Take a Year Off? PLEASE HELP!!!

[lilPhysician]

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Hey everyone,
I'm in sort of a bind. I have average matriculant profile, according to the 100s of people I've asked this question to (including adcoms) who agree that I have the stats to get in. I have a 3.65/31. I have some interesting ECs working in health policy in the State Senate and doing some biology research (no pubs), taking a grad school course on ion channel biophysics and aceing it, teaching elem students, etc. My problem is that I don't have enough clinical exposure( I did a lot in high school, though not as a college student) and some schools did suggest padding my MCAT by a few points. I've shadowed a bit this past semester with a radiologist, plastic surgeon, anesthesiologist, and internal med. specialist. I also completed an honors thesis on a medically related topic and I plan to pursue publication.
With that said, I plan to work in a lab doing clinical research in radiology, since that is what I am most interested in. It can pay off in the long-term if I get a publication or two for my residency application. I was thinking about applying this summer, but practical restraints with graduating and re-taking the MCAT have effectively made re-applying sort of burdensome. Not that it can't be done, but it isn't ideal. Ideally, I would like to have a fantastic new personal statement and reapplication ready to submit in May of my application year (June for AMCAS, obviously). I would also like to make my time off worthwhile, since I'll most likely be taking a year off (unless my waitlist schools show me love). I don't want to settle for barely getting into a state school because if I can get an MCAT in the mid 30's and significant clinical/research experiences with a publication (along with my honors thesis possibly getting published), it can really change the game for me in terms of the schools that I could approach. I don't have a shot at Harvard or JHU or anything, but I was thinking of Brown, Case, Baylor, Tufts, Sinai, etc as some top-tier reach schools to shoot for.
I don't doubt that this is possible if things go the way I envision them to, although there is the obvious problem that circumstances don't always fall in your favor. However, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about holding off for applying this summer and really bolstering my application, whereas I currently show little improvement and I can only speak about what I 'will' do rather than being able to refer to actual experiences, which I learned plays a HUGE role after interviewing.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDS!!!🙂😀

 

[mvenus929]

It sounds like you need clinical experience badly, and talking at interviews with only a few months experience isn't going to do you much good. In that sense, I'd take a year off. It was certainly one of the best things that I could have done.

I'm not sure what your lab experience will entail, but you really should do something that gets you up close and personal with the patients, whether it be candy striping or actually doing some clinical skill.

 

[Stratego]

There's no point in spending money on another application cycle if you don't have the basics. Get the clinical experience in over the next year plus, then reapply.

 

[dr.pinky]

Based on what you've written, I would recommend that you really take the time to sit down and figure out what you need to work on and how to effectively do that over the next year. If you choose to rush into the application process without being totally prepared, you might put yourself at a great disadvantage. Another question that was posed to me by a physician that might help guide your steps - what matters more to you: what medical school you get into or that you get into medical school? The choice is yours.
Good luck!

 

[sarahl86]

If you feel you dont have a shot at JHU or Harvard "or anything", why are you certain one year would make you a good candidate for other top 20 schools like the very ones you have listed?

Sounds to me like you didn't apply wisely...but the fact of the matter is that medical school, no matter where you go: top 20 or unranked will be what you make of it. You can find research opportunities and work with great radiologists (I assume that's your focus) anywhere. You do well on the boards you can get those competitive residencies. You're setting yourself up for failure by prematurely narrowing your focus only to those top name schools when really if medicine is what you want to do, you will get your MD by (almost) any means necessary. I think if you had a little more time in a clinical environment you would appreciate this advice. So get out of the lab and into a hospital.

With a 3.65/31 you have to think more reasonably and the odds of you making a substantial improvement on an already decent MCAT score are not in your favor -- unless you've gotten 38s or 40s on practice tests. I ranged between a 27 and a 34 and got a 31. You need to hold off on applying and reevaluate what your goals are, not to mention get clinical experience. Good luck.

 

[dragonfly99]

My main advice is that you need to get clinical volunteer experience.
You probably will have a stronger application in 1 year if you do this.
It would also be helpful if you could publish something, but I think that your lack of clinical experience/volunteering was likely the deal breaker in your application this year.

Retaking the MCAT is reasonable to do if you've only taken it once, but you need to do honest introspection and really think about whether you can raise your score. Unless you are a great standardized test taker, you may not raise it much (or at all). On the other hand, if you got 700+ per section on the SAT or something, you may have room to improve your score.

 

[Caprica6]

I wouldn't retake the MCAT, you could do worse or not improve, 31 is a decent score. I would consider everyone's advice about volunteering in a clinical setting. If you like research, do research, but understand that one year research is not really enough time to get substantial data, or to publish. Also, be aware of the fact that a lot of research positions require two year commitments. Your stats are a bit low for some of the top research schools, this doesn't been that you have no chance of getting in, but it may require taking more thank one year off.

 

[DrJosephKim]

Retake the MCAT only if you're absolutely confident that you'll exceed the 31 (you'll know by taking a bunch of practice exams). I'd also suggest that you apply to a broad range of schools because sometimes you really don't know what schools are looking for in a student. Finally, if you can get some meaningful research and publish in a peer-reviewed journal, then I think you'll be in solid shape.

 

[BruceBanner]

I agree that you should only retake your MCAT if you are absolutely confident you will surpass a 31. 31, by the way, is not a bad score. If it were me I would keep it and spend your year off doing some clinical work.

I see no reason why you couldnt get in now, other than maybe your lack of clinical exposure. Obviously if you take a year off and reapply next spring you are essentially taking two years off. Also, dont get too caught up in these "top tier" schools. Med school is what you make of it, so if you are accepted to a state school or perceived "mid tier" school, take it. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[travelingdoc]

take a year, maybe two off if you can afford it. even if you have the stats to get in straight from undergrad, you'll be a better doctor having experiences away from school, away from home. Everyone is in such a rush these days, I just wish we could all get some more perspective on life so that we are better prepared to interact with our patients when the time comes....

regarding MCAT - a one or two point improvement for the amount of time you have to spend is probably not worth it. if you are fairly certain you can improve to at least a 34, then go for it.

 

[rugger14]

I was a CNA full time for a year. It was the right decision for me. I learned a lot and gained experience with patient contact/bed side manner. I matured as well. Everyone's situation is different, but I'm extremely glad I did this before starting school