One year masters programs/ Ideas for a Gap year

[wicked398]

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Hey Guys,I need some advice!

So i just recently decided to graduate a year early with my bachelors. (I was done with all the credits but wasn't sure if I wanted to stay an extra year taking random classes) Due to the late confirmation, I am looking at a gap year. I tried finding a job with a biology degree, but seems like there's not much out there unless you have some type of experience with research (our school was very limited with this) or direct patient care. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do for the following year? I've been looking at one year masters programs, but a lot of their deadlines have passed. Does anyone know of any programs that are still open? I have not taken my GRES as of yet (signed up July 23, can move it up earlier) I took my MCATs but didn't really score that well at all,(family issues) so I would prefer not to include those in my application. Are there any suggestions what to do for a year? I have decent ECS (summer volunteering in India, student leadership positions in school, etc). Any help is greatly appreciated as I am starting to freak out that I do not have anything planned for next year! lol Thanks in advance!🙂
Also wanted to add, I have not been accepted into any programs as of yet. I am still deciding on whether to retake my MCATs (horrible experience) or to just apply to P.A programs, but will most likely apply by this summer. Will be free from September to do anything=]

 

[Hoya2011]

Hey Guys,I need some advice!

So i just recently decided to graduate a year early with my bachelors. (I was done with all the credits but wasn't sure if I wanted to stay an extra year taking random classes) Due to the late confirmation, I am looking at a gap year. I tried finding a job with a biology degree, but seems like there's not much out there unless you have some type of experience with research (our school was very limited with this) or direct patient care. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do for the following year? I've been looking at one year masters programs, but a lot of their deadlines have passed. Does anyone know of any programs that are still open? I have not taken my GRES as of yet (signed up July 23, can move it up earlier) I took my MCATs but didn't really score that well at all,(family issues) so I would prefer not to include those in my application. Are there any suggestions what to do for a year? I have decent ECS (summer volunteering in India, student leadership positions in school, etc). Any help is greatly appreciated as I am starting to freak out that I do not have anything planned for next year! lol Thanks in advance!🙂

Without knowing your GPA and MCAT, it's hard to tell whether you even NEED a master's program. I would certainly advise against an SMP if your GPA is high. Study for your MCAT retake this summer and try to find an assistant research position in a university lab or nearby hospital. You could also look for positions in international relief organizations, volunteer in a local free clinic, or take an EMT-B class. There are tons of options for a gap year, but none of them will compensate for a weak MCAT score so make that your biggest priority. Good luck!

 

[lizzo76]

I might have missed it, but it doesn't seem clear whether you want to do a masters to improve your chances at getting into med school, or if you just don't know what to do for the next year. I wouldn't do a masters just to fill up a year unless money is no object. Maybe you could look into just taking extra classes somewhere? Or travel and do a more extensive volunteer experience? Or get a job that isn't your dream job (or one that necessarily requires a college degree) in order to make some money and appear to be responsible? If you're thinking of applying for a P.A. program the following year... why do a one-year masters in the interim? What's the point? A year is not long even though to someone who has been in school every year since they were 5 years old the idea of having a year off can be daunting. But there are lots of things you can do to fill up a year.

I don't know about all those excuses for poor MCAT scores. Your mother broke her arm twice? Your brother had typhoid fever? Where do you live, anyway? I'm not suggesting those aren't valid excuses, but I don't know about trying to excuse performance THREE times... seems like either you shouldn't have taken the MCAT when not ready (three times) or have been able to set aside the family issues and get serious. If you did poorly once, I could see adcoms accepting the excuse, but not three times. I'm just being realistic. What was the academic program you were in but are no longer in?

Maybe just take off a year and volunteer and work any old job and then apply to P.A. programs this fall, for the next year. You wouldn't really want a "real" job for just one year, anyway... you might feel uncomfortable having to pretend you were in it for the long (or longer) haul, when you plan to be in some program (P.A. or med school) in a year.