to stop you from getting into a med school. I would suggest you either get a research or a clinical job (research coordinator, scribe, etc.)

 

[crazymedguy123]

What is your volunteering experience, since you did not list (clinical and nonclinical)? Working as an MA is a great job during apps, but if you are looking to change you could scribe. Research from what I understand is not super important to most adcoms and you already have some experience. More volunteering is always good!

Also, what is your MCAT? You increased by 11 points but obviously if you are applying MD and you went something like 495 to 506 that still would put you below most schools.

 

[kmedhopeful95]

I think anything that is 3.6-ish is not going to stop you from getting into a med school. I would suggest you either get a research or a clinical job (research coordinator, scribe, etc.)

I appreciate your time and response! Definitely eases my concerns about the change in GPA. I will be sure to get more experience either in research or clinical. Thank you!

 

[kmedhopeful95]

What is your volunteering experience, since you did not list (clinical and nonclinical)? Working as an MA is a great job during apps, but if you are looking to change you could scribe. Research from what I understand is not super important to most adcoms and you already have some experience. More volunteering is always good!

Also, what is your MCAT? You increased by 11 points but obviously if you are applying MD and you went something like 495 to 506 that still would put you below most schools.

Absolutely, sorry if the missing info makes it hard to give advice.

3 years volunteering at an Alzheimer’s facility in which I became founder and president of a club that paired students with an elderly patient (my pride and joy in undergrad).
2 years as a Suicide hotline counselor, and I am still managing some projects for the crisis center. 4 years running a mental health club committee with around 100 service hours each semester doing different volunteer services, too many to list here.

I do plan on continuing volunteering with the crisis center and at a local rural hospital. I like my current job as an Medical Assistant but I’m worried I’m not learning enough since it’s a small office and now my responsibilities include the receptionist position since I was somewhat promoted (not my idea necessarily but kinda fell into my lap).

Lastly, my MCAT went from a 503 to a 514. Thanks again for your response!

 

[crazymedguy123]

Absolutely, sorry if the missing info makes it hard to give advice.

3 years volunteering at an Alzheimer’s facility in which I became founder and president of a club that paired students with an elderly patient (my pride and joy in undergrad).
2 years as a Suicide hotline counselor, and I am still managing some projects for the crisis center. 4 years running a mental health club committee with around 100 service hours each semester doing different volunteer services, too many to list here.

I do plan on continuing volunteering with the crisis center and at a local rural hospital. I like my current job as an Medical Assistant but I’m worried I’m not learning enough since it’s a small office and now my responsibilities include the receptionist position since I was somewhat promoted (not my idea necessarily but kinda fell into my lap).

Lastly, my MCAT went from a 503 to a 514. Thanks again for your response!

Thanks for the info. Yeah I think you are honestly pretty well versed when it comes to your app. It's always good to have some longitudinal experiences so I would try to keep some of your volunteer gigs. Otherwise, find a job that you enjoy/find rewarding! I'm an '18-'19 applicant as well and I'm thinking about switching after being a scribe for the past year. Hopefully you get some love this cycle, it's still quite early!

 

[kmedhopeful95]

Thanks for the info. Yeah I think you are honestly pretty well versed when it comes to your app. It's always good to have some longitudinal experiences so I would try to keep some of your volunteer gigs. Otherwise, find a job that you enjoy/find rewarding! I'm an '18-'19 applicant as well and I'm thinking about switching after being a scribe for the past year. Hopefully you get some love this cycle, it's still quite early!

I know I got to remember it’s early and to chill with my irrational feelings of being left out. Always nice to hear from others going through the same process. I wish you good luck this cycle and hopefully we both hear some good news soon! Definitely great idea about the longitudinal volunteering positions. MA-ing is great if you want more of a patient care experience since you get to develop a rapport with them over time. I appreciate you taking the time to respond and thanks for the advice!