Time-Line Doubts, year off for MCAT

[docnunes]

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25 yo
cGPA: 3.48
sGPA: 3.47
nonsciGPA: 3.48

Shadowing/Experience/EC's/Volunteering - all solid

Background... I'm sort of an non-trad in the sense that I finished college in three years (Sociology). Took a semester off. Took two and a half years to finish prereqs. I was going to take the MCAT at the end of this upcoming April. But I am working full time (Grave yard nonetheless) and taking my last prereq. (OChem II). I would like to do SN2d schedule and that is just not feasible with my schedule.

Question... I was wondering how badly it would look if I bowed out this application cycle, took next year off and applied next cycle? Six years in undergrad, seven years including my year off. I don't want to rush the MCAT and get a unworthy score.

Anyone else who took a year off before applying?

 

[MedPR]

25 yo
cGPA: 3.48
sGPA: 3.47
nonsciGPA: 3.48

Shadowing/Experience/EC's/Volunteering - all solid

Background... I'm sort of an non-trad in the sense that I finished college in three years (Sociology). Took a semester off. Took two and a half years to finish prereqs. I was going to take the MCAT at the end of this upcoming April. But I am working full time (Grave yard nonetheless) and taking my last prereq. (OChem II). I would like to do SN2d schedule and that is just not feasible with my schedule.

Question... I was wondering how badly it would look if I bowed out this application cycle, took next year off and applied next cycle? Six years in undergrad, seven years including my year off. I don't want to rush the MCAT and get a unworthy score.

Anyone else who took a year off before applying?

FT work, 3-4 credits, and SN2d is feasible. If you're going to take another year off, you need to do more than work and take 1 class.

 

[docnunes]

MEDPR thanks for the input

I do get your point. OChem II isn't the only class I am taking this semester, but it is the only one that really counts towards my app. If I drop my other two, not so important/ filler classes, I think I can pull the May 18th MCAT. I will study for a month and see where I sit and take it from there.

 

[MedPR]

MEDPR thanks for the input

I do get your point. OChem II isn't the only class I am taking this semester, but it is the only one that really counts towards my app. If I drop my other two, not so important/ filler classes, I think I can pull the May 18th MCAT. I will study for a month and see where I sit and take it from there.

I was in a similar spot last winter. I took 7-8 science credits during the Spring semester while I studied for my April MCAT. I was also working full-time (evening shifts).

There really wasn't much time for anything else besides studying so if you're not ok with that you should consider replanning your study schedule. I'm not what you'd call a social butterfly though so it wasn't a problem for me.

It will be hard and probably not much fun, but when you look back on it and realize how much you accomplished it will make you feel a little better about being able to survive med school. At least it has that effect for me. During that period I also learned time management skills; something I previously had none of.

The bottom line is neither option will doom your application. If you do decide to take the year off, definitely continue with your past ECs and/or work in new ones. The key thing to years off (I'm on my third year off right now) is staying involved your community/school/other things so adcoms don't think you're a slacker.

 

[hallowmann]

Listen to MedPR. Even if you aren't ready by May, you could take it in June, submit your primary before the results come out,, then be complete by July. No reason to spend a whole year on just the MCAT.