Gap Year: Yes, no, sort of?

[CosmicNoire]

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Hello all!

I'm halfway through my junior year and will be finishing the last of my med school per-requisites this spring (exciting!). I'm currently at a 3. 62 overall, and a 3.5 science gpa right now. I have OK ECs, but they need improvement, currently working on that. I decided a bit late in the game that I was smart enough to attempt going to medical school, so I have yet to take the MCAT.

My current plan is to finish this next semester strong, and then spend three months studying and then take the MCAT in August or early September.

Now I realize that this is late, and if I were to apply to schools, and not try to take a gap year, I would be a late application, but would hopefully result in not taking a gap year. The alternative is to wait until the following cycle and apply early with my scores and beefed up ECs, and completed degree (not relevant, I know.)

I've weighed various advantages/disadvantages, and am wondering if it would hurt me to apply to just a few schools (late app) after taking the MCAT, and if I don't get in will it hurt me when I apply next cycle?

And here is another thing that really concerns me: If I took the gap year, my chances to get into MD would increase slightly, but I feel that if I applied to a DO school right away, I might also get accepted right away. I'm not too particular about which one, I think both would be an amazing opportunity for me.

Advice from all angles would be great, I think about this way too much!

 

[medickdb]

It's a little late now, especially if you haven't taken the MCAT yet. Some schools accept primary applications as late as March 15, 2014, a few April 1, 2014. However, I would bet most of those schools already have nearly filled if not completely filled classes. Entering any of the remaining competition this cycle would be an unwise financial decision.

Your best bet is to get everything ready to apply early the next cycle. You can fill out the primary in May and be ready to submit in June.

 

[CosmicNoire]

It's a little late now, especially if you haven't taken the MCAT yet. Some schools accept primary applications as late as March 15, 2014, a few April 1, 2014. However, I would bet most of those schools already have nearly filled if not completely filled classes. Entering any of the remaining competition this cycle would be an unwise financial decision.

Your best bet is to get everything ready to apply early the next cycle. You can fill out the primary in May and be ready to submit in June.

Now, wait a minute... So. I think I must be misunderstanding something. Which wouldn't surprise me. I plan on taking the MCAT summer/early fall of 2014, to attend med school fall of 2015, the fall after my senior year, next year. Are you saying it's already too late to apply...?

This link (https://www.princetonreview.com/medical/admissions-timeline.aspx) says that I have until August for early admission and up until mid December (I wasn't aware that it stretched that late).

I might have just made a blunder in what I thought was my timeline, help a girl out?

 

[cabinbuilder]

If you don't want a gap year then you should be applying June of 2014 to matriculate the next year. You need to apply a year ahead. You can apply with the MCAT pending but most like to take the MCAT in Jan-Apr so you have your scores back before you apply in June.

 

[medickdb]

Now, wait a minute... So. I think I must be misunderstanding something. Which wouldn't surprise me. I plan on taking the MCAT summer/early fall of 2014, to attend med school fall of 2015, the fall after my senior year, next year. Are you saying it's already too late to apply...?

This link (https://www.princetonreview.com/medical/admissions-timeline.aspx) says that I have until August for early admission and up until mid December (I wasn't aware that it stretched that late).

I might have just made a blunder in what I thought was my timeline, help a girl out?

Sorry. It's late, and I misread. You can submit your application for osteopathic schools beginning in June of any given year to matriculate in the Fall of the following year. Deadlines for the primary application are school dependent as are secondaries.

For reference, you can find information for this cycle here: http://www.aacom.org/Documents/AACOMASInstructions.pdf. It shows when the primary and secondary applications are due for any given school.

You should be fine if you apply in that timeframe you stated.

You'll be a senior in August? If you're applying for this upcoming cycle which starts this June (to matriculate 2015), you won't have a gap year.

 

[CosmicNoire]

Thank you very much.

 

[DrHitchcraft]

Now, wait a minute... So. I think I must be misunderstanding something. Which wouldn't surprise me. I plan on taking the MCAT summer/early fall of 2014, to attend med school fall of 2015, the fall after my senior year, next year. Are you saying it's already too late to apply...?

This link (https://www.princetonreview.com/medical/admissions-timeline.aspx) says that I have until August for early admission and up until mid December (I wasn't aware that it stretched that late).

I might have just made a blunder in what I thought was my timeline, help a girl out?

If you intend on matriculating in 2015 (Class of 2019/2014-2015 admissions cycle), you will want to have all components of your medical school application ready on day 1 (ideal situation) when AMCAS opens for submission for the 2014-2015 admissions cycle. I would recommend taking your MCAT, at the latest, on May 2014 so you get your scores back by the time AMCAS opens for submission on June 2014 (I may be wrong so double-check MCAT score release dates). Gather all your LORs (preferably onto Interfolio), pre-write your AMCAS application and have your transcripts sent ASAP in order to readily complete your AMCAS application (primary) on the day it opens. This will ensure that the verification process takes ~1 day to ~1 week instead of 1.5+ months. Also have your secondary applications pre-written (for the schools you are interested in applying to) so that you can immediately complete it once you receive them. This plan will ensure that your application is COMPLETE at the earliest possible date for each medical school you apply to thus maximizing your chances for admission (please do not underestimate the value of an early application). Good luck!

 

[CosmicNoire]

If you intend on matriculating in 2015 (Class of 2019/2014-2015 admissions cycle), you will want to have all components of your medical school application ready on day 1 (ideal situation) when AMCAS opens for submission for the 2014-2015 admissions cycle. I would recommend taking your MCAT, at the latest, on May 2014 so you get your scores back by the time AMCAS opens for submission on June 2014 (I may be wrong so double-check MCAT score release dates). Gather all your LORs (preferably onto Interfolio), pre-write your AMCAS application and have your transcripts sent ASAP in order to readily complete your AMCAS application (primary) on the day it opens. This will ensure that the verification process takes ~1 day to ~1 week instead of 1.5+ months. Also have your secondary applications pre-written (for the schools you are interested in applying to) so that you can immediately complete it once you receive them. This plan will ensure that your application is COMPLETE at the earliest possible date for each medical school you apply to thus maximizing your chances for admission (please do not underestimate the value of an early application). Good luck!

This is exactly the situation that I would like. Which would only be possible if I took the gap year. I literally cannot afford the time to study this spring semester, as I also teach, work, volunteer, am working on a research project, ect., like most others, I know. I just feel that if I were to take the MCAT far earlier than I have planned, then I will do poorly. Hence the idea to simply do a gap year.

 

[medickdb]

Just to be clear as this is the pre-osteopathic section of the forum... AMCAS is for allopathic schools whereas AACOMAS is for osteopathic schools. These are two separate services.

I just wanted to make sure you were aware because I had a friend who had no idea that he had to complete two separate applications in order to apply to both MD and DO schools.

Gap years aren't a bad thing. A lot of people feel that they need to go straight to medical school after undergraduate. But, there's something to be said about having a gap between the two.

Whatever you choose to do, good luck!

 

[DrHitchcraft]

This is exactly the situation that I would like. Which would only be possible if I took the gap year. I literally cannot afford the time to study this spring semester, as I also teach, work, volunteer, am working on a research project, ect., like most others, I know. I just feel that if I were to take the MCAT far earlier than I have planned, then I will do poorly. Hence the idea to simply do a gap year.

Oh, I see. Judging by your post, you seem confident that you will do well on the MCAT only if you take it on August-September 2014 so I would definitely recommend this test date. As such, in the 2014-2015 application cycle, the earliest date that your application is complete in each medical school you apply to would be ~October when your MCAT scores are released. This is already quite late in the cycle. At this time, there are several applicants already being interviewed before the adcoms even review your application. For this reason, I will recommend taking a gap year to adequately prepare for an early application in the 2015-2016 admissions cycle.

In addition, do not overlook the stress of the medical school admissions cycle. It is mentally and emotionally taxing so it is best for your own morale to not apply as a sort of 'test drive' or 'a shot in the dark' (even if you got money to burn). Apply at your best when you are fully ready.

Don't worry about DO admissions. I'm sure you will do fine in it. Apply to both MD and DO in 2015-2016 at your best and decide once you receive your acceptances. Even if you are indifferent to MD or DO, you may want some of the perks of going to an MD school.