Gap year

[rgmed10]

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I am currently a junior undergrad. I am currently deciding wether or not to take a gap year and apply to medical school at the end of my senior year.

My application would be a little improved if I waited a year. I could probably improve my GPA a little (cGPA is 3.7, sGPA is 3.6). I am taking my MCAT end of April. I could also get more LORs if I waited.

At the same time, I think I could get in now and know I want to be a doctor. If I took the gap year, I would probably do research. It would more be to take a year, earn some money, and take a break from school.

Has anyone had really good or bad experiences with taking a gap year or going straight from undergrad to med school?

Thanks!

 

[LV16]

From what I've heard, gap years are great as long as you make them productive. You have things planned out to do (research, work, bumping up your GPA, etc.), that's great. I think it'll work out for you. There's no rush, improve your application.

 

[PennDippody]

I am currently a junior undergrad. I am currently deciding wether or not to take a gap year and apply to medical school at the end of my senior year.

My application would be a little improved if I waited a year. I could probably improve my GPA a little (cGPA is 3.7, sGPA is 3.6). I am taking my MCAT end of April. I could also get more LORs if I waited.

At the same time, I think I could get in now and know I want to be a doctor. If I took the gap year, I would probably do research. It would more be to take a year, earn some money, and take a break from school.

Has anyone had really good or bad experiences with taking a gap year or going straight from undergrad to med school?


Thanks!

consider...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=978151

and

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=977592

and also

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=924692


The above and very recent threads discuss and argue this topic ad nauseam but I think you can certainly get what your looking for therein.

 

[Lady Netter]

If you can afford it, then sure, why not. I ended up not getting in the first time I applied, so I ended up with a gap year, and I'm really happy it turned out that way. I worked full time in a research lab to keep up with bills, but the rest of the time was mine, and it was glorious. I don't think I could've handled going straight from undergrad to med school. It was nice to get a break and enjoy the college town I was in without school to worry about. I felt that working full time helped prepare me for school. I learned some discipline that I didn't have from college. I also felt like I matured a little more since I was able to step out of academics for a little bit.

I would recommend a gap year to anyone who can afford it financially. I guess there's always the whole "you're losing a year of potential earnings," but I just see it as money I never had in the first place, so no loss to me. It gives you time to grow and relax before the craziness of med school

 

[ANATOMYgirl22]

If you can afford it, then sure, why not. I ended up not getting in the first time I applied, so I ended up with a gap year, and I'm really happy it turned out that way. I worked full time in a research lab to keep up with bills, but the rest of the time was mine, and it was glorious. I don't think I could've handled going straight from undergrad to med school. It was nice to get a break and enjoy the college town I was in without school to worry about. I felt that working full time helped prepare me for school. I learned some discipline that I didn't have from college. I also felt like I matured a little more since I was able to step out of academics for a little bit.

I would recommend a gap year to anyone who can afford it financially. I guess there's always the whole "you're losing a year of potential earnings," but I just see it as money I never had in the first place, so no loss to me. It gives you time to grow and relax before the craziness of med school

I couldn't agree more!

and Lady Netter, it's nice to see another anatomy enthusiast on here 😀

 

[Lady Netter]

I couldn't agree more!

and Lady Netter, it's nice to see another anatomy enthusiast on here 😀

Heh, it's actually the endearing name for our cadaver who gained a reputation for being almost pretty darn perfect.

 

[BuddyTheElf]

If you can afford it, then sure, why not. I ended up not getting in the first time I applied, so I ended up with a gap year, and I'm really happy it turned out that way. I worked full time in a research lab to keep up with bills, but the rest of the time was mine, and it was glorious. I don't think I could've handled going straight from undergrad to med school. It was nice to get a break and enjoy the college town I was in without school to worry about. I felt that working full time helped prepare me for school. I learned some discipline that I didn't have from college. I also felt like I matured a little more since I was able to step out of academics for a little bit.

I would recommend a gap year to anyone who can afford it financially. I guess there's always the whole "you're losing a year of potential earnings," but I just see it as money I never had in the first place, so no loss to me. It gives you time to grow and relax before the craziness of med school

This.
It's so nice taking some time away, not worrying about studying & stressing. Relax, have fun and enjoy your freedom! I'm so glad I took a year off before medical school... seemed awful at the time to not be going to medical school, but now I'm so happy I had that year. 🙂 Good luck to you! 👍