Preparing for a gap year

[BuffPremed]

Hey SDN, about to enter my senior year of undergrad and I have decided to take a gap year. Assuming everything goes well, I will have a 3.45 cGPA and ~3.3 sGPA. I want to improve my application and experience life before I start my career in medicine. Travel isn't out of the option, but I want to directly work on strengthening my application. My stats:

• Strong upward trend (3.5 first semester of junior year, 4.0 for the last 3 semesters of college)
  
• Research for 2.5 years (potential paper published as first/second author, still in the works.)
• 100 hours of shadowing
• ~250 hours of clinical volunteering
• ~150 hours of community service/nonclinical volunteering
• No MCAT score until August

Had MDD freshman and sophomore year of college and, with working full time, everything got in the way of me reaching my full potential. I did get help for it and MDD isn't an issue for me (my counselor has given me the OK for handling the stress of medical school.)

My question: What should I do for my gap year? I like research and I am aware of the post-bacc NIH research program to help people get into professional school (i.e. medical school.) Should I pursue that? Or will my GPA be still be a hindrance on getting into the program/getting into medical school? Or should I focus more on clinical and nonclinical volunteering while (assuming MCAT is >510)? Really clueless here. All help appreciated.

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[Catalystik]

Hey SDN, about to enter my senior year of undergrad and I have decided to take a gap year. Assuming everything goes well, I will have a 3.45 cGPA and ~3.3 sGPA. I want to improve my application and experience life before I start my career in medicine. Travel isn't out of the option, but I want to directly work on strengthening my application. My stats:

• Strong upward trend (3.5 first semester of junior year, 4.0 for the last 3 semesters of college)
  
• Research for 2.5 years (potential paper published as first/second author, still in the works.)
• 100 hours of shadowing
• ~250 hours of clinical volunteering
• ~150 hours of community service/nonclinical volunteering
• No MCAT score until August

Had MDD freshman and sophomore year of college and, with working full time, everything got in the way of me reaching my full potential. I did get help for it and MDD isn't an issue for me (my counselor has given me the OK for handling the stress of medical school.)

My question: What should I do for my gap year? I like research and I am aware of the post-bacc NIH research program to help people get into professional school (i.e. medical school.) Should I pursue that? Or will my GPA be still be a hindrance on getting into the program/getting into medical school? Or should I focus more on clinical and nonclinical volunteering while (assuming MCAT is >510)? Really clueless here. All help appreciated.

The ECs you've mentioned are solid. Consider adding Leadership and/or Teaching (coach, TA, tutor, mentor), as these experiences make an application stronger.

 

[resiroth]

Needs more GPA. Your research experience is fine, as is your clinical. Make sure you nail the MCAT.

 

[BuffPremed]

The ECs you've mentioned are solid. Consider adding Leadership and/or Teaching (coach, TA, tutor, mentor), as these experiences make an application stronger.

I have been mentoring a plethora of people in becoming more active and living healthier lives throughout college. Will become a personal trainer this fall. Would this count as mentoring? Or should I perhaps continue doing personal training after college for the gap year?

 

[Catalystik]

I have been mentoring a plethora of people in becoming more active and living healthier lives throughout college. Will become a personal trainer this fall. Would this count as mentoring?

Sounds like it to me, if you have an ongoing counseling-type relationship with these individuals.