Medical How many gap years should I take?

[TheBoneDoctah]

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How many gap years wold you recommend to someone that has no shadowing (besides virtual shadowing, which I don't really think counts as much), no clinical experience, and almost no volunteering? All prereqs are done.
Yes, I know I have basically zero experience 🙁. I was planning on applying 2022 (attend 2023) or 2023 (attend 2024), but I don't know what would be best...
Thank you in advance.

Take as long as it takes to get a strong application, period.

 

[Goro]

Take as long as it takes to get a strong application, period.

This. End of discussion

 

[AlteredScale]

Agree with above. As many as it takes. Trust the process and build your application well and don’t get funneled into a time crunch. I know many medical students starting in their 30s.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

There is no "should." As @Goro, I, and pretty much the group of Experts say, "Medical school isn't going away anytime soon."