How would medical schools perceive this gap year?

[mreyno18]

I am currently in my junior year of college and my hart is set on going to medical school. At the same time, I'm also a devoted Christian who has always felt a call to do missions work as well. I'm thinking about taking a gap year after this year of college and was wondering how medical schools might view this in my particular case.

I'm a model student. 3.98 GPA, lots of volunteering, leadership, school involvement, NCAA D2 athlete, double science major, shadowing hours, research projects/awards/presentations, planning on doing a pre-med internship this summer, TA, Science Tutor, etc. (taking the MCA in January, so no score yet)

If I'm going to take a gap year, I would do the YWAM Global Health Gap Year Program. YWAM (Youth with a Mission) is a Christian missionary and outreach group. It's a HUGE organization that does programs in almost every country and US state! They do a wide variety of things and in the Christian community they are well known and very respected. I want to give some information on the gap year program, so that you guys can better judge how medical school admissions might think of it.

It is located in Australia. For 3 months we would be taking classes at their school about discipleship and being a missionary and then we would go into the field and be missionaries somewhere around the world for 2 months (different for each program and year). Then we come back to Australia and take classes on healthcare missions and get a certificate in basic healthcare which includes communication, diversity training, anatomy and physiology, how to provide advanced first aid, infection prevention and control, safety, taking health backgrounds, taking clinical measurements, provide medication assistance and documentation, medical terminology and more so that when we are in the field for the next 3 months somewhere else in the world, we can provide healthcare.

It is a program that I have had friends go on who are planning on being nurses. They all had fabulous reviews, so I'm not worried about the program itself.
I am worried about how medical schools will interpret this. I don't want them to think I'm not serious about becoming a physician, because I so am! I would love to be a volunteer physician when I'm through with residency and go back once a year or so to help out in their worldwide clinics / hospitals.

I would be applying the summer after this, so the summer of 2022 to matriculate in fall of 2023.

What are your opinions?

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[Goro]

Gap years are common!

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Medical schools won't perceive it at all- the majority of medical school matriculants take at least one gap year (~70%). Just remember that you'll be applying the year of your gap year so you'll likely be going to interviews (as long as we get out of this pandemic), which might cost a bit if you'll be in Australia.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[KnightDoc]

I am currently in my junior year of college and my hart is set on going to medical school. At the same time, I'm also a devoted Christian who has always felt a call to do missions work as well. I'm thinking about taking a gap year after this year of college and was wondering how medical schools might view this in my particular case.

I'm a model student. 3.98 GPA, lots of volunteering, leadership, school involvement, NCAA D2 athlete, double science major, shadowing hours, research projects/awards/presentations, planning on doing a pre-med internship this summer, TA, Science Tutor, etc. (taking the MCA in January, so no score yet)

If I'm going to take a gap year, I would do the YWAM Global Health Gap Year Program. YWAM (Youth with a Mission) is a Christian missionary and outreach group. It's a HUGE organization that does programs in almost every country and US state! They do a wide variety of things and in the Christian community they are well known and very respected. I want to give some information on the gap year program, so that you guys can better judge how medical school admissions might think of it.

It is located in Australia. For 3 months we would be taking classes at their school about discipleship and being a missionary and then we would go into the field and be missionaries somewhere around the world for 2 months (different for each program and year). Then we come back to Australia and take classes on healthcare missions and get a certificate in basic healthcare which includes communication, diversity training, anatomy and physiology, how to provide advanced first aid, infection prevention and control, safety, taking health backgrounds, taking clinical measurements, provide medication assistance and documentation, medical terminology and more so that when we are in the field for the next 3 months somewhere else in the world, we can provide healthcare.

It is a program that I have had friends go on who are planning on being nurses. They all had fabulous reviews, so I'm not worried about the program itself.
I am worried about how medical schools will interpret this. I don't want them to think I'm not serious about becoming a physician, because I so am! I would love to be a volunteer physician when I'm through with residency and go back once a year or so to help out in their worldwide clinics / hospitals.

I would be applying the summer after this, so the summer of 2022 to matriculate in fall of 2023.

What are your opinions?

It's service, and med schools LOVE service. This will help, and in no way hurt your application. As someone else mentioned however, it will be impractical for you to do this overseas while, or immediately after, submitting applications, because you will not be available to interview and will be 13 hours ahead of everyone here when issues arise. This will be great for your application, but, realistically, will probably involve a second gap year when you return, which you can use to further burnish your application.

With your grades, leadership, athletic involvement, etc., you will be a highly sought after applicant whenever you apply, especially if your MCAT score is commensurate with your GPA.