Wait or not?

[zidrem]

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Hi everyone,

I realize that my application will look reasonably good as it stands, but I really am shooting primarily for top 20 research schools, and I am wondering if it would be worth waiting a year to increase my chances at said schools. Below I will present my stats+ECs as they stand currently and then how they will stand in a year:

Currently:
cGPA 3.91, sGPA 3.87
MCAT 39

ECs (in no particular order):
6 months research in neuroscience lab (15hrs/week)
-5000$ grant award for summer
-one poster at a conference

150 hrs volunteering at a physical rehab institute
50 hrs volunteering at an elderly clinic

Winner of a chinese speech competition + 3000$ scholarship to study language/culture at a chinese university during summer

Winner of essay competition in our english department's writing program

1 summer shadowing doctors of all specialties at a major chinese hospital (shanghai) (40 hrs/week * 12 weeks)

Paid job, translating research papers for anesthesiology department of said hospital

~30 hours shadowing American doctors (endocrinology, orthopedics, etc)

2 months as peer advisor + board member of undergrad research society

Piano lessons + competitions + performance with an orchestra

After another year:
+another year of research (1.5 years total)
+a publication (extremely likely)
+another poster presentation (at a more important conference)
1 year tutoring for an organic chemistry workshop
+more time in the ongoing activities listed above
cGPA => 3.95, sGPA => 3.93

I really apologize for using all of your time, but I really appreciate your input. As I said, I realize that I am pretty safe for most mid-tier schools (and that I don't need to be particularly worried), but I really am interested in top research institutions. I know that the differences are pretty minor, and maybe I am being pretty ridiculous in considering waiting... but I am not sure how to gauge the differences.

Obviously I would prefer not to wait a year, because I will likely get bored in the interim (probably just continuing research); plus I am just really excited to start medical school! But if it makes the difference between going to a mid-school vs. a major research institution, I think it would be the worth the wait.


Anyway, the primary issue here is whether or not that one year will truly make an appreciable difference in my application, given the added EC's.

I know that you all are not obligated to help me out here, but I really appreciate all of your insight. This has been a difficult decision with the primary application rapidly approaching. Thank you all so much in advance for your help! Please let me know if anything is unclear.

 

[ksmi117]

Of course, waiting another year would help everyone. It'd give us all time to perfect those parts of our app that are a bit lacking. But the question you need to ask yourself is if it's worth it. If you are applying MD/PhD, I'd say it'd be better for your to get more research under your belt, but other than that, I'd say you stand a good chance at a top school. But this application thing is so unpredictable. If you are willing to wait, it'd help, but I personally wouldn't want to wait another year. Like you, I'm really excited about starting and having a year between undergrad and starting would be very not fun for me.

 

[zidrem]

Yeah, I am not applying to MD/PhD, so I am assuming that a publication and more research will not help a ton in terms of MD applications (in which case, I might as well jut apply now). I've already won a research grant and such, so that should indicate that the research I have done is somewhat meaningful - at least meaningful enough to satisfy the bare minimum for top schools.

But of course I'm not completely sure of how important publications and such are to adcoms (which, of course, is why I am asking here). As far as the other stuff that will come with the next year, I dont think they will make much of a (if any) difference.

I guess I am just kind of a perfectionist, and the idea of having a more "complete" application makes me hesitant to apply this year, despite all of that.

 

[talbo]

Publications are important if you are MD/PhD, since you are not they arent as important but still important if that makes sense. Ie. if you want to go to Stanford, pubs will give you an adv. A section of Stanford's secondary asks you to list your pubs. Also the top 20 schools are top 20 based on their research, so anything that is research related like a publication will look favorable to an adcom. Also, your stats are great, and I know you want to shoot for a top 20 school, but make sure you have safeties and mid tier schools on your selection in case things don't work out. I know people with awesome stats who had to re-apply since this process is a crapshoot and their list was very top heavy. Good luck.

 

[zidrem]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I just thought about one other important question:

If I do wait a year and apply at the end of senior year, will I have to justify what I do during my year off?

If anyone else has taken a year off, I would really like to hear about their experience with regards to the above question.

Thanks again!

 

[vickpick]

apply right now! What are you waiting for???
u have pretty good ECs already!!

 

[zpiff]

You application sounds good. I'd go ahead and apply but taking a year off won't be bad at all especially if you think that you could use the break.

 

[zpiff]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I just thought about one other important question:

If I do wait a year and apply at the end of senior year, will I have to justify what I do during my year off?

If anyone else has taken a year off, I would really like to hear about their experience with regards to the above question.

Thanks again!

I did not take a year off but yes you will have to justify your time.

Many secondaries have this specifically as a question. It sounds like from your original post that you have a plan for this year off so it should not be a problem.