In need in some advice: Gap Year vs Years

[Mr. Game & Watch]

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Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Currently debating between one or two gap years. Recently graduated from a top 12 university, average GPA, below average science GPA (3.45...thanks to poor sophomore year habits for Orgo) but nice trend upward my last two years,solid EC, Research multiple years with study subjects, 506 MCAT being retaken in late July, URM.

Reasons for possible delay to next year's cycle would be 1) Limited amount of clinical experience, really only have 45 hours of shadowing and nothing more in this aspect. Can obtain a hospital position and gain more exposure to this setting during my first gap year which would beef up my primary AMCAS. 2) Would allow me to delay the MCAT another 3 weeks or so and study more especially since this is the last time I'll be taking it and only had 5 weeks originally. 3) Can submit right away on June 1st now that I'm more prepared, wouldn't submit for about another week this cycle after retooling aspects of my PS and Activites. 4) Last time in my life before the medical journey begins...perhaps one extra year of limited responsibility isn't terrible (though will be frustrating).

Reasons for just applying this cycle are 1) I can still inform schools during secondaries that I will be working in a hospital for my gap year, so not like they won't see I added experience. 2) Might be unnecessary to wait a year and potentially obtain similar results then if I would apply now, seeing that another year is quite a long time 3) Will be another year removed from the core of my activities / schooling upon interviews.

Not an easy bind. Thoughts anyone? If Lizzy M or an ADCOM just happens to be casually scrolling by and answers I'll buy everyone who replies to this thread a candy bar...mounds bar at worst.

 

[kitts95]

Commenting because I'm in the almost exact same boat as you OP (although I'm a rising senior so not yet graduated) and I want to follow this thread. I can't really offer any advice but I hope you get some good insight and make a well-informed decision! 🙂

 

[efle]

You are not ready to apply this summer, so you need 2 gap years.

 

[Mr. Game & Watch]

You are not ready to apply this summer, so you need 2 gap years.

Thank you for the advice - slightly leaning that way myself. May I ask for your logic behind it?

 

[efle]

You are a 3.45/28-29 with a negligible amount of clinical exposure and don't feel ready to retake the MCAT soon. URM status can do a lot to mitigate low numbers, but even with that on your app, I think you'd be making a big, expensive, exhausting gamble by applying now.

What state are you from, btw? That is the other major factor to consider. And are you certain about URM (often times people on these forums think they are Hispanic URM only to find out their specific country is not considered URM at most med schools).

 

[Mr. Game & Watch]

You are a 3.45/28-29 with a negligible amount of clinical exposure and don't feel ready to retake the MCAT soon. URM status can do a lot to mitigate low numbers, but even with that on your app, I think you'd be making a big, expensive, exhausting gamble by applying now.

What state are you from, btw? That is the other major factor to consider. And are you certain about URM (often times people on these forums think they are Hispanic URM only to find out their specific country is not considered URM at most med schools).

NY / and as to the URM that's a great question. Assumed I was but looking at the AAMC definition it doesn't really make it clear. Either way though, I do agree that it would be a pretty large gamble and the reward would just be starting my journey a year early, which in the grand scheme of things likely won't matter years from now. So think I'm definitely leaning towards the second gap year. Again, thank you kindly for the input.

 

[efle]

NY / and as to the URM that's a great question. Assumed I was but looking at the AAMC definition it doesn't really make it clear. Either way though, I do agree that it would be a pretty large gamble and the reward would just be starting my journey a year early, which in the grand scheme of things likely won't matter years from now. So think I'm definitely leaning towards the second gap year. Again, thank you kindly for the input.

NY is a mixed bag, several public schools but all with pretty competitive MCAT medians. If you are under the Hispanic umbrella, I believe Mexican-American is the only one universally considered URM, though some schools will consider other Hispanic groups URM as well. @gyngyn is a good person to send a private message to on the topic, they know a lot about this.

Agree with the bolded. Big risk - money, time, low retake score, becoming a reapplicant. Lesser reward - one year shaved off the process. Err on the safe side is the way to go.