Timing

[Johnny Appleseed]

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My wife just got accepted into a two year nursing program and she desperately wants to finish before I start med school. I'm totally fine with taking an extra year so she can finish, the only problem is I am running out of classes to take. My question is: How would it look to take two semesters of somewhat easy classes and then a gap year? Are admissions committees going to see that as a "red flag?" I plan on staying busy volunteering, working and shadowing, I just won't be taking very heavy semester loads or difficult classes (I am a psychology major and there are no lab classes) the last two years before I would hypothetically start med school....

Is this a valid explanation for an easy year and a gap year? (Its also going to allow me to polish up my application with more hours, allow me to study a little longer for the MCAT, and it will just be nice to take a break from the 20 credit hour semesters I've had for the past couple years).

I don't really want to take more science classes that aren't going to help me with my major or the MCAT. Any thoughts?

 

[TUVIX]

It is totally fine as long as your gap year is doing something substantial. I say go for it, but find a really good clinical job in research or as a scribe for the gap. Many of the secondaries ask what you are doing on your gap year and you want to have something good to say.

 

[deleted610572]

learning a foreign language in that time would be beneficial to your application. Instead of taking random easy classes just pick Spanish classes. If you can get a minor/ learn enough to converse it would totally help your application. There are underserved communities throughout the country that only speak Spanish and they need care too. That's what I wanted to do if I didn't get into medical school right away.

Of course only do that if you're interested though.

You could feasibly do this while doing research at a lab on campus.

 

[arc5005]

Just make sure you are doing things that would benefit your application and that you could talk about in an interview. Perhaps take advanced psychology/social sciences classes, foreign language classes, do research, work clinical, do something you are passionate about.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

learning a foreign language in that time would be beneficial to your application. Instead of taking random easy classes just pick Spanish classes. If you can get a minor/ learn enough to converse it would totally help your application. There are underserved communities throughout the country that only speak Spanish and they need care too. That's what I wanted to do if I didn't get into medical school right away.

Of course only do that if you're interested though.

You could feasibly do this while doing research at a lab on campus.

That is a really good idea. I speak fluent German, but it is not useful in a practical sense. I think I might just do that. Thanks for the input!

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

It is totally fine as long as your gap year is doing something substantial. I say go for it, but find a really good clinical job in research or as a scribe for the gap. Many of the secondaries ask what you are doing on your gap year and you want to have something good to say.

I have my CNA, so I am going to try and get on at a hospital during my gap year. I will most likely not be taking any classes during that year, research may still be an option though. The credits are just getting really expensive to pay for.