What should I do during gap year while applying after SMP?

[theWUbear]

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This fall I will be doing an SMP, after completing a post-bacc year. It is one year, and my stats are too poor for me to apply before it - so I will be applying June of 2011, just about when I am done with my SMP. Does anyone have a great "gap year" plan, or anything to guide me? Most gap year threads involve a college senior, and end up as talks about SMP's (according to my searching), which will no longer be a possibility for me.

I suppose I could run around getting certifications in this and that, find work in a hospital setting, volunteer, etc. If anyone has successful experiences with gap years or great ideas please do share 🙂

 

[jpatel]

Hey i don't have any acceptances and i m senior. so i m kinda in a similar position as u r. I am planning to keep my part time tutoring job at my undergrad school. volunteer at the same time at hospitals and look for research arnd campus. i think that should keep me busy. but i dunno wut else to do

 

[mybubbles14]

Research is always a good way to go if you can find it (and like it of course). If not...it wouldn't be looked down upon if you worked a job that had nothing to do with medicine or research. If you did this you could always keep up your hospital volunteering and/or shadowing etc. as well if you wanted. I did a post bac last semester got accepted and now I'm doing research. My job involves shadowing and I'm considering getting involved in tutoring...either in science classes and/or SAT/ACT.

 

[rowerontheriver]

A lot of people in the SMP at my school apply while they are in the SMP program and have their applications on hold until they submit their SMP grades at the end of December. Of those who don't apply the same year, some people do research, one of the kids in my class this year worked in an athletic equipment store, do you have something you want to do? I'd talk to your program and ask what they think about that. A good program should have some sort of advising for you to help you figure that out.

 

[indianjatt]

Not sure if anyone honestly does this, but during your off time I think it might be advantageous to start on all your secondaries for schools you will be applying to. Of course keeping in mind to start with low-tier and mid-tier schools because you will have a highly probability of getting a secondary.