Taking a year off...good idea?

[cococola]

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I'm going to graduate with a BA in Biochemistry in May 2014, and I was hoping to use this year and half of next year to study for the MCAT. So, I would be taking the MCAT in the 2014 summer and apply in September. I'd be considered a non-trad student at this point, since I will have a gap period from my application to hearing back from med schools. While waiting for the decision, I will be volunteering and doing internships.

SO, my question is: would this be a good plan or put in at a disadvantage? I know that non-trad students have a harder time to get in, but I'm worry about taking the MCAT so early...I'd have to take it this summer (in a couple of months) and apply a couple of months after that. I don't think I'll be prepared... Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[cmcbee]

You should apply as early as possible aka the first day in June.

 

[Weewee]

I think being a non-trad is an advantage. Don't apply in September, you need to apply the first day you can. Use the year off to find a job, do research, volunteer, etc. then update your schools with your progress. It is too late to start the process this year IMHO.

 

[Weewee]

Also, I don't know how accurate this data is but refer to this thread and the post about application date vs acceptances....

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=992326

And I really don't think you would be non-trad IMO because most of us have gone back to school, worked, lived in the real world...I don't think applying straight out of college would give you that status either way.

 

[cococola]

Thanks for the replies! Just for clarification, I plan to take the MCAT in August, so I can apply without the MCAT score right? So, apply in June and take MCAT in August?

 

[Petypet]

I did that same plan and did not do as well on my mcat as I would have liked, and i was stuck applying with the score I had. I ended up deferring 1 year and I was glad I did, just due to other non-trad issues. In retrospect, there wasn't that much time lost and I wish I had taken the mcat correctly and applied without the stress looming of what I got.

 

[lunalight]

Thanks for the replies! Just for clarification, I plan to take the MCAT in August, so I can apply without the MCAT score right? So, apply in June and take MCAT in August?

You can submit your application without the MCAT score, but no one will look at it until your score is released. That means your application won't be reviewed until sometime in September. That's pretty late considering that some school's deadlines are in mid-October. Even if you manage to get your secondaries out with minimal turnaround, you probably won't get to interview until after the first of the year and there will be much fewer seats available. If you end up not getting accepted, by the time you find out it'll already be about March - April and you'll not only have to take the MCAT again so you can re-apply, but you'll also have to explain what you did with that year (besides wait to hear back from schools and watch the application fees slowly drain your bank account).

Bottom line: Not a good idea.

My $0.02: either take the MCAT in May or June so you can be complete as early as possible during the cycle or wait until the next year.

 

[Weewee]

Slow it down and take your time to build your resume.

Or

Why can't you use this whole summer/the next year to study and take it in march?

 

[LUCPM]

Taking a time off is perfectly fine. However, taking a year and half to study for the MCAT isn't probably such a good idea. Studying hardcore for 2-3 months is likely to give you better results.

Why not take it sometime in the fall, get that out of the way, and enjoy your time off until the next application cycle? Also, like everyone else said, submit your application the first day. Best of luck.

 

[cococola]

So, when would be the best time to take the MCAT. March? If I take it March, when should I start applying?

 

[Bru]

A 2014 college graduate taking a year off between graduation and applying really isn't non-traditional. You're just a traditional applicant applying a year later.

 

[DNambiar]

A 2014 college graduate taking a year off between graduation and applying really isn't non-traditional. You're just a traditional applicant applying a year later.

Agree with Bru here. Your profile doesn't necessarily look nontraditional, you're just applying a year later. That said, I am not fully clear on why you feel the need to do so? There are merits to taking a gap year to do something very meaningful, but using time after graduation to study for the MCAT is not necessarily considered a good use of time.

A friend of mine at Stanford med actually took TWO years off after graduation and used those years to strengthen her app -- did a Fulbright fellowship and healthcare consulting. I actually wrote a blog post about this here: http://www.crackingmedadmissions.com/2013/01/21/take-time-off-or-dive-right-in/.

My friends and I run a consultancy called Cracking Med Admissions and have ample experience with this, and other questions that don't necessarily have one right answer. Bottom line is it mostly varies from student to student. Nevertheless you should skim the blog post and take a look around 🙂

 

[cococola]

Thanks for all the replies!