Need a plan for an unexpected "gap" year

[kbRD2MD84]

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OK, first off, I don't even know that gap or glide year applies to nontrads, haha... but anyway. Based on the responses I got in another thread (thank you all for the insight!) + my own soul-searching, I'm planning on delaying my app until next year. I'm impatient and want to apply RIGHT NOW, but this seems like the best option.

Anyway, trying to get super-organized in anticipation for next year, and I don't want to miss anything important. I'm already working on trying to put together some type of bootleg DIY postbacc - don't need the grades (a little boost wouldn't hurt though), don't really need half the prereqs, but all of mine are either 15 years old or online, and I don't want to limit my school list as much as it is right now. I've reached out to UNCG, they're not terribly far from me, and I could certainly use the advising help and potential LOR there.

I'm not applying anywhere super-duper-competitive, but I'm a nontrad with big dreams, so of course I want to get in the best school possible. My list is mostly mid-tier schools, and I'd like to get my apps in ASAP when AMCAS opens next year. In the meantime, what do I need to make sure I'm doing in order to have the most competitive application possible next year?

• I'm going to have a ton of time to study for the MCAT - should I aim to take that first-thing when the 2020 dates open up (January, I think?), or this fall?
• I have a list of all the MD/DO's around here willing to do shadowing. Is there a good number of hours/days to aim for there?
• Volunteering - I have about a billion (ok slight overexaggeration) hours from my dietetic internship and assorted volunteer positions prior to that. Should I be looking for something clinical, or would I be better served to spend my time elsewhere? There are a few smaller hospitals in my area (central/western NC), I reached out to one a few months ago but the closest thing they had to clinical was volunteering in the gift shop 😱
• Anything else? I work full-time from home, so my schedule is somewhat flexible, but I'd like to keep that job as long as possible (hello health insurance and easy remote work!). I feel like I'm probably missing a few things here, but I have no clue.

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can provide!

 

[futuremdforme]

OK, first off, I don't even know that gap or glide year applies to nontrads, haha... but anyway. Based on the responses I got in another thread (thank you all for the insight!) + my own soul-searching, I'm planning on delaying my app until next year. I'm impatient and want to apply RIGHT NOW, but this seems like the best option.

Anyway, trying to get super-organized in anticipation for next year, and I don't want to miss anything important. I'm already working on trying to put together some type of bootleg DIY postbacc - don't need the grades (a little boost wouldn't hurt though), don't really need half the prereqs, but all of mine are either 15 years old or online, and I don't want to limit my school list as much as it is right now. I've reached out to UNCG, they're not terribly far from me, and I could certainly use the advising help and potential LOR there.

I'm not applying anywhere super-duper-competitive, but I'm a nontrad with big dreams, so of course I want to get in the best school possible. My list is mostly mid-tier schools, and I'd like to get my apps in ASAP when AMCAS opens next year. In the meantime, what do I need to make sure I'm doing in order to have the most competitive application possible next year?

• I'm going to have a ton of time to study for the MCAT - should I aim to take that first-thing when the 2020 dates open up (January, I think?), or this fall?
• I have a list of all the MD/DO's around here willing to do shadowing. Is there a good number of hours/days to aim for there?
• Volunteering - I have about a billion (ok slight overexaggeration) hours from my dietetic internship and assorted volunteer positions prior to that. Should I be looking for something clinical, or would I be better served to spend my time elsewhere? There are a few smaller hospitals in my area (central/western NC), I reached out to one a few months ago but the closest thing they had to clinical was volunteering in the gift shop 😱
• Anything else? I work full-time from home, so my schedule is somewhat flexible, but I'd like to keep that job as long as possible (hello health insurance and easy remote work!). I feel like I'm probably missing a few things here, but I have no clue.

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can provide!

- MCAT: January is a good date if you're studying part-time. Not sure when it opens.
- Volunteering: Yes, look for something clinical and do it continually. Doesn't need to be a lot of hours. Not the gift shop.
- Keep working, your health insurance is important.
- I would probably not retake any pre-reqs if you have them all if you think you can ace the MCAT and have a good GPA but that's up to you. It will look good if you do well but MCAT will be key for you.

 

[kbRD2MD84]

- I would probably not retake any pre-reqs if you have them all if you think you can ace the MCAT and have a good GPA but that's up to you. It will look good if you do well but MCAT will be key for you.

See, this is the confusing part for me. There doesn't seem to be a clear answer on what to do. I don't want adcoms not to take me seriously because of the online courses, but I also don't want to take everything over again. I'm going to try to take the prereqs I have left (orgo, physics 2, biochem) in person and see if that will open up my list to a few more schools. My GPA is decent but nothing special - sitting at about 3.53 cGPA and 3.65 sGPA at the moment with 232 and 40 credits respectively - so there is room for a little improvement there but not a huge change.