Is a gap year going to be necessary...?

[Resto Druid]

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Let me first say that I have been a frequent sdn user for a couple of years now. I've created an account to share my story and seek constructive advice regarding the strength of my application and the possibility of a gap year.

I wasted my time in high school due to lack of motivation, lackluster social circles and overall immaturity. Consequently I began my college career at a state community college (I actually signed up a week before classes started!! This is me still not getting with the program) and decided I would pursue a science degree in order to keep my doors open when I finally do mature enough to chase a dream profession. It wasn't long after that I was inspired to pursue a medical education and thus was motivated to become a better student.

Brief & relevant facts of my community college career:

-Graduated with an AA after 2 years
-Aced all my courses (4.0) , total of 70 credits
-relevant premed courses taken here were calculus, general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry
-no volunteering / research during these 2 years
-worked 20hrs / week to help family with living expenses (I'm a first generation student)
-played key role in local political campaign for school board member

I then transferred to a respectable 4-year state university to finish my BS in Chemistry. After completing two semesters this is what I've been able to accomplish:

-3.5 gpa (had some trouble transitioning)
-completed remaining pre reqs (A in phy2048, B in phy2049)
-earned executive board position on one of university's biggest premed organizations)
-involved with EMR class and currently serve as a TA
-roughly 100hrs of non-medical community service
-roughly 64hrs of medically related community service
-working on finding physician to shadow (it's been tough)
-still no research
-preping for MCAT on May 22nd (I'm feeling confident as to how my preparation is going along)
-going abroad for medical service trip over spring break (don't know if this helps)

So, in a nutshell, by the time I apply (planning to apply first day possible) my numbers will look something like:

-3.83cGPA
-3.70sGPA (haven't precisely calculated this)
-100+ non-medical hours
-60+ medical hours
-no research

Also, some less important stuff:

-first generation student
-URM (Puerto Rican/Mexican)
-Florida resident

**Finally my question to you readers is whether or not I'll be a strong applicant this upcoming cycle? Should I also consider DO? What are your recommendations in the event of a gap year?**

All advice is welcomed. Please don't sugarcoat anything. Thanks in advance!

 

[Relax!]

I think a gap year would strengthen your application. If you can maintain your GPAs as planned, they would be very strong even without a gap year but you might want to strengthen your extracurriculars by the time you apply. 60 hours of clinical experience is on the lower side (especially without shadowing), although you have more non-medical hours. Also, being able to get a research job in your gap year will add research to your extracurriculars. Being a FL resident and URM definitely helps your chances. Also, when you apply, make sure that the schools you're applying to accept pre-reqs done at community college. Good luck.

 

[Resto Druid]

That's for the encouragement. I'll definitely try to get at least 50hours of shadowing done before this summer. I might just have a try at it this cycle but prepare for a gap year if I don't get on somewhere. Are there any real disadvantages to being tagged as a "reapplicant" ?

 

[Resto Druid]

Thanks** not that's lol

 

[kevinsword91]

You would definitely benefit from a gap year. Sure, its possible to get in, but lack of clinical experience is a hard deficit to ignore. I understand the impulse to apply this year with the "just what if I could" mentality, but going through the cycle with a half-baked app is a poor decision.

I faced the same situation when I was deciding about a possible gap year and am very glad that I chose to take a gap year. In my gap year I: raised my GPA a little, focused on my MCAT, worked as a bio TA(new job) for a year, got a little more shadowing hours, got another semester of ER research, co-president of student group and started a scribe job. Those experiences were a big chunk of my application and without them I'm sure I would have been rejected.

 

[Relax!]

That's for the encouragement. I'll definitely try to get at least 50hours of shadowing done before this summer. I might just have a try at it this cycle but prepare for a gap year if I don't get on somewhere. Are there any real disadvantages to being tagged as a "reapplicant" ?

Schools at which you'll be a "reapplicant" will compare everything on the most recent application with everything from the one in the previous cycle. If you show significant improvement, then you will be fine. But I think they will look at your application even more critically than one from a first time applicant. If your upcoming MCAT turns out to be really good and you are able to get a lot more shadowing/clinical hours, then you can give it a shot, but I would say it's best to wait until your application is the strongest. Speaking from personal experience, I am currently in my gap year and very happy that I took one. If you end up taking a gap year, make the most of it.

 

[Resto Druid]

I thought that once you applied through amcas you are considered a reapplicant regardless of the schools you select? By the way, what did you do during your gap year to improve your application?

 

[Relax!]

I thought that once you applied through amcas you are considered a reapplicant regardless of the schools you select? By the way, what did you do during your gap year to improve your application?

When you add a medical school on AMCAS, you have to indicate if it's your first time applying to that school or not. From AAMC: "If you have a processed AMCAS application from a previous application year, you are considered a re-applicant to those previous medical schools. This is regardless of whether or not a secondary application was completed." Some secondaries from schools at which you're a first time applicant might still ask if it is your first time applying to medical school.

Senior year I TA'd for organic chem, and continued my clinical activities/volunteering/shadowing. My c/sGPA both also increased during senior year. I applied in June 2014. During my gap year, I am doing research at a gov't agency (won't name it for privacy), tutoring, and continuing volunteering.

 

[Resto Druid]

Thanks for clarifying that. And that's awesome I have something similar in mind. Just going to be staying engaged and using up all my extra post MCAT time to volunteer, TA, and as for research I want to at least get my feet wet before I graduate.