Unanticipated Gap Year

[AudreySunshine]

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Hi,

So I'm going to be taking an unanticipated gap year... Here's my stats:

Degree: B.S. Exercise Science (Kinesiology) concentration in Biomechanics and Motor Control
Minors: Spanish and Biomedical Engineering
cGPA:3.7
sGPA: 3.7
MCAT: 28Q
volunteering: 100 hours (pediatric ward, er, and maternity)
shadowing: 1000+ hours as an ER scribe, 90 hours oncology office

I applied to about 30 schools... but I applied super late (primary was done in September... secondaries done october-jan15).

I got one interview. I was waitlisted at that school -- lower 1/3 of the waitlist.

I also applied to NSU COM, a DO school. I like this school alot and am waiting to hear about an interview (I was told I was getting one from a contact I have there, but am not hopeful about acceptance because it is so late in the process).

So now I am looking at taking a year off. After alot of crying, I'm starting to try and figure out what to do with that year. There are a couple of letters of recommendation I want to add to my file that I couldn't have had in this last round. I'm also planning on re-taking the MCAT (I've now completed Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell and am sure I could score higher, even if I took it cold tomorrow).

Some things I am considering for my year off:

1. The doctor who interviewed me gave me his card and said to contact him about shadowing if I was interested. I want to contact him since his field (pediatric intensive care) is similar to what I want to do (pediatric medical oncology). So I could get more shadowing experience. However, I already have so much experience, I'm not sure this would add to my application.

2. Research. I did some in undergrad, but hated my project and quit it as soon as I could. I have a better idea of the field that I want to go into now with research: Cancer research. However, this isn't even closely related to my degree, I just discovered that I loved it when I took Moleculr Biology (as an elective... I was trying to prepare for med school).

3. Teach. I am considering taking the praxis so that I can do some teaching for the gap year. I think it'd be awesome to be a science teacher.


Finally, I'm also considering a combination of all three... I could continue shadowing and see if the doctor who gave me his card has any coworkers he can recommend me to. I could also substitute teach on the side and start a program at a local middle school to get kids more interested in science. I definetly think that if I start some kind of program like that it'll help my application (And this is the kind of stuff I would want to to in medschool and as a physician -- I think education is super important in treating patients and preventing reoccurences/certain chronic diseases like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

Anyway, any suggestions for anything else I can consider. I am a Florida resident. My top choice school is UM. I was interviewed at UCF and loved that school as well -- especially because they just built a Nemours right next to it.

 

[chillaxbro]

Why not do all 3? It's basically what every applicant does anyway. They are things you should have done already

 

[Doctor Strange]

Apply early and broadly. You're fighting an uphill battle for MD schools with that MCAT. DO is a whole other story, and you would probably nab multiple acceptances granted that you interview well.

 

[Soma50]

Take the MCAT again for sure

 

[MusicJunkie]

Quite frankly, I think it was the late application more than the MCAT that shot you in the foot (personal opinion, though).

I was accepted at Nova (not attending), and I loved it there. Post-interview acceptance rate is pretty high, but yes, it is a bit late in the cycle. Kill the interview, and if you have to take a gap year, apply early. Retake the MCAT since you'll have a bit of time to study.

 

[Lady Netter]

Assuming you have no red flags (personality or otherwise), then you shouldn't have a problem getting an MD acceptance if you can get your MCAT over a 30 and you apply to the right schools. Apply earlier this time around. After May 15th, call the office of the school you interviewed at and ask how you can improve your application - they can give you some hints there. Do what they tell you to do.

Research or teaching is a good idea. You have enough shadowing - you don't need to do anymore unless you want to do it. Adding more hours to something that is 1000+ already isn't going to make a difference. What about a lab tech? I did that during my gap year - it paid the bills, and it gave me a lot of free time after work to do whatever I wanted. It was glorious!

Good luck! I was a reapplicant as well. I know it's a hard process, but you can get through it. Your GPA is good enough and assuming the rest of your application looks okay, you shouldn't have a problem getting into an MD school if you improve your MCAT and apply earlier.

 

[coffeesnob]

Yeah. It's okay. **** happens.

I had to take two unanticipated gap years as well. I got 28Q on my first attempt at the MCAT towards the end of my senior year. After much crying, I decided to take a year off and apply the next cycle. For the first gap year, I worked for a non-profit teaching childhood nutrition and physical education in low-income communitities through AmeriCorps, and got my mental/physical health in place (which had deteriorated in college). When my health was restored, I was able to study for the MCAT. I think I actually studied less than the first time around but I got 33Q on my second attempt in March last year. I applied early in June and got accepted in September through early decision. After my AmeriCorps commitment, I started a new job in research at a major pediatric hospital last August, and I have been working there since. There have been so many shadowing opportunities for me, not to mention networking. If you want to, do all three of your options. It's definitely possible.

I am very glad that I took those years off. Looking back, I don't think I would have been ready (mentally and physically) to withstand the rigor of medical school education. Those two gap years really gave me a new perspective on life, self-identity, and what kind of life I want to lead in the future. Now, I feel much more mature having professional work experience, living independently and knowing how to take care of myself (mainly stress-management).

Now I am very excited to go back to school. Undergrad experience had killed something in me; I drove myself into insanity with school/research/work/all pre-med stuff, and did not know how to find a work-life balance. Now I feel more confident and I think I know how to manage myself and school better.

Don't worry. You will be fine. What I thought was a failure turned out to be a new opportunity...(gosh that sounds cheesy). Definitely retake your MCAT. PM me if you need more guidance. I have been there. I feel your pain!

 

[metalgirl14]

Quite frankly, I think it was the late application more than the MCAT that shot you in the foot (personal opinion, though).

I entirely agree with this. With a lower MCAT, you need everything else to be perfect (including an early application). If I were you, I would try to do all three of those options. If you have very little clinical experience, a gap year would also be a perfect time to address this. An MCAT retake would probably be a good idea. (Keep in mind though, a 28 is certainly not the kiss of death for allopathic med schools. I got several interviews with a 27 and an early application.)

Seriously though, a gap year isn't a bad thing. I took two years off (not by choice) and I was/still am definitely less burned out than many of my classmates. Don't let this minor speedbump slow you down. 🙂

 

[MrBrightside167]

1. Keep your head up. There are thousands of successful re-applicants every year.

2. Retake the MCAT only if you're satisfied with your practice scores.

3. Stay active throughout your gap year. It seems like you have a pretty good idea of how you want to spend it.

4. Enjoy your free time - try new things, visit new places, meet new people. You'll thank yourself later.

5. APPLY EARLY!