One Gap Year or Two?

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

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GPA/MCAT: 3.97/523

Major: Physics

Research: Physics research (modeling and simulations) since February. Worked full time over the summer. Probably at around 500-600 hours now. PI thinks I am on track to be published.

Volunteering (non-clinical): Two years (~80 hours) working with kids with disabilities. Taught a cooking class and watch them while they eat pizza and play video games.
Doing an internship in the spring getting poor people supplies and basic needs: ~250 hours.
TOTAL: ~330 hours

Volunteering (clinical): One year (~70 hours) cleaning beds in a hospital
One year (~80 hours) screening patients in a clinic for domestic violence
TOTAL: ~150 hours

Leadership: Not much. On a programming board for honors college, and chairman in domestic violence advocacy group mentioned above. Also was on an auxiliary committee in student government for a year.

Shadowing: 120 hours, mainly with various surgeons or proceduralists (GI, urologist, transplant surgeon, ophthalmologist, cardiologist).

I am a senior at a state school. I was already locked into doing a gap year because I felt that my activities were weak. I took the MCAT this past summer and got the above score, and it really made me re-evaluate my goals. I am hoping to do the NIH gap year program, but I am conflicted over whether I should do one or two years. With my score, I could be competitive at a place like Harvard, which I never expected. I don't know how important it is to go to a place like that, but I feel like I should try for it if I have a chance. I'm just not sure if I need two gap years to be competitive there, since I didn't make the best of my undergrad. Or, has my undergrad already locked me out of a place like that? I know I have a lot of hours, but I feel like I didn't really get anything from cleaning beds, and my leadership stuff is just resume padding.

Would I get any tangible benefit from the extra gap year? I am currently only thinking about doing an MD. Haven't researched long enough to know that I want to do an MD-PhD.

 

[Faha]

You do not need the extra gap year. Where is your state of residence ?

 

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

Missouri, but I would like to get out of my state if I can. I'm just wondering if the extra year could get me into a big East/West coast school.

 

[vrazzles]

You should be able to get into a great school without a gap year. Your MCAT and GPA combo are sexy.

Your ECs are ok, but a little bit more run of the mill than what I have seen from people who have gotten into tippy top schools. You have sampled a subgroup of doctors that make up the minority of the overall workforce. I would say you should maybe shadow a primary care doc.

It will be up to your to make your application narrative cohesive and to explain why schools should take you over the roughly 650 people who apply with stats comparable to yours every year.

 

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

I am already locked into at least one gap year since I am not applying this cycle and am in my senior year.

Would having two years at NIH make me stand out enough to a top school? My narrative is actually my largest concern. Would scores be able to overcome that for a T20, if not a top school?

 

[vrazzles]

It depends more on what you accomplish at the NIH than the fact that you did it. Yes it will help. Your scores may compensate for your ECs, particularly at schools that put a lot of emphasis on stats such as WashU, Pritzker, NYU (more competitive now), Vanderbilt, etc.

 

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

So essentially if I apply next cycle I would have a chance at a T20, but if I wanted another year (assuming productive gap years), I could have a chance at a top school?

Is it worth waiting another year to get that chance?

 

[vrazzles]

So essentially if I apply next cycle I would have a chance at a T20, but if I wanted another year (assuming productive gap years), I could have a chance at a top school?

Is it worth waiting another year to get that chance?

I'm sorry, do you not consider a top 20 a "top school"?

In my opinion, no. Very few (if any) doors will be shut for you if you attend Vanderbilt vs. Harvard. Worth is in your own mind tho.

 

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

Of course! It's in the name lol. I meant "tippy top". Just got lazy typing on my phone, sorry.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I'd be happy just getting in to medical school, much less Harvard. I'm more wondering if the extra year would afford me some freedom on where I go. I've always wanted to try living in a big city and this sends like an opportunity to get out of the Midwest and I don't want to blow it.

Of course, that's probably wishful thinking. Thanks again for the input!

 

[Reverb]

You're definitely competitive for the majority of MD schools in the US, but it sounds like you're already aware of that. For your gap year(s), even if you choose to apply for the NIH program, make sure you are involved in something clinical that is long term. A job or long-standing volunteer position that is clinically relevant will look a lot better than two or three seasonal events you helped out at. You still need to "paint the pre-med picture" for admissions committees during this time. Ultimately, if you feel like taking another gap year half way through your first, do it.

 

[Gurby]

You're like 21 freakin years old right? I vote for taking the extra gap year. Just make sure your MCAT doesn't expire obviously.

 

[baba_ghanoush_MD]

@Goro ?

 

[Goro]

One gap year no more. Noo research....all clinical exposure and showing off your altruism.

Then aim high. Start with NYU and WashU