Long post warning but I'm so grateful to those who read through + reply!
I am currently about to enter my final year of undergrad and I did not take the MCAT this summer. I am really torn about when I should take the MCAT but want to hammer this down ASAP so I can begin prepping my activities accordingly. The other thing that is making this tough is that I'm not quite sure what to do during my gap year(s) [whether I take 1 or 2 is mostly down to my MCAT date]. I'm leaning towards an MA job or CRC job but TBD.
After thinking a bit about possible scenarios, I came up with the following:
1) Study for the MCAT full-time in the summer immediately after graduation WHILE actively job-searching and hopefully test in early Sept while also landing a job around then. The big pro of this option is that it would be the only situation in which I am studying nearly full-time (not entirely due to the job hunt) in a short period, which has been proven by many of my friends to be the most successful way to break 520 (my goal). Obvious con is that I would be unemployed and there is no guarantee I would get a job by September. (There is a chance I could get an RA position in my lab that I've been working with for years, and due to the rapport I have with them they may allow me to take that summer off before starting work -- however, research is not a weak point in my application and I don't know that it would be the best job choice considering my limited clinical hours.)
2) Study part-time from this December until May of 2024 and test May 2024. I would need to halt a lot of my ECs and I'd be juggling studying for the MCAT with schoolwork (although I would take less units and have part-time student status) as well as research (already committed to 12 hrs/week as part of an honors thesis) and a leadership position I am already committed to. The big con of this is that I would have to stop my hospice + free clinic volunteering (as I mentioned, my clinical hours are already low) and also any non-clinical volunteering I'd be doing (I currently have 0 hours in that realm - I am aware this is a big weakness in my app but I am currently looking into potential opportunities to start that as early as next month). A potential pro is that I could apply in June 2024 assuming I get a good score & take only 1 gap instead of 2... but I don't know that it would be a good look for majority of my non-clinical volunteering to be DURING my gap year. I'd also have to worry about securing a job before I submit the primary so that I can write the gap year essay. It would be a lot of hustle and cramming and stress but there is a chance it could be worth it to avoid an extra year -- ONLY if it doesn't overall hurt my app rather than help it and I am truly prepared enough to apply.
3) Job-hunt in spring for a job immediately after graduation & study part-time over 6-7 months; test in January 2025. I am a bit worried about the longer study period and its lower yield results, and adjusting to a new job schedule takes its toll. Ideally I'd find a part-time job so I can give more time and energy to studying but I am not sure whether there are many part-time job options available for MA or clinical research positions. Furthermore, I want to continue my volunteering throughout my gap years (hospice + non-clinical + monthly free clinic) and shadowing so I would be juggling a lot. The biggest pro of this option is that I would get another year to gain hours and meaningful experiences in these activities which I truly do enjoy. But I am worried about putting too much time between graduating and applying -- I know myself and I know that I could lose momentum if I'm not careful.
I'm having a hard time weighing the pros and cons of each option. Any opinions or thoughts would be welcome. TIA!
I am currently about to enter my final year of undergrad and I did not take the MCAT this summer. I am really torn about when I should take the MCAT but want to hammer this down ASAP so I can begin prepping my activities accordingly. The other thing that is making this tough is that I'm not quite sure what to do during my gap year(s) [whether I take 1 or 2 is mostly down to my MCAT date]. I'm leaning towards an MA job or CRC job but TBD.
After thinking a bit about possible scenarios, I came up with the following:
1) Study for the MCAT full-time in the summer immediately after graduation WHILE actively job-searching and hopefully test in early Sept while also landing a job around then. The big pro of this option is that it would be the only situation in which I am studying nearly full-time (not entirely due to the job hunt) in a short period, which has been proven by many of my friends to be the most successful way to break 520 (my goal). Obvious con is that I would be unemployed and there is no guarantee I would get a job by September. (There is a chance I could get an RA position in my lab that I've been working with for years, and due to the rapport I have with them they may allow me to take that summer off before starting work -- however, research is not a weak point in my application and I don't know that it would be the best job choice considering my limited clinical hours.)
2) Study part-time from this December until May of 2024 and test May 2024. I would need to halt a lot of my ECs and I'd be juggling studying for the MCAT with schoolwork (although I would take less units and have part-time student status) as well as research (already committed to 12 hrs/week as part of an honors thesis) and a leadership position I am already committed to. The big con of this is that I would have to stop my hospice + free clinic volunteering (as I mentioned, my clinical hours are already low) and also any non-clinical volunteering I'd be doing (I currently have 0 hours in that realm - I am aware this is a big weakness in my app but I am currently looking into potential opportunities to start that as early as next month). A potential pro is that I could apply in June 2024 assuming I get a good score & take only 1 gap instead of 2... but I don't know that it would be a good look for majority of my non-clinical volunteering to be DURING my gap year. I'd also have to worry about securing a job before I submit the primary so that I can write the gap year essay. It would be a lot of hustle and cramming and stress but there is a chance it could be worth it to avoid an extra year -- ONLY if it doesn't overall hurt my app rather than help it and I am truly prepared enough to apply.
3) Job-hunt in spring for a job immediately after graduation & study part-time over 6-7 months; test in January 2025. I am a bit worried about the longer study period and its lower yield results, and adjusting to a new job schedule takes its toll. Ideally I'd find a part-time job so I can give more time and energy to studying but I am not sure whether there are many part-time job options available for MA or clinical research positions. Furthermore, I want to continue my volunteering throughout my gap years (hospice + non-clinical + monthly free clinic) and shadowing so I would be juggling a lot. The biggest pro of this option is that I would get another year to gain hours and meaningful experiences in these activities which I truly do enjoy. But I am worried about putting too much time between graduating and applying -- I know myself and I know that I could lose momentum if I'm not careful.
I'm having a hard time weighing the pros and cons of each option. Any opinions or thoughts would be welcome. TIA!
