Take another gap year or no?

[Meticulouslykiwi]

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Hi everyone,

I'm in my last semester of senior year and am only taking one class. However, my MCAT score isn't where I'd like it to be (aiming for 515+) and sample FLs have scored only around 503. My question is: should I take an additional gap year or should I just take the MCAT and apply this summer (I'm ORM)? My fear is that schools will look at my last semester and say, "why didn't you take the MCAT during that semester since you only had one class?". In that light, I may come off as highly incompetent and I'm worried that even if I get a 515+ after an additional gap year, they'd hold that against me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

@LizzyM @Goro If you guys don't mind offering advice.

 

[LizzyM]

Don't take the MCAT prematurely. Take it when you are doing well enough on practice tests. If that means taking a gap year, much better to do that than to spend time and money on a cycle only to be looking at a gap year and a stack of rejections.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Don't take the MCAT prematurely. Take it when you are doing well enough on practice tests. If that means taking a gap year, much better to do that than to spend time and money on a cycle only to be looking at a gap year and a stack of rejections.

I'm worried that adcoms will look at my last semester and question why I still had to take a gap year. Do you think that would be a potential issue? If so, how serious would it be?

 

[82Scout]

I'm worried that adcoms will look at my last semester and question why I still had to take a gap year. Do you think that would be a potential issue? If so, how serious would it be?

I honestly don't think anyone will care about your gap year or why you took one. Gap years are fairly common.... some people spend them studying/working, others spend them traveling.

In my case, I took three class, the MCAT, and worked a job during my 2 gap years. In the 9 interviews I attended I wasn't asked a single time about gap years. Some secondaries ask what you have been doing since graduating, but that's about the extent of that.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

I honestly don't think anyone will care about your gap year or why you took one. Gap years are fairly common.... some people spend them studying/working, others spend them traveling.

In my case, I took three class, the MCAT, and worked a job during my 2 gap years. In the 9 interviews I attended I wasn't asked a single time about gap years. Some secondaries ask what you have been doing since graduating, but that's about the extent of that.

Do you think the fact that I'm only taking 1 course the spring semester of senior year will be viewed negatively?

 

[82Scout]

Do you think the fact that I'm only taking 1 course the spring semester of senior year will be viewed negatively?

I don't understand. Like this is the last class you're ever taking in undergrad and you only had 1 left? or you just decided this semester you're going to take 1 class then next semester you're going back to full time?

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

I don't understand. Like this is the last class you're ever taking in undergrad and you only had 1 left? or you just decided this semester you're going to take 1 class then next semester you're going back to full time?

This is the last class that I'm ever taking in undergrad lol. Just needed 1 class to graduate. I could've taken more classes that I was interested in, but I couldn't really afford to do so.

 

[82Scout]

This is the last class that I'm ever taking in undergrad lol. Just needed 1 class to graduate. I could've taken more classes that I was interested in, but I couldn't really afford to do so.

No one will care that you took one class you needed to graduate. Like I said I took 3 classes over 2 gap years one was a required med school prereq and two weren't required at all, but were related and interested me.

 

[LizzyM]

This is the last class that I'm ever taking in undergrad lol. Just needed 1 class to graduate. I could've taken more classes that I was interested in, but I couldn't really afford to do so.

Adcoms understand that college costs money. They won't fault you for taking one course and they won't fault you for taking a gap year if you can show that you used the time productively. You will be asked in secondaries and/or in interviews what you've done since graduation.

 

[Goro]

I'm worried that adcoms will look at my last semester and question why I still had to take a gap year. Do you think that would be a potential issue? If so, how serious would it be?

Adcoms do NOT think that way.

Apply when you have the best possible app, even if it means skipping an app cycle. Med schools aren't going anywhere.

Do not take the MCAT until you are 100% ready.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Adcoms do NOT think that way.

Apply when you have the best possible app, even if it means skipping an app cycle. Med schools aren't going anywhere.

Do not take the MCAT until you are 100% ready.

Thank you, Goro! That helps me feel better. I was so afraid that it'd portray me to be incapable.

 

[Meticulouslykiwi]

Adcoms understand that college costs money. They won't fault you for taking one course and they won't fault you for taking a gap year if you can show that you used the time productively. You will be asked in secondaries and/or in interviews what you've done since graduation.

Thanks LizzyM! Do you think that it would be a negative thing to take maybe 2-3 months off after graduation to really work on MCAT and then starting a job? I don't know if that time gap will be an issue. I'll still be volunteering during that time though, just no working.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks LizzyM! Do you think that it would be a negative thing to take maybe 2-3 months off after graduation to really work on MCAT and then starting a job? I don't know if that time gap will be an issue. I'll still be volunteering during that time though, just no working.

No one will really notice a short gap after graduation. It is nothing to take a few months to find a job after leaving college.