What should I do during my potential gap year?

[ChemEtoMD23]

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[MedSchoolTutors]

I would jump into a clinical setting for sure. Tech or accelerated EMT program (mine was 6 weeks back in the day) would let you rack up hours to put on your application for next year (if needed). If you can do something like volunteer EMT, you could double dip there. The rest of your app looks excellent. Have you ran your experience across your school's health professions office yet? Have them look at it if not, please do. I know things are competitive, but those numbers should have gotten you 'in the door' more than just three interviews. Have them look where and when you applied and see if there is some latent inefficiency in your cycle strategy.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[ChemEtoMD23]

I would jump into a clinical setting for sure. Tech or accelerated EMT program (mine was 6 weeks back in the day) would let you rack up hours to put on your application for next year (if needed). If you can do something like volunteer EMT, you could double dip there. The rest of your app looks excellent. Have you ran your experience across your school's health professions office yet? Have them look at it if not, please do. I know things are competitive, but those numbers should have gotten you 'in the door' more than just three interviews. Have them look where and when you applied and see if there is some latent inefficiency in your cycle strategy.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Thanks for your advice! I’ll start looking into some clinical jobs.

I haven’t talked about my application with my school’s health professions office much. Unfortunately, they aren’t very helpful; they’re mostly staffed with graduate students from various departments who need a way to earn their stipend. However, I’ll make another appointment with them to see what comes of it.

 

[MedSchoolTutors]

Thanks for your advice! I’ll start looking into some clinical jobs.

I haven’t talked about my application with my school’s health professions office much. Unfortunately, they aren’t very helpful; they’re mostly staffed with graduate students from various departments who need a way to earn their stipend. However, I’ll make another appointment with them to see what comes of it.

It might be worth working with someone private then if you find your department unhelpful again Look around and see what's available. For example, when I went to Rutgers, the dude who basically wrote the Rutgers HPO handbook for 20 years had retired and was helping premeds for like 30/hr. We also do apps as well.

I tend to recommend in general to have a second opinion on your application to all reapplicants. Especially one with such good numbers like you.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[ChemEtoMD23]

It might be worth working with someone private then if you find your department unhelpful again Look around and see what's available. For example, when I went to Rutgers, the dude who basically wrote the Rutgers HPO handbook for 20 years had retired and was helping premeds for like 30/hr. We also do apps as well.

I tend to recommend in general to have a second opinion on your application to all reapplicants. Especially one with such good numbers like you.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Thanks for the tip!

 

[KnightDoc]

Thanks for the tip!

TBH, unless you need a ton of help writing your PS and secondaries, you don't need private coaching. Your stats are great, and you know exactly what your weaknesses are (clinical and volunteering), so you will just end up paying coaches to tell you what you already know.

If you are committed to medicine, working as an engineer isn't going to get you any closer to that goal than you are now. It will be far more lucrative than any of your other options, but won't cure the deficiencies in your app.

I'm really sorry to hear this, and hope something changes for you. If not, it's proof to all of us that great stats and decent research do not mitigate weaknesses elsewhere, and schools really ARE demanding everything from us. Good luck!!!

 

[ChemEtoMD23]

TBH, unless you need a ton of help writing your PS and secondaries, you don't need private coaching. Your stats are great, and you know exactly what your weaknesses are (clinical and volunteering), so you will just end up paying coaches to tell you what you already know.

If you are committed to medicine, working as an engineer isn't going to get you any closer to that goal than you are now. It will be far more lucrative than any of your other options, but won't cure the deficiencies in your app.

I'm really sorry to hear this, and hope something changes for you. If not, it's proof to all of us that great stats and decent research do not mitigate weaknesses elsewhere, and schools really ARE demanding everything from us. Good luck!!!

Thanks for your reply! You make some good points.

 

[HouseJC]

Your numbers are great for sure. But the rest of your application seems like a cookie-cutter and doesn't stand out from other applications, which makes me seem to think that you are banking on great stats to get you the acceptance. However, your numbers are likely what got you the interview, but your ECs didn't put you over the top (at least that's what I think; sorry if I'm being overly critical). Also, without any other details, I do not see a story (or overall theme) from your application. I sit on admissions in my graduate unit and we are pretty big on having a common theme (ongoing narrative) on your application.

When you mention your unplanned gap year activities and asking for advice about which one is better, yes, your engineering job might seem to deviate from the path to medicine (unless you can tie into your career goals to be a physician). For options 2 and 3, they both seem good, but perhaps consider what matches more closely with your overall story (which again, I do not see from your application).

I hope your cycle ends in success. If it doesn't, aside from looking for activities, I would also consider re-writing your essays and statements; with a greater focus on theme and story. You have great numbers, but what makes you unique (and apart from the other applicants with strong stats)?

Just my .02. good luck!

 

[ChemEtoMD23]

Your numbers are great for sure. But the rest of your application seems like a cookie-cutter and doesn't stand out from other applications, which makes me seem to think that you are banking on great stats to get you the acceptance. However, your numbers are likely what got you the interview, but your ECs didn't put you over the top (at least that's what I think; sorry if I'm being overly critical). Also, without any other details, I do not see a story (or overall theme) from your application. I sit on admissions in my graduate unit and we are pretty big on having a common theme (ongoing narrative) on your application.

When you mention your unplanned gap year activities and asking for advice about which one is better, yes, your engineering job might seem to deviate from the path to medicine (unless you can tie into your career goals to be a physician). For options 2 and 3, they both seem good, but perhaps consider what matches more closely with your overall story (which again, I do not see from your application).

I hope your cycle ends in success. If it doesn't, aside from looking for activities, I would also consider re-writing your essays and statements; with a greater focus on theme and story. You have great numbers, but what makes you unique (and apart from the other applicants with strong stats)?

Just my .02. good luck!

Thanks for your input! I think that I actually did put together a pretty cohesive narrative with my application, but I understand how that would be hard to see without more context. You’re right though; it’s important to consider how my narrative will change when my gap year activities are added. Luckily, I think that working in a clinical setting will allow for a pretty natural and genuine extension on the narrative I already have. Still, I’ll have others read over it and get specific feedback. Thanks!