cerejabonbon
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Hello all,
I am a senior right now at a T14 university with hopes of applying this cycle (URM, only to Texas schools). Originally, I wanted to take one gap year. However, I’ve been having some doubts and am considering taking two.
Demographics:
Now onto my dilemma:
Pros of two gap years:
Cons of two gap years
Thank you guys for reading!
I am a senior right now at a T14 university with hopes of applying this cycle (URM, only to Texas schools). Originally, I wanted to take one gap year. However, I’ve been having some doubts and am considering taking two.
Demographics:
- Science GPA : ~3.7 Overall GPA: ~3.8
- Major: BA in Public Health, Spanish Minor
- Clinical volunteering: Around 200 hours
- Shadowing: 20 hours (one doctor)
- Non-clinical volunteering: ~100 hours
- Leadership: 2+ years in two positions (VP of public health club, Co-chair for club that plans student activities). TA for one semester in public health class
- Research: 3 semesters of biology research (no pub), 2 semesters of nutrition research (will have two poster presentations)
- MCAT: Studying right now. Taking in April. Aiming for 512+
- Hooks: Very strong Spanish/working with hispanic immigrant population focused (I volunteered at a FQHC, and I currently do patient intake at a clinic for low income patients who speak Spanish. I also do ESL volunteering, and am a semi-finalist for Fulbright ETA (spain)).
Now onto my dilemma:
- I feel like my app isn't super impressive. I haven’t gotten much out of my clinical experiences, so I can’t speak super passionately about them. However, for my non-clinical volunteering, I do not have trouble speaking passionately about them. But I think I could get into a least one medical school.
- I am having trouble with LORs. I do not have a for certain science LOR that will be strong. I am working on creating with a relationship with two science professors right now which will hopefully result in a LOR. Other than that, I have my major advisor and the professor who taught my study abroad program (will be strong).
- I switched to pre-med my junior year, so my experiences are only 3+ semesters.
- Lastly, I am studying for the MCAT right now. It is going fine, but I am also taking orgo ii and want to participate in senior events since it’s my last time with my close friends.
Pros of two gap years:
- Get more clinical and non-clinical experience
- Can earn money to put towards med school
- Potentially get better LORs
- If I get Fulbright ETA, I could talk more in depth about my experience
- More time to study for MCAT (I still plan on taking it in April if I feel ready by then, but I could push it back by a month or two if I take two gap years)
Cons of two gap years
- Would be behind my friends who are only taking one
- Would have to delay family planning (I really want to have children, so my fertility would go down the longer I wait)
- Losing one year’s salary
- Maybe would not even need an extra gap year (i feel like my current app could get me into one school given I don’t bomb the MCAT)
- What if I end up losing motivation for med school?
Thank you guys for reading!