Gap Year?

[DannySCR]

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as of now, I'm planning on taking the MCAT this year and applying this cycle, but I have a few doubts as to my chances of success such as:
1) I'm taking the MCAT in late July, so I will only get my scores near September
2) I don't have many letters of recommendation ( I have a few from Md's, but not from professors)
3) My EC's could be better, such as doing research or racking up volunteer hours

With this in mind, the chances that I will apply relatively late are pretty high ( late August), so what is the outlook for that in terms of chances of acceptance. How fast do programs fill up?

If I do in fact take an year off, what can I do in that year to enhance my chances of entry. I've heard things such as getting a Masters, taking more Undergrad classes to boost GPA, volunteering, research.

Also, It would be nice to hear from some people who did in fact take an year off and are in medical school- how was the experience like, what are some useful tips, and what are the chances of getting in when taking an year off... does it look bad on an application to do so?

Thanks in advance!

 

[43092]

You should probably post your stats/ECs for more helpful advice.

 

[DannySCR]

You should probably post your stats/ECs for more helpful advice.

Oh Yes, Sorry. I have about a 3.4 Cumulative GPA and still haven't taken the MCAT. My EC's include around 20 hours of shadowing ( ongoing) as well as being a founding father for 2 organizations at my school and presiding over one of them. I also spend a lot of time taking care of a special needs kid, doing activities such as playing basketball and spending time in general with him. One of the things that worry me is the fact I still haven't done a personal statement seeing that I'm preparing for the MCAT and I don't have any letters of recommendation from school faculty ( and probably will be unable to obtain them until at least late August)

 

[43092]

Oh Yes, Sorry. I have about a 3.4 Cumulative GPA and still haven't taken the MCAT. My EC's include around 20 hours of shadowing ( ongoing) as well as being a founding father for 2 organizations at my school and presiding over one of them. I also spend a lot of time taking care of a special needs kid, doing activities such as playing basketball and spending time in general with him. One of the things that worry me is the fact I still haven't done a personal statement seeing that I'm preparing for the MCAT and I don't have any letters of recommendation from school faculty ( and probably will be unable to obtain them until at least late August)

If you're Science GPA is close to that, then I think you should spend your time studying for the MCAT and getting lots more clinical experience. I would say a gap year is a good idea for both the MCAT, getting letters, getting lots more volunteering/shadowing done. You're looking at applying very late this cycle which is not good. But I'll let other more experienced SDNers comment as I am only a sophomore. 🙂

 

[lmn]

You should take the gap year, you need more shadowing and definitely LOR's from professors.

 

[infinitessimal]

Too late. Here's a recipe for success:
-if you have great numbers, apply early (June/July). If you have average numbers, apply early.
-try to take MCAT well before application cycle begins so that you know which schools are in your range, schools see your app earlier, and you have time to retake if needed.
-most schools require letters from your science professors, and many from a non-science professor. You're hurting yourself without these.
-that said, your clinical experience seems almost nonexistent, yet you say your LORs are from MDs. Are these the ones you shadowed? Because adcoms don't put much weight on this, since someone you followed around for a day can't comment much on your abilities. Much preferred would be MDs for whom you worked, volunteered, or did research.
-don't think of it as "racking up volunteer hours". It's more like exposing yourself to patient contact so that you know what you're getting into.

Summary: average GPA + no patient contact + no research + no prof LORs + unknown MCAT + applying late = GAP YEEEEAAAR ALL DA WAY

It's okay, I just finished one and about to start my second. It has definitely been the best thing that could have happened to my application.

 

[mvenus929]

The huge red flag I see on your application is lack of LORs from professors. MD letters don't mean a whole lot, unless you worked with the MD extensively on research or volunteer work or something.

Since you're already planning on taking the MCAT late, and you won't know your score to determine where you're best competitive with, you're probably better off taking a gap year and applying early next cycle.

 

[DannySCR]

Too late. Here's a recipe for success:
-if you have great numbers, apply early (June/July). If you have average numbers, apply early.
-try to take MCAT well before application cycle begins so that you know which schools are in your range, schools see your app earlier, and you have time to retake if needed.
-most schools require letters from your science professors, and many from a non-science professor. You're hurting yourself without these.
-that said, your clinical experience seems almost nonexistent, yet you say your LORs are from MDs. Are these the ones you shadowed? Because adcoms don't put much weight on this, since someone you followed around for a day can't comment much on your abilities. Much preferred would be MDs for whom you worked, volunteered, or did research.
-don't think of it as "racking up volunteer hours". It's more like exposing yourself to patient contact so that you know what you're getting into.

Summary: average GPA + no patient contact + no research + no prof LORs + unknown MCAT + applying late = GAP YEEEEAAAR ALL DA WAY

It's okay, I just finished one and about to start my second. It has definitely been the best thing that could have happened to my application.

What have you been doing over that time?

 

[DannySCR]

The huge red flag I see on your application is lack of LORs from professors. MD letters don't mean a whole lot, unless you worked with the MD extensively on research or volunteer work or something.

Since you're already planning on taking the MCAT late, and you won't know your score to determine where you're best competitive with, you're probably better off taking a gap year and applying early next cycle.

Yea? What do you recommend I do over that time?

 

[43092]

What have you been doing over that time?

Clinical experience.

 

[ace12345]

Yea? What do you recommend I do over that time?

If you're not doing a serious, planned gap year experience (Peace Corps or TFA for example) then work on clinical and try to get into a lab for a year. Might even be worth considering a bit of GPA remediation. Get prof. letters as well.

I considered applying right after college, but didn't feel my application was strong enough so took time off. In retrospect, it was the best decision of my academic career. I had much more time to get my application together and became not only what would probably be considered a stronger applicant on paper, but a more confident one as well. This helped immensely during interviews. Some gap time will undoubtedly benefit you as an applicant, good luck.

 

[DannySCR]

Clinical experience.

Can you give me some examples as to how I can go about doing that?

 

[43092]

Can you give me some examples as to how I can go about doing that?

Volunteering.. in a clinic? Or in a hospital with patients?

 

[LegendaryPunk]

Non-trad here. Last year I too was on the fence about whether or not to take an extra year to strengthen my app. I was able to scrape together the minimum to apply, plus...wait another whole year?!? I'm already late 20's - ain't nobody got time for that. So I threw the dice, and came up bust. No acceptances.

I sit here now, ready to tackle this cycle and feel 1000% better about the whole process than I did last year, because now I truly feel prepared. You can probably scramble to plug all the holes in your app so that you can have a late submission for this cycle...but it's going to take more work than you think. And more time than you think. Especially so considering the questions you're asking in this thread lead me to believe you don't yet have a solid plan. Take the extra year - you won't regret it.

Or don't. Who knows - you might get lucky. But this is already a game in which the odds are against you on a good day.

 

[riqwnx]

I would also recommend a gap year. I applied last year (I submitted in august) and didnt get in anywhere. I took a gap year and did CNA work at a hospital (it was an amazing experience) and I got into 5 schools this year!
I would not apply this year, like people have been saying boost your clinical experience, maybe some more shadowing and some more LORs. If you decide to wait a year I would also push back your MCAT so you could have more time to study.

 

[mvenus929]

Can you give me some examples as to how I can go about doing that?

Get EMT training and try to get a job in a hospital. Get phlebotomy training and try to get a job in a hospital. Get CNA training and try to get a job in a hospital. Go to the website of your local hospital and see what job openings there are and what is needed to apply to those jobs. Some places have scribes and aren't in huge college towns, so it's easier to get hired as that. All of those are paid experiences which will beef up your application.

You could also see if you have a local free clinic and try to volunteer there. See if you have a medical corps in your region and sign up to volunteer through that.

Or, in addition to clinical experience, you could get a job as a lab assistant and work on beefing up your research.

There's lots of things you can do in a gap year, all of which will not only give you more time to improve your application, but experiences themselves may improve your application. Look around and see what's available in your area.

 

[infinitessimal]

For clinical experience, go into your nearest hospital's volunteer department and say you'd like to join. During my gap year, I did research over the summer and fall, took the MCAT, and traveled/more clinical volunteering. You don't need shadowing as much as you need clinical volunteering, so I would focus on that as your priority. You could also apply for a medical scribe job, tutoring, any non-medically related job while hospital volunteering, etc. These years after graduation before medical school are really nice because on the one hand, you're not in school and are kinda an adult making adult decisions. But on the other, you're not scrambling to enter the job market like so many others after graduation, unsure of where your future lies or where your next paycheck will come from. It's a guilty luxury, really. Take it and run.

 

[DannySCR]

Get EMT training and try to get a job in a hospital. Get phlebotomy training and try to get a job in a hospital. Get CNA training and try to get a job in a hospital. Go to the website of your local hospital and see what job openings there are and what is needed to apply to those jobs. Some places have scribes and aren't in huge college towns, so it's easier to get hired as that. All of those are paid experiences which will beef up your application.

You could also see if you have a local free clinic and try to volunteer there. See if you have a medical corps in your region and sign up to volunteer through that.

Or, in addition to clinical experience, you could get a job as a lab assistant and work on beefing up your research.

There's lots of things you can do in a gap year, all of which will not only give you more time to improve your application, but experiences themselves may improve your application. Look around and see what's available in your area.

Firstly, thanks for the response. How much volunteering should I do and what are your thoughts about a PSM degree?

 

[DannySCR]

T

For clinical experience, go into your nearest hospital's volunteer department and say you'd like to join. During my gap year, I did research over the summer and fall, took the MCAT, and traveled/more clinical volunteering. You don't need shadowing as much as you need clinical volunteering, so I would focus on that as your priority. You could also apply for a medical scribe job, tutoring, any non-medically related job while hospital volunteering, etc. These years after graduation before medical school are really nice because on the one hand, you're not in school and are kinda an adult making adult decisions. But on the other, you're not scrambling to enter the job market like so many others after graduation, unsure of where your future lies or where your next paycheck will come from. It's a guilty luxury, really. Take it and run.

thanks! Would it be alright if I sent you a private massage to ask a few more questions?

 

[infinitessimal]

T

thanks! Would it be alright if I sent you a private massage to ask a few more questions?

Sure!

 

[mvenus929]

Firstly, thanks for the response. How much volunteering should I do and what are your thoughts about a PSM degree?

I don't know... how much volunteering do you have? Find something you enjoy doing and go volunteer in that area. In contrast to most people on this board, I don't suggest doing clinical volunteering, because most of the time, you don't get much 'clinical' stuff out of it. Much better to get your clinical experience via a paid job, where you can actually get your hands dirty. That said, if you really want to volunteer in a hospital, knowing that you'll most likely be doing filing, bringing people blankets and water, and other such things, by all means, go for it.

I don't think a PSM degree is going to help you get into medical school. Your time would be better spent in other ways, improving weak parts of your application. If you are concerned about your GPA, you should do a post-bacc, but your GPA from a Master's program is not going to outweigh your GPA from undergrad.