Should I postpone applying this upcoming cycle?

[Uafl112]

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3rd year biochem student with 3.57 current GPA (3.61 at the end of the semester if everything goes well iA)

- co founder and vice president of special olympics club (however we werent able to be very active this year)
- 1000 hours at Project Downtown (homeless advocacy organization. 5 - 6 hours/ week)
- a bit over 100 hours volunteering at Moffit Cancer Hospital (4 hours per week)
- A semester of research at an Alzheimers research center (20 hours a week. Didnt do anything significant)
- research in suicide prevention lab (just started)
- Donations coordinator for Water for Peace benefit concert (suppose to happen in fall 2014)
- Worked with Students for Justice in Palestine trying to get signatures for USF to change their investment and ethics policies
-shadowed 3 different physicians consistently for a total of over 70 hours (ENT surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, and Cardiologist)
-Currently have an interview for a student leadership job at my college (lets assume I get it)
- Member of Jiu jitsu club (a hobby)

The last piece of the puzzle is the MCAT , which im taking june 5th. However, even if I do get the score i want (32+), would it be better for me to apply the following cycle? Wouldn't it make sense to let some of these extra curricular activities fruition further? Or would it be better to apply with what I have now and update the schools on how the extra curriculars have developed?

 

[Oso]

I think you'll be fine, although a gap year would give you time to raise your gpa (it's slightly low now) and give you more time to study for the mcat if needed. Your shadowing and volunteering seem good to me, but a gap year would give you more research experience by the time you apply (definitely a plus). That leadership position would also look nice.

So overall, you'll probably be fine without the gap, as long as you apply early and broadly. But a gap year would most likely make you more competitive and give you some time to try some new things/travel/rest. Whatever you decide, good luck!

 

[SN12357]

Your application looks fine, so I don't think you need to apply solely to strengthen your application. However, there are lots of reasons to take a gap year besides that--are you burned out on school? Do you want to have some time to try something different before leaping right back into (harder) classes? Is there a good opportunity that you would enjoy doing for a year and would also strengthen your application?

I don't think I've ever met someone who took a gap year and regretted it, although I've definitely met people who regretted going straight back into school. Base your gap year decision around what's best for you as a person rather than focusing on your application.

 

[Uafl112]

Honestly, I thrive when im studying for classes and doing work; It gets me into the rhythm of being productive and staying quick on my feet. So based on that, I wouldn't mind going straight to harder classes.

If I applied, would I be able to update med schools on how my extra curriculars are building up?

 

[ChemNerd07]

I always recommend to my friends to just apply. Sometimes you think your application is perfect and you end up having to take a gap year, other times you think there's no hope (like me this year) and you surprise your self with an acceptance or two. No harm in tossing your application in to a few schools (I really do mean be selective and don't go over 10), worst thing that can happen is you get told what to improve on in your exit interview. Kind of a win-win.

 

[SN12357]

I always recommend to my friends to just apply. Sometimes you think your application is perfect and you end up having to take a gap year, other times you think there's no hope (like me this year) and you surprise your self with an acceptance or two. No harm in tossing your application in to a few schools (I really do mean be selective and don't go over 10), worst thing that can happen is you get told what to improve on in your exit interview. Kind of a win-win.

This isn't good advice. Being a reapplicant is a substantial negative (there is plenty of evidence on this site, including the direct testimony of adcoms, indicating that) and should therefore be avoided. You should only apply if you're ready to attend school the next year.

Honestly, I thrive when im studying for classes and doing work; It gets me into the rhythm of being productive and staying quick on my feet. So based on that, I wouldn't mind going straight to harder classes.

If I applied, would I be able to update med schools on how my extra curriculars are building up?

Most schools accept updates. Many explicitly welcome them. A small handful ban them, or ban them after a certain point (ie, post-interview), but those schools are a definite minority. At most schools you can count on being able to send in updates. So if that's your main concern, I would say go for it if you want to apply this year.

 

[ChemNerd07]

This isn't good advice. Being a reapplicant is a substantial negative (there is plenty of evidence on this site, including the direct testimony of adcoms, indicating that) and should therefore be avoided. You should only apply if you're ready to attend school the next year.



Most schools accept updates. Many explicitly welcome them. A small handful ban them, or ban them after a certain point (ie, post-interview), but those schools are a definite minority. At most schools you can count on being able to send in updates. So if that's your main concern, I would say go for it if you want to apply this year.

Too bad some schools statistically take a higher percentage of reapplicants, right? It's better to dry run the cycle, know what to expect and know what the schools you want are looking for.