Should I take a gap year with these stats?

[Vertu]

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cGPA: 3.50
sGPA: 3.23
MCAT: 504
Clinical Volunteering:
-Volunteered at an underserved clinic [120 hours]
Community Service:
-Fundraised for pediatric cancer [50 hours]
-Gave the homeless in transitional housing programs free furniture [40 hours]
-Tutored underrepresented and low-income elementary students in English and math [40 hours]
Leadership Positions:
-Director of Marketing for my club that fundraises for pediatric cancer [1 year]
-Marketing Head for a pre-med club [1 year]

My plans for a gap year would be to further my clinical volunteering and get involved in research as well as possibly retaking the MCAT. Also, a lot of my activities have been concentrated in my junior and senior year. I didn't do much freshman and sophomore year. Should I take a gap year?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Orlandoc]

.

 

[angeloflogic]

If you have done some shadowing, especially DO shadowing, then you don't need a gap year for DO schools. If you have a DO LOR, then you're pretty solid. Apply broadly (>10 schools) and you should hopefully get in somewhere.

 

[jelly-b]

I wouldn't take a gap year with your stats, but if you do, retake your mcat. Don't take a gap year just to work on extracurriculars.

 

[Optimist Prime]

Ehhhhh I wouldn't retake your mcat if you just wanted DO schools unless you just want to torture yourself with 3 months more of studying. You should be fine to apply now. Work on your extracurriculars just incase you don't get in anywhere, but as long as you apply broadly and interview well you should be ok.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

No gap year. This is assuming you're okay with one of the more "mid-tier" schools.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

I think your MCAT is fine (assuming it's relatively well-balanced)... the sGPA is what sticks out a bit to me. If you take a gap year (and I don't think you need one) I would try to get that sGPA above a 3.25 to avoid any pre-screening cutoffs some schools have, in addition to doing more ECs.


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