Is it harder to get into medical school if you wait too long?

[DK2014]

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Hi all,

I've always had this question in the back of my mind. Is it harder to get into medical school as you take more years off after graduating from college? Are expectations higher for an acceptance as you wait longer?

I'm asking this because I know people who get into medical school straight after college and don't take a year off. Obviously, these people don't have as much EC's as people who took time off, but could they be seen as more ambitious and dedicated than those who wait a few years to apply after college?I know of people who have taken 2-3 years off and struggle to get accepted anywhere.

Is there an expected time (say a year after college) when you should be applying, unless if you are going for a masters in science or phd?

 

[lmn]

If you aren't volunteering/doing any EC's other than working, then it is probably hurting you

 

[DK2014]

Would getting an MPH make a difference for someone with say, a 3.6 gpa and 32 mcat?

 

[lmn]

Would getting an MPH make a difference for someone with say, a 3.6 gpa and 32 mcat?

I wouldn't bother unless you want to get an MPH as a backup plan for if you don't get in, or if you want it for some other reason for your future career. It won't really help you in terms of getting into med school if that's what you're asking.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi all,

I've always had this question in the back of my mind. Is it harder to get into medical school as you take more years off after graduating from college? Are expectations higher for an acceptance as you wait longer?

I'm asking this because I know people who get into medical school straight after college and don't take a year off. Obviously, these people don't have as much EC's as people who took time off, but could they be seen as more ambitious and dedicated than those who wait a few years to apply after college?I know of people who have taken 2-3 years off and struggle to get accepted anywhere.

Is there an expected time (say a year after college) when you should be applying, unless if you are going for a masters in science or phd?

No, there is no expected timeline for med school. the nontrad board is full of people who have entered med school even decades after college. One of the biggest mistakes people make in the process is rush things. They see all their peers applying to med school during junior year and get sucked into the notion that there's some absolute timeline. There isn't. In fact, med schools love people who take a year to do peace corps or get an advanced degree or work for a bit. I wouldn't do this just to get into med school, but I also wouldn't not do this out of some misconceived notion that you are supposed to apply directly to med school from college. The average age in med school is usually around 24. Many of your classmates will gave done something in their lives besides college. As far as your question -- is the expectation higher if you don't go straight from college, that's harder to answer. Med schools expect you to be productive. If you take an extra year, you need to have something to show for it, be it a post-bac, or a degree, or research or a Job or some other accomplishment. But if you can point to something cool you did for a year, or if it's something someone is going to want to talk about in an interview, that's always going to help, not hurt, your application to med school.

 

[Law2Doc]

Would getting an MPH make a difference for someone with say, a 3.6 gpa and 32 mcat?

No. First, those numbers are already adequate for many med schools - that's not why you aren't getting in. Second, advanced degrees usually get looked at more like nice ECs, not GPA/MCAT enhancements. You might get more bang for the buck doing a research project that leads to publication, or get money toward your tuition by instead working for a year. Mph really isn't a good difference maker. It's fine if you think you might go into something public health oriented, and if so, by all means, but in terms of enhancing your CV for med school I would actually put it fairly low on the list.

 

[LupaCupcake]

<--nontrad here ^^ If you are just hanging out at the beach then yes it will hurt you. If life is throwing you curveballs and you need time to adjust along with doing stuff like clinical hours, volunteering etc. then you should be fine.

 

[deleted480308]

the hardest part will be remember your material for mcat

 

[lmn]

the hardest part will be remember your material for mcat

Meh I took my mcat during a gap year that was about 5 years out from when I first took Gchem/Gbio, and 4 years out from Ochem and so on, if you learned it decently when you were in college and more importantly learned how to study effectively, it will come back to you fairly quickly and you will be able to score strongly on the mcat.

 

[baxt1412]

But overall taking the MCAT multiple years after you've had the material is just tougher in general. Not to mention, usually when people are that far gone from college they may have started families, have a full time job, etc which all make it harder. It's possible, evident by thousands of non-trads matriculating every year, but I would say it's still tougher overall. The good part of that is that typically you've worked and matured and hopefully been volunteering and getting more clinical experience as well. Even more of a plus if you've been working in healthcare.

Basically, acceptance rate for any given applicant is not lower based on their age or years out of med school, but it's just a different situation almost entirely. Still the same objectives, but different circumstances.

 

[deleted480308]

Meh I took my mcat during a gap year that was about 5 years out from when I first took Gchem/Gbio, and 4 years out from Ochem and so on, if you learned it decently when you were in college and more importantly learned how to study effectively, it will come back to you fairly quickly and you will be able to score strongly on the mcat.

I was >30 10yrs out from my bio 1 class and hadn't taken bio2 or orgo 2......it's possible but it's harder

 

[lmn]

I was >30 10yrs out from my bio 1 class and hadn't taken bio2 or orgo 2......it's possible but it's harder

OP referred to people 2-3 years out having a harder time, I don't think it will be very difficult 3 years out. 10? Ya sure maybe, but that's a different story.

 

[Goro]

No
Is it harder to get into medical school as you take more years off after graduating from college?

No, unless the intervening years are spent doing something so different that it makes Adcoms wonder what has this person done to prove s/he wants to be a doctor? But career changes are fine.
Are expectations higher for an acceptance as you wait longer?

I'm asking this because I know people who get into medical school straight after college and don't take a year off. Obviously, these people don't have as much EC's as people who took time off, but could they be seen as more ambitious and dedicated than those who wait a few years to apply after college?I know of people who have taken 2-3 years off and struggle to get accepted anywhere.

Nope. People career arcs take many different paths.
Is there an expected time (say a year after college) when you should be applying, unless if you are going for a masters in science or phd?

 

[baxt1412]

OP referred to people 2-3 years out having a harder time, I don't think it will be very difficult 3 years out. 10? Ya sure maybe, but that's a different story.

i think sb was just offering a personal anecdote to add what he/she can. no harm there.


everyone is basically coming to the general consensus that time off CAN hurt, but increased difficulty is not guaranteed and it could actually help your app.