Medical Should I take a Gap year? - How to tell if I am competitive

[MusicDOc124]

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Hi,

I am a junior studying Bio at a top 20 university, and I have been struggling a lot with my decision on taking a gap year or not. I was wondering if I could get some feedback from you all if I put down some stats. My main issue is whether or not I am competitive, and if taking a gap year would actually improve my chances


Important Stats:

Science GPA: 3.75

Cumulative GPA: 3.80

MCAT: plan to take late March if I go straight


Volunteering: Regularly volunteer at local hospital near my school during the semester. During breaks I volunteer as well

Shadowing: Extensive shadowing experience, but limited two one or two specialties

Research: Extensive research experience, likely a second author and poster presentation

EC: Actively involved in health related and cultural organizations at my school


I feel like my greatest weakness is not having more intensive clinical experiences, but that is very difficult to get unless I go abroad, which is not likely to happen. I also do not have solid recs I can get besides one professor and my PI (also a professor). I would need one more rec before applying right?


If any of you have been/are in the same boat and can give some feedback for the next steps I should take I would really appreciate it. This winter break I plan to just volunteer a bit and shadow, but devote most of my time studying for the MCAT.


My last questions is how do you know what schools to apply to? When I look at MSAR should I look to be at the 25%ile or higher before applying?

Thank you

We cannot help gauge your competitiveness without an MCAT score. Your GPAs are fine, but are worth nothing if you score a 480 for instance.

In terms of your ECs, you're on the wrong side of the spectrum IMO. Your weakness is not that you don't have more extensive healthcare related volunteering and exposure, but that you have listed only 1 thing outside of health that barely demonstrates you have interests outside of healthcare and less well-rounded. Having something to compare your healthcare experience and shadowing to is in and of itself able to demonstrate that you have a real interest in healthcare because you've experienced other things.

--> try volunteering with the homeless, animals/shelter, etc. You have enough (per your wording here of "regular, active, and extensive") experience in healthcare as a premed.

Regarding a school list, same goes as with looking at competitiveness - need the MCAT score.

 

[Goro]

Get off campus and out of your comfort zone. Engage in service to others less fortunate than yourself.

Get in some shadowing on Primary Care clinicians.

I can't give school list advice without an MCAT score; I don't deal with hypotheticals.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

A gap year with you doing full-time work in direct patient care will always help especially with your profile. So will strong leadership opportunities and faculty interactions before you graduate.

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