Medical school applicant- City Year vs MCAT or both

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Athenaz

New Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2017
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hello,
I graduated from school on may 2016.
GPA 3.7 ,shadowing 200hrs+, Research experience 200hrs +, Volunteer & leadership ++
I have all the pieces of the puzzle except the mcat score. I have suffered a big loss in the family this past June, and I have been struggling with depression for a while that is why I postponed my application to this cycle. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to study for the mcat or even had to appetite for it. I would go days without even leaving my room. I applied to city year for a mid year position, and I was planning on doing that while studying at the same time. However, its already adding to my stress, and I spoke with several pre-med people that started earlier than I and they all said it was not ideal to do both at the same time.

What I am trying to figure out is if I should defer my midyear acceptance to the next year since I will still have a gap year, and just focus on the mcat and my application process now? However, the premed advisor suggested I try to do both, because medical schools value experience.

Thank You for the help.

Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Hello,
I graduated from school on may 6th, 2016.
GPA 3.7 ,shadowing 200hrs+, Research experience 200hrs +, Volunteer & leadership ++
I have all the pieces of the puzzle except the mcat score. I have suffered a big loss in the family this past June, and I have been struggling with depression for a while that is why I postponed my application to this cycle. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to study for the mcat or even had to appetite for it. I would go days without even leaving my room. I applied to city year for a mid year position, and I was planning on doing that while studying at the same time. However, its already adding to my stress, and I spoke with several pre-med people that started earlier than I and they all said it was not ideal to do both at the same time.

What I am trying to figure out is if I should defer my midyear acceptance to the next year since I will still have a gap year, and just focus on the mcat and my application process now? However, the premed advisor suggested I try to do both, because medical schools value experience.

Thank You for the help.
Loss sucks, and I've found myself marinating in the depression that follows it as well. Although I know each situation is unique, and I have come understand that the only 'cure' for a loss is time, I would recommend spending time talking to others, notably therapists, to get yourself back to peak performance before taking on additional challenges, be it the MCAT, city-year, or otherwise.

With regards to your specific question, when you should take the MCAT really depends on if you find yourself prepared to pursue a cycle this coming June, or if it would be more prudent to push your application to the 2018-2019 cycle. Retaking the MCAT is awful, so definitely do not rush into taking it. If the former cycle, then MCAT before city-year, and if the latter, I would do them concurrently over a softened study schedule spread out over the city-year.

Order of importance:

1) Get yourself right
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2/3) MCAT & City-year
 
Thank you for that response, I don't have health insurance atm so having access to a therapist is difficult now.
Thanks again .
 
Members don't see this ad :)
It is possible to work and study at the same time. However, I'd suggest part-time. Also, just start earlier. I worked part time and started about 120-150 days before my test. I took breaks and during the holidays pretty much didn't study but 1 week worth from like Thanksgiving to New Years.

Your MCAT is extremely important. I can't stress that enough. Just knock it out of the park. Don't drag your feet, don't think "ahh man I don't wanna start studying". Fact is, your preclinic years are going to make you study 5+ hours a day for 18-24 months, so if you can't handle doing 4-5+ hours a day for just 3-4 months, you're really not gonna like medical school.

Bottom line, I'd work full-time until around October and save money. Then switch to part-time and start studying everyday (find a good schedule on here, the good ones are 95+ days and probably 120 if you add in psych). Sign up for a mid-April test so you get your scores back just after you finish your application in May. That would give you over 150 days to prepare, which is plenty while working a full-time job and also taking off weekends and holiday weeks.
 
Thank You,

I registered for May 13th Exam, and I started studying already.

The issue with City Year is that I m placed in a school that is 1.5 hours away from, so I leave at 530Am to get there by 645, and the day ends at 430-5 so I get home around 6 pm. Its very exhausting but I manage to study from 8-10 to everyday. The other thing that is concerning me is that we do not get days off, for instance spring break we only get 1 day off that Friday. So I am not sure if i should stick out with with them or just find a part time job and study instead. I spoke with adviser and she said having that experience is very valuable, but then I spoke with a kaplan instructor and they said the mcat often serves as an early cut off point. So I am conflicted between doing this job and studying, or studying and finding another job.

Thank you for the responses again.
 
Thank You,

I registered for May 13th Exam, and I started studying already.

The issue with City Year is that I m placed in a school that is 1.5 hours away from, so I leave at 530Am to get there by 645, and the day ends at 430-5 so I get home around 6 pm. Its very exhausting but I manage to study from 8-10 to everyday. The other thing that is concerning me is that we do not get days off, for instance spring break we only get 1 day off that Friday. So I am not sure if i should stick out with with them or just find a part time job and study instead. I spoke with adviser and she said having that experience is very valuable, but then I spoke with a kaplan instructor and they said the mcat often serves as an early cut off point. So I am conflicted between doing this job and studying, or studying and finding another job.

Thank you for the responses again.

2hrs of studying a day does not seem like enough for what is, up to this point, the most important test of your life. Find a less demanding job. Kill the MCAT. Just my 0.02.
 
Don't do anything until you get the depression under control. You have to take care of yourself first.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
I am currently serving with City Year and I took my MCAT in July (before starting my service). It was a risky move for me since I only wanted to take it once and I applied this cycle (I do not recommend it even though it worked out for me). I know how physically demanding it is to travel to school and back everyday while dealing with students' behavioral issues all day. When I get home from school, all I do is rest for a couple of hours then go back to sleep to do it again. I would highly advise, especially because it's a mid-year position, that if possible, you defer your service to August and dedicate the rest of your time this first half of the year to studying. As far as I know, with the mid-year position you don't get the same benefits? You can then take the exam in May and have the option to take it again possibly latest July, while getting your primary in during June/July. CY will give you a lot to talk about during interviews especially if you're in service during the season. I suggest you find some volunteer work to do while you're studying so that it doesn't seem like you're ONLY studying.

My 2¢ 🙂
 
Thank You,

I registered for May 13th Exam, and I started studying already.

The issue with City Year is that I m placed in a school that is 1.5 hours away from, so I leave at 530Am to get there by 645, and the day ends at 430-5 so I get home around 6 pm. Its very exhausting but I manage to study from 8-10 to everyday. The other thing that is concerning me is that we do not get days off, for instance spring break we only get 1 day off that Friday. So I am not sure if i should stick out with with them or just find a part time job and study instead. I spoke with adviser and she said having that experience is very valuable, but then I spoke with a kaplan instructor and they said the mcat often serves as an early cut off point. So I am conflicted between doing this job and studying, or studying and finding another job.

Thank you for the responses again.

I did City Year for a year, and for the two months that I juggled City Year and studying for the MCAT, it was absolutely the worst, and I definitely was not very productive during that time. Kudos to you for being able to study every night, but if it gets to be too much you could consider taking a personal leave of absence, either now or closer to the date, if your financial state can afford a few weeks without the stipend. I loved working for City Year, but it doesn't really give you enough time to fully study for the MCAT.
 
I did City Year for a year, and for the two months that I juggled City Year and studying for the MCAT, it was absolutely the worst, and I definitely was not very productive during that time. Kudos to you for being able to study every night, but if it gets to be too much you could consider taking a personal leave of absence, either now or closer to the date, if your financial state can afford a few weeks without the stipend. I loved working for City Year, but it doesn't really give you enough time to fully study for the MCAT.


Money is not an issue, I have decent amount saved up from college. I also tutor on the weekends and I make more than stipend in those two days of work. My real concern is the value of city year experience on the application versus the score, but everyone I spoke to places more emphasis on the MCAT score especially how it serves as cutoff point before even looking at additional life experiences. Also I m not sure if I will be approved for personal leave of absence, I will have to bring that up to the impact manger and see what he says.

In all honesty, I m leaning towards quitting and just focusing on the MCAT during the week/ tutoring on the weekends. I'm being hesitant though.

Thanks
 
Top