How to know if you should take a gap year?

[deleted895369]

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I am a rising junior and a chemistry major who is transferring from a CC to a reputable university that is strong in the sciences. My plan was to apply to med school the summer before I go into my senior year, as I do not want to take a gap year. However, I'm not sure if my stats will be competitive enough to drop a couple thousand on applications next summer. Could some of you more knowledgeable SDNers give some pointers?

If it helps, here are some of my current stats:
3.8 GPA, upward trend
150 hrs independent chem research (I'm getting involved in a lab at my transfer institution as well)
120 clinical volunteer hours (should have 250 by next summer)
100 hrs doing day camps for inner city kids
over 200 hours volunteering with my church
Supplemental instruction leader in physics

I know that being a CC student definitely will not give me an advantage in the application process. I just want to know if it is strongly recommended that I take a gap year with the way my stats are looking.

 

[Rusrus]

I am a rising junior and a chemistry major who is transferring from a CC to a reputable university that is strong in the sciences. My plan was to apply to med school the summer before I go into my senior year, as I do not want to take a gap year. However, I'm not sure if my stats will be competitive enough to drop a couple thousand on applications next summer. Could some of you more knowledgeable SDNers give some pointers?

If it helps, here are some of my current stats:
3.8 GPA, upward trend
150 hrs independent chem research (I'm getting involved in a lab at my transfer institution as well)
120 clinical volunteer hours (should have 250 by next summer)
100 hrs doing day camps for inner city kids
over 200 hours volunteering with my church
Supplemental instruction leader in physics

I know that being a CC student definitely will not give me an advantage in the application process. I just want to know if it is strongly recommended that I take a gap year with the way my stats are looking.

As long as you garner some shadowing experience (aim for ~50 hours) and do well on the MCAT (510+ for MD, 508 for DO), I see no reason for a gap year.

 

[Lucca]

Do well on the MCAT.

 

[Catalystik]

I am a rising junior and a chemistry major who is transferring from a CC to a reputable university that is strong in the sciences. My plan was to apply to med school the summer before I go into my senior year, as I do not want to take a gap year. However, I'm not sure if my stats will be competitive enough to drop a couple thousand on applications next summer. Could some of you more knowledgeable SDNers give some pointers?

If it helps, here are some of my current stats:
3.8 GPA, upward trend
150 hrs independent chem research (I'm getting involved in a lab at my transfer institution as well)
120 clinical volunteer hours (should have 250 by next summer)
100 hrs doing day camps for inner city kids
over 200 hours volunteering with my church
Supplemental instruction leader in physics

I know that being a CC student definitely will not give me an advantage in the application process. I just want to know if it is strongly recommended that I take a gap year with the way my stats are looking.

I think you're looking pretty good and I agree with Rusrus about the shadowing and MCAT goals. You might also aim for some peer leadership (training, organizing others for the day camp, chairing a committee with your church, lead supplemental instructor in Physics, etc.).

After you transfer, keep in mind that a GPA dip is common, as the instruction style tends to be more rigorous at the university level, so you may need to cut back a bit on extracurriculars for a term until you adjust your learning strategies. First Rule of Premeds, is keep that GPA high. You can always get ECs later, but it can take far longer to repair a mediocre GPA.

 

[deleted895369]

Thanks so much for the input! I greatly appreciate it!

 

[trobinsonmd]

I also went to community, and ended up going to NYU for med, but I took a gap year after graduating... most people above have said it depends on your mcat, which I totally agree with, but another factor is your letters of rec. Many pre-meds that I have advised who have been in this situation tend to rush the letter process and end up with low quality letters because they do not want to take a gap year. If you have a strong network and are able to get great letters, go for it... if not, network during fourth year and get some better quality letters

 

[RNthenDoc]

As a non-trad who had a mandatory gap year, something I often thought about was how unready I would have been at age 21-22 for this process.

*everyone* is different, but I can honestly say that I was unprepared for this process at age 21. Even so, I am very glad I had a gap year to take a deep breath after a VERY long undergraduate path.

Everyone is different, but I think being in a rush at the sacrifice of mental health can be bad, and the statistics of medical school students facing issues may have something to do with that!

Of course losing a year’s time in a career is a big deal, but I think you’ve gotta’ look at more than just statistics re: acceptance

 

[deleted895369]

As a non-trad who had a mandatory gap year, something I often thought about was how unready I would have been at age 21-22 for this process.

*everyone* is different, but I can honestly say that I was unprepared for this process at age 21. Even so, I am very glad I had a gap year to take a deep breath after a VERY long undergraduate path.

Everyone is different, but I think being in a rush at the sacrifice of mental health can be bad, and the statistics of medical school students facing issues may have something to do with that!

Of course losing a year’s time in a career is a big deal, but I think you’ve gotta’ look at more than just statistics re: acceptance

What did you think made you not ready for med school before taking a gap year? How do you think someone can identify if they would benefit from a gap year emotionally/mentally?
I will be just barely 21 when I enter med school, and while I feel ready for the challenge, I want to make sure I am mentally prepared for the demands of the profession.

 

[RNthenDoc]

What did you think made you not ready for med school before taking a gap year? How do you think someone can identify if they would benefit from a gap year emotionally/mentally?
I will be just barely 21 when I enter med school, and while I feel ready for the challenge, I want to make sure I am mentally prepared for the demands of the profession.

For me, I had a big passion that I wanted to develop outside of my career, and had I gone right into medical school I would have kissed that dream entirely goodbye. It also would have crushed my relationship (the relationship ended anyway, but it lasted a very long time and I learned a TON from it), and I had lots to learn in that realm too.

If you don’t have those considerations, you may be completely ready, but for my case I’m very glad things happened the way that they did.

This post isn’t trying to say you can’t have hobbies or date during medical school, but in my case it would have been incompatible. (It netted me my biggest EC that was likely key to getting all of my acceptances, too)