I hate hearing the word "gap year" and "post-bacc"

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Well, @hopefulpsychiatrist, if you are driven insane, I hope you will be able to heal yourself.

For some people, a gap year is part of the plan in order to do something that can best be done after college.

For some people, post-bacc is an opportunity to change careers and get the courses that one didn't take as a music performance major at a conservatory or whatever...

They aren't meant to make anyone crazy; they are very valid approaches to an application cycle.
 
hopefulpsychiatrist said:
I will work as hard as I can now. I know I can do it. Those two terms drive me absolutely insane.
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and how do you feel about that? and why do these terms bother you? are you afraid you may need a postbacc or forced to take a gap year? are you feeling pressure from family to get in now? Tell me about your mother? Oh I see our time is up. Same time next week?
 
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think about it: either
1) work your butt off trying to cram in everything you need for a feasible application as a trad applicant, spending thousands of dollars, and not getting a single acceptance because you were too hung up on matriculating quickly
or 2) spending just one year perfecting/improving your application so that your mcat, gpa, and ECs can all be well-balanced and impressive. It's only one year out of the next 40 (or even 50)+ years you will be spending in med school, doing residency, and being a practicing physician.

It may seem like a long time now, but if you think about it in the long run, taking a gap year/postbacc could be wholly beneficial to your application and overall mindset (like a year to take a chill pill and let go of some of that neurotic energy).
 
JustAPhD said:
Not sure what you mean, OP? For many applicants gap years or postbaccs aren't something negative, they're a calculated step to best increase their chances at getting accepted to medical school.
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Not to mention actually enjoying their lives
 
I applied directly out of college and was rejected. In retrospect I was in no way prepared or mature enough to begin medical school. I've been accepted this cycle and now I know I'm ready. If you get accepted straight out of college good for you but to look at a gap year negatively makes you naive
 
Would just like to point out that you guys should review the OP's post history... just a head's up.

To OP (hoping you dont turn out to be a troll): You have the rest of your life to live 🙂 There are many avenues to get help if you ever need them. Best regards! 🙂
 
CAFFEINE! said:
What is the point of this post?
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This was insensitive of you and you should know that now so in the future you don't mess up again. OPs easily viewable post history should let you know they're in a tough spot and they don't need more negativity.

OP you can always PM me if you need someone to listen.
 
redsox93 said:
I applied directly out of college and was rejected. In retrospect I was in no way prepared or mature enough to begin medical school. I've been accepted this cycle and now I know I'm ready. If you get accepted straight out of college good for you but to look at a gap year negatively makes you naive
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To build off of this, I've seen people grow a lot in those couple years post bachelors. They've come out of college nïeve and perhaps a bit immature. Working full time for one-two years before heading off to medical school was the best thing they could have possibly done.
 
I would have been no way ready to go to medical school right out of undergrad. I needed to detox my liver and mature a little bit. Took a couple years off to strengthen my app and gain real world experience. I will be a 100x better Med student because of this. I almost think it should be a pre requisite for the vast majority of candidates.
 
piii said:
You'll probably have to take a gap year, let's be honest.
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Most people I know who applied straight out of undergrad were either:

1) absolute rockstars
2) good candidates who ended up selling themselves short (usually getting into a lower quality school than they could have) by applying a little too early
3) wildy unprepared and miss the ball
 
Not sure why these terms bother you so much. I was also the beneficiary of such options, as I had not initially planned on a career in medicine and had not made the decision to do so until halfway through my senior year of college. I decided to graduate in my initial field, work in the "real world" for a couple years while exposing myself more to the medical field and solidifying my decision to pursue a medical career. Then I went back to school as a "post-bacc" to cram nearly all the med school prerequisites into 15 months, as I only had a couple of them from my prior degree. It's a convenient way for those who didn't take the traditional "pre-med undergrad" route to med school to fulfill academic requirements for application.
 
Flying Penguin said:
OP, please go seek professional help. Your post history concerns me. No one here on SDN can give you the help you might be needing.
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You immediately checked his post history after seeing this post XD
Nice!
 
ChymeofPassion said:
Show me on the doll where orgo touched you.

A gap year is nothing to be ashamed. I forcast them being almost mandatory in the next decade due to an increase in competition for medical school admission.
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Mandatory?
 
mwsapphire said:
Mandatory?
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I believe that @ChymeofPassion was implying that since so many applicants will have a gap year, that those without one may be at a competitve disadvantage. This would be similar to the way that research is a near defacto requirement with 95% of matriculants reporting some experience
 
When I didn't get in the first time, I thought my entire academic career had been a waste. But, I fixed all of the weak areas on my application that could be fixed, began a master's program, and volunteered like crazy. Your gap year truly is what you make it. Just remember, you have failed only if you refuse to keep moving forward. Even if it is just baby steps, as long as you are making progress, you are still in the fight. I wish you the best of success in becoming a physician.
 
Dr.Kat said:
lol awwww no one liked your post
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That means nobody though op was trolling?
How does that offend me?
I mean I still cant beleive they were serious?
Chill out.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Flying Penguin said:
As someone who has experienced depression, looking at OP's post history I actually hope they are trolling. Mental health has to be taken seriously, even in internet forums. Nobody deserves to go through any of that.
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I have not looked at their history.
I hope they are well, mentally at least.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Nothing wrong with a post bacc and/or gap year(s). I did both myself (2 years) and it paid off for me. If you plan your time wisely then it can be used to your advantage.

On a side note, I agree with other posters here that you should seek some help from a counselor and/or physician. Best of luck to you.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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I did a gap year before applying and it was super funnnn! Got to see the world too cause I had relatives who were affiliated with MSF (Doctors without Borders)

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Did two gap years and don't regret it at all. Even if you don't need a post-bacc (or some other form of grade repair), a gap year isn't a terrible idea. There's a lot of growing up to be done out of college and I applied as a more mature and well-rounded individual because of it.

With that said, different strokes for different folks. Apply when you're strongest.

Sending good vibes your way, OP. I hope you seek out professional help as others have recommended here.
 
hopefulpsychiatrist said:
I will work as hard as I can now. I know I can do it. Those two terms drive me absolutely insane.
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Why? Don't burn yourself out in undergrad just so you can get into medical school right after you graduate. You don't get any brownie points for working yourself to death while other people take their time to figure things out.
 
I did a two year post bacc and THREE gap years, and I'm still not insane. At least, I don't think I am...😵
 
ChymeofPassion said:
Show me on the doll where orgo touched you.

A gap year is nothing to be ashamed. I forcast them being almost mandatory in the next decade due to an increase in competition for medical school admission.
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I really do feel like a gap year after high school should be mandatory. But then I also like European models of education where career-tracks begin in 9th grade...
 
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