Should I be preparing for a gap year right now?

[premedprepa]

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Hi yall, I am submitting my AMCAS app in June and this might sound a bit neurotic. I know during the application year to continue activities, in case you don't get accepted that cycle. I will graduate this December with a marketing degree and need a plan for the spring.

Choices:
if I get accepted this cycle:

• keep working CNA job, save money for med school when I start Aug 2021.

if I do NOT get accepted this cycle:

• find full-time marketing job in the spring that I could work at until I apply again, and keep my part time CNA job
• work full time CNA
• find research job with my current lab or university -- TA
• get my MBA online and work either CNA or marketing job

I figure if I don't get in this fall, I really want to save up money for when I do actually get in. I also hope I get in this cycle, obviously, so don't want to have to decided on what to do for 1.5 year gap.

Any advice is appreciated. Do I sound neurotic? Lol

 

[KnightDoc]

Hi yall, I am submitting my AMCAS app in June and this might sound a bit neurotic. I know during the application year to continue activities, in case you don't get accepted that cycle. I will graduate this December with a marketing degree and need a plan for the spring.

Choices:
if I get accepted this cycle:

• keep working CNA job, save money for med school when I start Aug 2021.

if I do NOT get accepted this cycle:

• find full-time marketing job in the spring that I could work at until I apply again, and keep my part time CNA job
• work full time CNA
• find research job with my current lab or university -- TA
• get my MBA online and work either CNA or marketing job

I figure if I don't get in this fall, I really want to save up money for when I do actually get in. I also hope I get in this cycle, obviously, so don't want to have to decided on what to do for 1.5 year gap.

Any advice is appreciated. Do I sound neurotic? Lol

So, you're asking now, before you even submit your application, if you should plan on being rejected and having a gap year in 2021-22? @gonnif would probably say yes, because we are all rejected until we are accepted, but I personally think that is very pessimistic, and if you honestly don't think you have a decent chance of being accepted you probably are not ready to apply. In any event, you should certainly maintain your ECs, both because you will have listed them on your application and because you will need them to show continuity in case you do have to reapply.

You haven't shared your stats, your ECs or your school list, so it's impossible for us to know whether you are being neurotic or are foolish to be applying. If it were me, assuming I knew what I was doing and was in fact a viable candidate, I wouldn't seriously be planning a reapplication until around this time next year if I didn't have any As by then. I wouldn't count any chickens before they hatch, but if I seriously doubted my ability to be accepted by at least one school, I probably wouldn't apply.

By the way, continuing to work for 6 months before starting school is perfectly acceptable. Planning to take a gap year before starting school is perfectly acceptable. Planning on taking an additional gap year after applying in case you aren't does sound a little neurotic before you even submit the application.

Please share a little data to receive more informed feedback from the board.

 

[premedprepa]

Appreciate all your help @KnightDoc .. I really don't want to set myself up for failure (whether that means applying when I'm not ready or continually thinking I won't get in) but I also don't want to be overly optimistic that I will be accepted on my first shot. Definitely think I'm ready to apply this June but I also think a gap year would help my app (although I feel like you could argue this case for any applicant who uses a gap year well). Obviously focusing on MCAT right now and my application, but gap year plans keep running through the back of my mind if I don't get an A this cycle -- especially because I wouldn't want to miss out on any opportunities to apply for something (as the apps for different programs open up so far in advance). Thank you for all your thoughts!

GPA 3.7, BCPM 3.5 -- applying MD only
MCAT in June -- 506 FL avg

Volunteer:
Clin - ED Volunteer - 130 hours
NonClin - Soup Kitchen - 100 hours

Paid:
Clin - CNA - 1500 hours

Research:
Genetics of different plant species - 200 hours (for course credit), wrote thesis

Shadowing:
100+ hours (3 specialties)

Other EC:
Collegiate Club Sport VP and Coach
Greek VP

 

[potatopotaaaato]

Hi! Don't want to be annoying but just as a heads up online MBA's are not really well regarded in the business world if that is your back up. I worked in management consulting and most big employers across most industries want to see an MBA from a ranked program. So I think that the online MBA might not be worth the money. Just my thoughts!

 

[KnightDoc]

Appreciate all your help @KnightDoc .. I really don't want to set myself up for failure (whether that means applying when I'm not ready or continually thinking I won't get in) but I also don't want to be overly optimistic that I will be accepted on my first shot. Definitely think I'm ready to apply this June but I also think a gap year would help my app (although I feel like you could argue this case for any applicant who uses a gap year well). Obviously focusing on MCAT right now and my application, but gap year plans keep running through the back of my mind if I don't get an A this cycle -- especially because I wouldn't want to miss out on any opportunities to apply for something (as the apps for different programs open up so far in advance). Thank you for all your thoughts!

GPA 3.7, BCPM 3.5 -- applying MD only
MCAT in June -- 506 FL avg

Volunteer:
Clin - ED Volunteer - 130 hours
NonClin - Soup Kitchen - 100 hours

Paid:
Clin - CNA - 1500 hours

Research:
Genetics of different plant species - 200 hours (for course credit), wrote thesis

Shadowing:
100+ hours (3 specialties)

Other EC:
Collegiate Club Sport VP and Coach
Greek VP

I think you are definitely in decent shape. Is there a reason you don't want to throw a few DOs in as well? A 506 MCAT isn't really going to be too competitive for MD, depending on your state, and even the 3.5 is borderline. Also, I'm sure your volunteer hours will be higher by next summer, yes? If so, you're good.

My advice is not to continually think you won't be successful, but rather, hope for the best while preparing for the worst. If it helps you to rationalize, I personally would have no hesitation applying for any opportunities that require an early application, since you are not presently holding an acceptance and you right now have a greater than even chance of not having an A this time next year. If you find yourself among the fortunate 40% next June, express your sincere apologies, explaining that you did not expect to be in this position when you applied for whatever it is that you are resigning from, but med school has been a lifelong dream and you cannot pass up the opportunity. How does that sound??

 

[premedprepa]

Hi! Don't want to be annoying but just as a heads up online MBA's are not really well regarded in the business world if that is your back up. I worked in management consulting and most big employers across most industries want to see an MBA from a ranked program. So I think that the online MBA might not be worth the money. Just my thoughts!

Just curious, would employers look at an online / unranked MBA with an MD more favorable, especially for doing healthcare admin?? Don't really want to go into the business world per se, unless that meant doing healthcare admin.

 

[premedprepa]

I think you are definitely in decent shape. Is there a reason you don't want to throw a few DOs in as well? A 506 MCAT isn't really going to be too competitive for MD, depending on your state, and even the 3.5 is borderline. Also, I'm sure your volunteer hours will be higher by next summer, yes? If so, you're good.

My advice is not to continually think you won't be successful, but rather, hope for the best while preparing for the worst. If it helps you to rationalize, I personally would have no hesitation applying for any opportunities that require an early application, since you are not presently holding an acceptance and you right now have a greater than even chance of not having an A this time next year. If you find yourself among the fortunate 40% next June, express your sincere apologies, explaining that you did not expect to be in this position when you applied for whatever it is that you are resigning from, but med school has been a lifelong dream and you cannot pass up the opportunity. How does that sound??

Really want MD just because I have seen the lack of residency and fellowship spots (especially on the west coast) for DO through family friends who are DO residents and fellows -- which I know there are plenty available but I want to be in the best position to get a competitive spot when the time comes. Also, I will have more volunteer hours (at the same places pending covid situation) but since I am applying this June, those hours I get within the next year won't really factor in to this app cycle. Otherwise, in terms of the gap year, I really like your plan!

 

[KnightDoc]

Really want MD just because I have seen the lack of residency and fellowship spots (especially on the west coast) for DO through family friends who are DO residents and fellows -- which I know there are plenty available but I want to be in the best position to get a competitive spot when the time comes. Also, I will have more volunteer hours (at the same places pending covid situation) but since I am applying this June, those hours I get within the next year won't really factor in to this app cycle. Otherwise, in terms of the gap year, I really like your plan!

No, if you are continuing activities you are already participating in, you will receive a sort of contingent credit for the hours. Not as much as if you had already completed them, but definitely more than not planning them at all, and definitely more than if they were new activities you hadn't been involved with before. Put them in as anticipated, with the time period being from now to whatever point in the future (i.e., June 2020-May 2021).

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Really want MD just because I have seen the lack of residency and fellowship spots (especially on the west coast) for DO through family friends who are DO residents and fellows -- which I know there are plenty available but I want to be in the best position to get a competitive spot when the time comes. Also, I will have more volunteer hours (at the same places pending covid situation) but since I am applying this June, those hours I get within the next year won't really factor in to this app cycle. Otherwise, in terms of the gap year, I really like your plan!

If you are an ORM and/or CA resident your MD chances are very low.