To Delay a Year or not to Delay a Year...

[phnerd1105]

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Hey Guys,

Recently, I have been thinking about whether to delay a year in applying to med school. I've really been struggling with this decision, especially after this semester. I took three really hard classes (vertebrate anatomy, cell biology and biochem) this semester, and my finals screwed me over, causing me to get an A, C, and B respectively instead of an A, B, A. After talking to a bunch of friends and family members, I've decided to pose this question to SDN. I am a junior, so I would be applying Summer 2011 for Fall 2012 matriculation. Here's my pro/con list:

If I delay a year, it/I would:

1) Allow me to boost my GPA's (if I apply this year, I will apply with a 3.62 cGPA and a 3.54 sGPA)
2) Allow me to take the summer to study for the MCAT and not do it simultaneously with school (currently signed up for March 26)
3) Be able to do Indicorps on my gap year or do some sort of Public Health internship
4) Be able to work on what EC's I still want to do more, instead of cramming what I still need to do into this semester (mainly just volunteering).
5) Be able to get a pub through instead of trying to rush it this semester.

If I apply this summer:

1) I would apply with low GPA's (con)
2) I would study for MCAT with school, and risk both lower GPAs and lower MCAT (con)
3) Still apply on time and on track with what I had originally planned for myself (pro)
4) Mostly good ECs right now : lots of leadership, research, shadowing, working on volunteering more this semester


Also, delaying a year is completely against what my parents want (I know, I'm not living life for them, but they pay my tuition so I have to listen to what they say, and they're strict Indian parents).

I guess a lot of it depends on how well I do on the MCAT in March. I know my app would be stronger if I delayed a year, but I'm still not sure if I should. Thoughts?

 

[235009]

i think the answer here is extremely obvious....delay a year

plans change and it doesn't matter what your parents want (even if they're paying tuition)

the MCAT is the most important part of your app so you should maximize your score. no reason to cram it in while taking classes.

few med students ever regret taking a year off, you'll be able to pursue your interests and live like a normal person in the real world for a year. basically your post has like 5 pro's for taking a year off and none for rushing things along.

good luck

 

[phnerd1105]

i think the answer here is extremely obvious....delay a year

plans change and it doesn't matter what your parents want (even if they're paying tuition)

the MCAT is the most important part of your app so you should maximize your score. no reason to cram it in while taking classes.

few med students ever regret taking a year off, you'll be able to pursue your interests and live like a normal person in the real world for a year. basically your post has like 5 pro's for taking a year off and none for rushing things along.

good luck

Would you suggest that I still take the MCAT end of March? Or should I push that back as well? I kind of want to use it as my ultimate decision in applying or not....

 

[dragon529]

Unless you feel you can score well on the March exam coming up in 3 months, I highly suggest you push it back till summer and delay a year applying. You can take some practice tests and see where you're at and gauge yourself that way. Shoot for taking the MCAT only once, so do it when you're most prepared. Again, there is nothing wrong with taking a gap year and further pursue something that interests you to make yourself a more competitive applicant.

 

[phnerd1105]

I was supposed to take it in September, but I wasn't getting the ideal scores that I wanted, and I got sick right before it. I also didn't want to take it more than once, so I canceled it. I have a pretty easy semester coming up (12 credit hours, only one biology class), so I think I'll have enough time to study. Like you said, I guess it just depends on how I do on practice tests. If I do have to though, telling my parents is going to be the hardest thing. Their philosophy is that if I don't go straight to medical school, I'll lose interest and just do something else (even though thats not true)

 

[phnerd1105]

I thought that telling my parents I wanted to apply after my senior year was going to be tough too, and I was dreading it like you are (super Asian parents, both medical, paying for tuition, discouraged my sister from taking time off before grad school). But when I told them they were really supportive, because I had a plan for my gap year. They understood that I didn't want to take a year off to go have fun and be a bum, I needed to take a year off so I could reach my goals, and they were really supportive of that and told me to just apply when I'm ready.

So don't worry about what your parents think, I bet they'll just be proud that you're doing what it takes to be a doctor.

Thanks for that haha. It helps knowing how someone else dealt with a similar situation. I'm gonna put everything I have into my MCAT in March, and hopefully that will turn out well so I don't need to think about pushing back a year.

 

[GTS44]

^ +1. I got in without delaying a year and I was in a similar situation as you last year. I would delay if you wanted time off to do something fun like volunteer abroad, etc., but not just to increase your chances. Give it a shot!

 

[235009]

^ +1. I got in without delaying a year and I was in a similar situation as you last year. I would delay if you wanted time off to do something fun like volunteer abroad, etc., but not just to increase your chances. Give it a shot!

i disagree. the application process is nothing to be entered into lightly. it is very stressful and very expensive. you might as well put your best foot forward and apply with the best stats you can. by applying prematurely you might also put yourself in a position where you didn't get into the schools you want and you basically have to go to a school you aren't thrilled about (that is if you get in anywhere).

as for delaying the MCAT. it's totally up to you. if you are consistently getting the score you want on full length practice tests then go for it.

 

[GTS44]

Jeez, there's more to life than getting into med school, skinMD.

 

[bucks2010]

The best advice I read on this was simple: apply to medical school when you feel that your application is strongest. Better to give it your best shot on the first try and not have any regrets later, such as "what if I had gotten in here", etc., than to go at it now. In the long run, delaying application by 1 year, when compared to the hopefully 30+ year career that you will have, is not a very long time, and you will likely feel more comfortable about the whole process with a stronger application. Not to mention, you could take the MCAT later in the summer, which leaves you much more time to study for it.

 

[phnerd1105]

Thanks for all your advice guys. As of right now, I'm really just focusing on the MCAT. I feel if I think about this any longer, I'm going to become complacent thinking that I still have a year and a half to take the MCAT. I won't study as hard and as a result, won't do well on the exam. I'm doing everything I can now, and if I score well (33+), that will still make me a competitive applicant, right?

 

[235009]

Jeez, there's more to life than getting into med school, skinMD.

huh? by taking time off you get to slow down and do things you enjoy. not sure what prompted that response from u. in the grand scheme of things life isn't something to be rushed through.

OP, 33+ is very "competitive"