Possible reg flags and no clinical experience yet… is the 2026-2027 cycle possible?

[sandiajelly]

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Hi all,

I am not quite a full non-trad, as I just graduated from undergrad this month and decided I want to pursue medicine instead of my MS recently. I currently have no clinical or shadowing experience, and I wanted to get a gauge of whether or not I would have a good shot if I were to apply next year.

For reference, here are my current stats: 4.0 GPA, 900+ research hours, 300+ non-clinical volunteering at a health department and humane society, leadership, TA for biochem, mental health ambassador for the university, etc.

I am lined up to start volunteering at a hospice center next week, and I am certain I can get at least 300 clinical and 50 shadowing hours by May 2026. Obviously I would have to take the MCAT, which I would take around January of next year.

My question is, is such an abrupt jump into medicine a red flag for admissions? I have public-health related experience, but no overarching story that shows a commitment to medicine that is years long. I was pre-med when I entered university 4 years ago, but I psyched myself out with all the requirements and gave it up before I started truly trying. I am planning for my personal statement to be focused on how I realized my passion for medicine when I couldn’t place myself in any other career after I graduated, even when I committed to a Masters program. Would this story look iffy to admissions, and would only one year of clinical experience hurt my chances?

Thank you!

 

[LindaAccepted]

What made you decide you wanted to be a physician if you don't have any clinical exposure?

 

[sandiajelly]

I am taking multiple gap years and am still in the stages of figuring it out, but the research I have done on being a physician is the same as any undergraduate just starting to decide on what they want to do for a career. Obviously I won’t know if this is the path for me until I dive into it, but I can have an idea and plan for the future right now to see if applying next year is even feasible.

 

[LizzyM]

Why should it matter when it is feasible to apply? you have it backwards.... figure out if this is the right path for you and then plan to go down it... not to say, can I reach the end of this path by next summer? without knowing if it is the right path. And the sooner you know that it is the right path, the sooner you can plan your approach to the application process. Even if it is going to be two years rather than one, you should start shadowing NOW and start/continue non-clinical community service with the most needy NOW. Clinical experience can wait until you've done some shadowing and have a better idea of whether this is the right path. After you've figured that out, add clinical experience which may be paid or unpaid.

 

[LindaAccepted]

I am taking multiple gap years and am still in the stages of figuring it out, but the research I have done on being a physician is the same as any undergraduate just starting to decide on what they want to do for a career. Obviously I won’t know if this is the path for me until I dive into it, but I can have an idea and plan for the future right now to see if applying next year is even feasible.

I agree with @LizzyM . First figure out your goal and then plan how to achieve it. Shadowing can be a good place to start, but I think you need more participatory clinical experience to really decide. Once you decide, then please ask your question again. You'll have a better idea of what you're doing clinically and in terms of community service as well as when you're taking the MCAT. Maybe you'll even have an MCAT score or know if you have to take any pre-reqs.

 

[LizzyM]

I think that some people do some shadowing and decide that medicine is not for them and that's fine and they haven't spent too much time going down the road with training that won't be relevant. Those who shadow and want to continue down the road, then it is time to get some active clinical experience (volunteer or employment). If the reason for medicine is to help people, you should be helping people in some way on a regular basis through non-clinical community service. Ideally this service is to the very vulnerable in your community.

 

[Goro]

Hi all,

I am not quite a full non-trad, as I just graduated from undergrad this month and decided I want to pursue medicine instead of my MS recently. I currently have no clinical or shadowing experience, and I wanted to get a gauge of whether or not I would have a good shot if I were to apply next year.

For reference, here are my current stats: 4.0 GPA, 900+ research hours, 300+ non-clinical volunteering at a health department and humane society, leadership, TA for biochem, mental health ambassador for the university, etc.

I am lined up to start volunteering at a hospice center next week, and I am certain I can get at least 300 clinical and 50 shadowing hours by May 2026. Obviously I would have to take the MCAT, which I would take around January of next year.

My question is, is such an abrupt jump into medicine a red flag for admissions? I have public-health related experience, but no overarching story that shows a commitment to medicine that is years long. I was pre-med when I entered university 4 years ago, but I psyched myself out with all the requirements and gave it up before I started truly trying. I am planning for my personal statement to be focused on how I realized my passion for medicine when I couldn’t place myself in any other career after I graduated, even when I committed to a Masters program. Would this story look iffy to admissions, and would only one year of clinical experience hurt my chances?

Thank you!

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So don't fret.