Stats and ECs all set, what else should I do?

[aspiring20]

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i am applying next june, and i will be going in with a 3.6/3.3 and 35 along with strong ECs covering everything.

the only thing i lack is major leadership roles and paid clinical jobs. obviously i cant get the former anymore since i graduated already, and i dont really want to get the latter.

right now, i am still working on my 40 hr/wk job started last august (I remarkably carried it through during MCAT studying), but i kinda want to take some time off before med school to actually relax and perhaps travel a bit. but then i am concerned about how adcoms will look at me if they see time taken off. SDN wisdom says that if you arent working 40 hrs/wk consistently during gap years, then that's a huge negative.

so what should i do? obviously retaking the MCAT is a big no-no...

 

[LuciusVorenus]

i am applying next june, and i will be going in with a 3.6/3.3 and 35 along with strong ECs covering everything.

the only thing i lack is major leadership roles and paid clinical jobs. obviously i cant get the former anymore since i graduated already, and i dont really want to get the latter.

right now, i am still working on my 40 hr/wk job started last august (I remarkably carried it through during MCAT studying), but i kinda want to take some time off before med school to actually relax and perhaps travel a bit. but then i am concerned about how adcoms will look at me if they see time taken off. SDN wisdom says that if you arent working 40 hrs/wk consistently during gap years, then that's a huge negative.

so what should i do? obviously retaking the MCAT is a big no-no...

I took a year off but it was to finish a research project. Some secondaries will ask you to describe commitments equaling 40 hrs/wk. These can be ECs, academics, employment, etc. I'm pretty sure you can get away with saying you're traveling or pursuing really specific hobbies. It's not that uncommon to take a year off - they just want to know you're not just sitting around in the garage not doing anything.

 

[Ismet]

Gap years should be productive. You don't need to be working 40 hours/week but you also shouldn't bum around and only travel during that whole year. You can absolutely take a break and travel for a bit, but find something productive to do with that year, like research, an internship, shadowing, etc.

 

[TwinsFan]

i am applying next june, and i will be going in with a 3.6/3.3 and 35 along with strong ECs covering everything.

the only thing i lack is major leadership roles and paid clinical jobs. obviously i cant get the former anymore since i graduated already, and i dont really want to get the latter.

right now, i am still working on my 40 hr/wk job started last august (I remarkably carried it through during MCAT studying), but i kinda want to take some time off before med school to actually relax and perhaps travel a bit. but then i am concerned about how adcoms will look at me if they see time taken off. SDN wisdom says that if you arent working 40 hrs/wk consistently during gap years, then that's a huge negative.

so what should i do? obviously retaking the MCAT is a big no-no...

Stat-wise your sGPA is weak and may be something to improve (several science As may move it up a bit) and make sure to stay involved in something clinical to show continued interest in the field.

 

[aspiring20]

Stat-wise your sGPA is weak and may be something to improve (several science As may move it up a bit) and make sure to stay involved in something clinical to show continued interest in the field.

i definitely agree. but i've already taken a few science courses since graduation last spring, and i got A's on all of them. it is incredibly difficult in my part of the area to find nearby 4-year schools to take science courses, however.

i'll just apply to MD and DO together.

another thing, a formal postbacc/smp shouldn't be necessary for someone in my position, right? i've asked a lot of other people (including my premed adviser, who is very knowledgeable and well regarded) and they all told me no.

 

[newborn11]

35 is fine. Do not retake the MCAT. Leadership roles can be emergent. Do whatever pleases your heart in the gap year. Your gpa is a bit lower than the national median of MD school matriculants according to MSAR, but it can be offset by your MCAT score. Unless you aspire to be an osteopathic physician, I don't see the need of applying to DO programs.
PS: Some of my interviewers asked me why I am taking a gap year/why didn't I apply last year. Be prepared for this question.

 

[aspiring20]

35 is fine. Do not retake the MCAT. Leadership roles can be emergent. Do whatever pleases your heart in the gap year. Your gpa is a bit lower than the national median of MD school matriculants according to MSAR, but it can be offset by your MCAT score. Unless you aspire to be an osteopathic physician, I don't see the need of applying to DO programs.
PS: Some of my interviewers asked me why I am taking a gap year/why didn't I apply last year. Be prepared for this question.

thanks! i graduated in 2012, applying in 2014, so a lot of gap for me

and regarding the interviewers asking you regarding why you took time off, did you get the impression that it was a negative to take time off?