Optimal time to apply during this cycle if...

[bakagal]

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Hi all,

I'm pretty new here so please excuse my ignorance 🙂

I've recently come to the full decision that I want to be a doctor. I have excelled thus far in the other career that I chose (completely and absolutely unrelated to medicine) but am planning on leaving my full-time job only about a month or two before beginning a post-bacc program, in order to sock away as much savings as I can.

My stats are excellent academic-wise (and I majored in a rigorous undergrad degree so while I barely took any science classes, the classes were definitely difficult). However...the clincher...though I have volunteer work that I'm currently doing/have recently been involved in, the only medically related volunteer work that I've done has been a while ago. I plan on beginning to volunteer again in a hospital/clinic but by the time I get to actually start volunteering (after interviews, etc), it won't be at least until the beginning of October, if even that. And it is going to have to be very part-time (think only 4-6 hours a week) since I'm still working full-time.

So, my question is - when do I apply if I absolutely want to apply to the competitive post-bacc programs this cycle? Do I apply in October (pretty much at the beginning of the cycle so there are more spots = higher chances for me) or do I wait until I have several months of recent volunteer work (and I plan on shadowing some doctors as well) so that I don't apply until end of Nov/Dec? To reiterate, I've had medically related volunteer work in the past - it's just been a while (the most recent was about 4 years ago, to give you an idea).

Thanks in advance!

 

[pineapplepancakes]

+1 to this question

 

[Goucher2013]

First off, I suggest you directly contact the programs you're interested in and ask them the same question. Remember that these guys are simply going to give you advice, not judge you. You're not leaving a bad impression or "cheating" by simply asking them what they think is the better option. Plus you're planting your name in their head. And if they do brush you off...well...do you really want these people to be your pre-med advisors for 1-2 years?

My guess, though, is that they'll tell you to wait. Volunteering/shadowing is often the bare minimum that separates "I think I'd like medicine" from "I know I'd like medicine". If you're looking at intensive post-bacs, they'll be particularly looking for evidence that you won't change your mind when the workload turns out to be severe.

Don't be too concerned about applying early. Plenty of people still get accepted late in the cycle, myself included. Giving people like yourself time to put together the strongest-possible application is probably one reason programs keep slots open until late in the cycle.

Finally, consider another option: waiting another year. It can only strengthen your motivations and experiences, which in turn strengthens your application.