Medical Should I take a second gap year because of late start on extracurricular activities?

[Catalystik]

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Hello! I hope everyone is well — I have a question regarding extracurriculars.
I started many of my extracurricular activities quite late (mid- to late Junior year), including my clinical volunteering, non-clinical volunteering, and medical assistant job. I was very focused on my cancer immunology research since freshman year (1 publication in a peer-reviewed journal, will do a senior research thesis for my Biomedical Research minor, and my PI said I would be an author on a paper for a project that hasn’t yet been finished), and did not allocate time for other activities, which I regret very deeply. I have been doing these newer extracurriculars very regularly, and intend to continue these activities during my gap year. By the time I apply at the end of my senior year, I should have around 250 hours of the clinical volunteering, 300-350 of non-clinical volunteering (plus 250 hours from the summer before first year of college, but this was just for 2-3 months) and 700-800 hours of the MA part-time job. I will have been doing each of these activities ranging from 12-18 months (I do have other extracurriculars but consider the above to be most directly related to medical school admissions). I am still continuing my research, but will be working far fewer hours. I truly love everything I am doing, and feel that I can talk and write about it meaningfully, but understand the negative impact of my late start. My cGPA is 3.88 and sGPA is 3.82 (with a consistent upward trend), and I will be taking the MCAT in January. I am an ORM and VA resident. Should I take a second gap year so I can report a longer commitment to these activities that I will be continuing during my first gap year anyway, or apply when I originally intended to? I know this is a difficult question to answer without my MCAT score, but would greatly appreciate any input. Thank you so much!

As long as your application gives evidence that you've considered medicine as a career for at least 1.5 years (through physician shadowing and active clinical experience) you should be fine. I have more concerns if nonmedical volunteering hasn't taken place at least intermittently during some college years. It sounds like yours hasn't, so I suggest you avoid applying to those schools with a service orientation. Regardless, you'd want to continue nonmedical community service during your application year for the sake of Secondary essays, update letters (where allowed). interview conversations, and in case you need to reapply.

You didn't mention physician shadowing, but this doesn't need to be a long-term experience. About 50 hours is average and you should include primary care docs.

If you're aiming for highly-selective, research-oriented schools, I suggest that a strong leadership activity is important, as those schools aim to train "future leaders in medicine," not just researchers.

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you so much! Yes, I do have physician shadowing and a leadership position in a club that I really care about, and the position also involves creating and leading an academic internship with a curriculum that we design. My non-clinical volunteering has quite a few elements of leadership as well. However, I’m not necessarily aiming for a highly selective, research-oriented school. And yes, I will definitely continue the same activity into my gap year as I love it dearly, and I will continue to be in the area. I am very regretful that I did not start it sooner, but all I can do is look forward. I know you mentioned that you think I should be fine, but given that many have suggested to wait to apply until one’s application is as strong as possible, do you think a second gap year would be ultimately beneficial? Thank you again!

Certainly an extra year can't help but make one's application stronger, but I think there would be diminished returns, unless you really want to appeal to service-oriented schools, in which case you'd want to have an activity that serves people unlike yourself with poor economic resources with an organization you care about (if the current nonmedical community service doesn't cover that base).

 

[Catalystik]

Yes, my current volunteering involves tutoring homeless children with a local non-profit that I really admire. I suppose that I will most likely apply this cycle, but of course will be fully ready for a second gap year if need be. Thank you so much for your help — it really means a lot.

We're happy to help.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I presume when you mean "late start" and applying "this cycle", you mean next June AFTER you have your MCAT scores in hand (entering 2021).

Yes, you are correct -- I will be applying June of 2020 to enter in 2021, and will have taken the MCAT by then. I'm sorry, I should have clarified!