Taking a Gap Year...Can Early Decision Hurt?

[Havoc390]

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Alright so here is the deal:
-Getting my science courses finished in time to take the 2014 MCAT (Winter of Senior Year)
-Already planned on taking a gap year (for volunteering and/or research)
-Should I just apply to my state school (also top choice) through the early decision program during my senior year?
I was thinking that if I DID get accepted through the EDP, I wouldn't have to worry about applying the year after, which would be flipping fantastic. And if I DON'T get accepted, I would just go through the gap year as planned and apply early during the next cycle. I'm guessing I would be considered a re-applicant, but would that hurt me in the next cycle?
What are the cons to my current plan?

 

[Lollygag]

Well if you think you're competitive enough then do you really think you need to take a gap year?

Do you think it's completely necessary to take a year off to beef up extracurriculars or can you work on them this coming year? You still have ~16 months. Do you really need an extra year on top of that?

 

[Havoc390]

Well if you think you're competitive enough then do you really think you need to take a gap year?

Do you think it's completely necessary to take a year off to beef up extracurriculars or can you work on them this coming year? You still have ~16 months. Do you really need an extra year on top of that?

hmmm well I was thinking of using the gap year as a break away from school, so never mind on the master's program (that would only happen if my GPA was low). Also, I'm currently a sophomore so I actually have 2 years left. By the end of senior year, I expect to have 400+ hours of clinical volunteering, 400+hours of non-clinical volunteering, ~50 hours shadowing, 1 year of research, and a club leadership position. I also don't want to deal with the tedious application process while I'm still in school, I figured it would be a better idea to deal with that when I don't have to worry about schoolwork.