Taking an extra year to raise GPA and ECs???? Looked down upon??

[johnwandering]

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I was wondering if it was at all bad to take an extra (5th) year to raise my GPA and get some more ECs squeezed in.

I currently have a 3.5 cGPA and was wondering if it was smart to stay an extra year and raise my cGPA to a 3.6.
Also, because I have no research, this would allow me to finish two full years of research and get published. I'm also contemplating participating in EMT.

what do you think?? is this going to put a stain on my record??

 

[johnwandering]

bump??

 

[DrYoda]

So many people take gap years that I don't think they look down on it, especially if you are doing something productive with your extra year.

 

[Pedsbro]

I was wondering if it was at all bad to take an extra (5th) year to raise my GPA and get some more ECs squeezed in.

I currently have a 3.5 cGPA and was wondering if it was smart to stay an extra year and raise my cGPA to a 3.6.
Also, because I have no research, this would allow me to finish two full years of research and get published. I'm also contemplating participating in EMT.

what do you think?? is this going to put a stain on my record??

If it could go up significantly more than that, then maybe.. But another whole year just to raise your GPA by 0.1? Not worth it in my opinion...the time or the money. You can still work in a research lab without being in school. Also, you never know what could happen..if you do worse than you expected, that 3.5 goes down.

 

[argonaute]

I was wondering if it was at all bad to take an extra (5th) year to raise my GPA and get some more ECs squeezed in.

I currently have a 3.5 cGPA and was wondering if it was smart to stay an extra year and raise my cGPA to a 3.6.
Also, because I have no research, this would allow me to finish two full years of research and get published. I'm also contemplating participating in EMT.

what do you think?? is this going to put a stain on my record??

i don't think it will be looked down upon. MANY applicants to medical school are much older and/or have spent a year or several between undergrad and medical school. the fact you'll be taking a 5th year probably won't be frowned upon.

However, if you do take a 5th year, and dont' do anything, that probably will be frowned upon.

As someone said before, be aware that whatever happens in the fifth year does not go on your application if you want to start medical school right after your fifth year. For the fifth-year stuff to count, you'll have to take another gap year after your fifth year before medical school.

Really i think the consideration is whether it is worth the time & money.

 

[ChinaDoll]

Bump!

 

[nick_carraway]

Bump!

Why are you bumping? It's not even your thread. And it's not even 30 hours old.

 

[Law2Doc]

I was wondering if it was at all bad to take an extra (5th) year to raise my GPA and get some more ECs squeezed in.
...

Never looked down upon. You are SUPPOSED to get your ducks in a row before applying. Med schools are receptive to people who do this.

 

[kypreos]

from a 3.5 to a 3.6 is not worth it IMO. thats a year less of a physicians salary in my book. apply with a 30+ and a 3.5 youll get in somewhere. dont waste your time or money.

btw they would not look down upon it AT ALL. average matriculant is 24 yo

 

[dr seuss]

Why are you bumping? It's not even your thread. And it's not even 30 hours old.

If you look at her status you'll see she is kindda confused...

 

[batman1983]

I was wondering if it was at all bad to take an extra (5th) year to raise my GPA and get some more ECs squeezed in.

I currently have a 3.5 cGPA and was wondering if it was smart to stay an extra year and raise my cGPA to a 3.6.
Also, because I have no research, this would allow me to finish two full years of research and get published. I'm also contemplating participating in EMT.

what do you think?? is this going to put a stain on my record??

As long as your GPA goes up, it cant hurt. It will make a difference, but not much, if only a 0.1 GPA increase. Personally, I would recommend doing research. While I was able to get in this yr, based on feedback I got from schools and interviewers, I found that my lack of research was a major drawback(despite what schools saying about it not being neccessary).