Medical What should I do for a gap year?

[TheBoneDoctah]

Recently graduated w/ 3.43 cGPA, 3.24 sGPA, 506 MCAT (124, 129, 126, 127)

ORM, CA resident

I'm focusing pretty much just on DO

Clinical: 150 hours of volunteering in hospital ER + 250 hours in PT/OT department.

Non-clinical: 150 hours (includes teaching elementary school students about nutrition; volunteered to visit nursing home residents weekly, in which I also taught new volunteers the protocol)

Leadership position for student mental health club, worked as a section editor for school newspaper and at fast food restaurant seasonally

I was involved in some basic research during undergrad for 2 years; no publications

120 hrs shadowing, including DO

There was some family/personal stuff going on but more honestly it's just that I treated it as a sprint rather than a marathon and burned out so that my GPA looks like a U (dipping 2nd and 3rd year). I also didn't commit to the path as much as I should have earlier on. Or be honest to myself about what I needed to do (e.g. delay taking the MCAT until I was more ready instead of sticking to a certain "schedule") .I realized this late in the game, but I guess better late than never... After my GPA plummeted during my third year, I was able to really improve my grades during my last year (upward trend?)

Just wanted to get bearings on where I am right now/advice for what to do for my gap years - DIY postbac or just get more clinical hours (I have an offer for scribing)? Both? Should I be thinking of retaking the MCAT as well?

If I did a post-bacc, should I retake a retake? I got a C- in org chem II, then retook it and got a C. (Major screw up, I know.) Should I retake it or leave it be? I know for low grades in prereqs we should try to do well in upper div classes instead. The only class i can really think of that applies is biochem, which i already took and got a B in. Is there anything else I can do for chem?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

Your grades and MCAT are probably good for DO if you apply broadly. I think your MD chances are gone especially with the MCAT. If you are going to apply DO, I wouldn’t do a post bac.

 

[Goro]

Even with my GPA being U-shaped? Is one year of good grades after two not-so-great ones enough to show I'd be able to handle academics? Especially with the transition to online learning being part of that one year?

You're fine for DO with a broad application, including my school. Do a post-bac/SMP only if you're wanting the MD (but retake the mCAT and ace it as well).

Otherwise, you should apply NOW, if you have shadowing and a DO or MD LOR.

If not, service to others is always good.

 

[tantacles]

Even with my GPA being U-shaped? Is one year of good grades after two not-so-great ones enough to show I'd be able to handle academics? Especially with the transition to online learning being part of that one year?

Apply broadly. My suggestion is get a job you like during your gap years, and then you’ll have something interesting to talk about at interviews as well as some funds to spend during the expensive four years of medical school.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

You basically gotta decide on whether you want to spend the extra money/time to do the SMP/post-bac to MAYBE get into an MD school when you PROBABLY would get love from a number of DO schools and start medical school. Your choice.