To Gap or Not to Gap: The Post-Undergrad Dilemma for Pre-Meds

isabellal
isabellal SBA Posts: 3
in Pre-Med Success Community

Hi fellow pre-meds!

I’m excited to share that I’ve just graduated as a Bachelor of Science majoring in Human Biology and Immunology, with a minor in Psychology!

As many of us toss our caps into the air and bid farewell to undergrad life, a pressing question looms: Should we dive straight into medical school, or take a gap year (or two) to recharge, explore, and prepare?

This decision isn't easy, and it's one that requires a lot of reflection and input. So, let’s discuss!

Going Straight to Med School: The Pros and Cons

Pros:

  1. Momentum: You’re already in “study mode” and can seamlessly transition into the rigorous med school curriculum.
  2. Earlier Start: You’ll become a doctor sooner, giving you a head start on your medical career.
  3. Consistent Routine: If you thrive on structure, the continuous academic journey might suit you well.

Cons:

  1. Burnout Risk: After years of intense studying, jumping straight into more of the same could lead to burnout.
  2. Limited Experiences: You might miss out on opportunities to travel, work, or engage in activities that could enrich your personal and professional growth.
  3. No Time to Reflect: A gap year can provide valuable time to reflect on your career goals and ensure medicine is the right path for you.

Taking a Gap Year: The Pros and Cons

Pros:

  1. Rest and Recharge: Time off can help you recover from the academic grind and enter med school with renewed energy.
  2. Broaden Horizons: Travel, volunteer work, or gaining healthcare experience can broaden your perspective and make you a more well-rounded candidate.
  3. Better Preparation: More time to prepare for the MCAT, strengthen your application, and gain relevant experiences.

Cons:

  1. Disrupted Routine: The break from academic life can make the transition back to studying challenging.
  2. Delayed Career Start: Taking time off means you’ll start your medical career later than your peers who go straight through.
  3. Financial Considerations: Gap years can be costly, especially if you’re traveling or undertaking unpaid opportunities.

My Journey: Choosing a Gap Year

After much thought, I’ve decided to take a gap year. The decision wasn’t easy, but I’m excited about what lies ahead. Here’s what I’m planning:

  • Work: Gaining some hands-on experience in healthcare to strengthen my application and ensure this is the right path for me. I'm currently working at a sports medicine clinic!
  • Travel: Exploring new places and cultures, broadening my horizons, and taking a well-deserved break from academic life. I plan to visit Costa Mujeres, Mexico this summer.
  • Self-Discovery: Using this time to discover new interests, develop new skills, and gain a deeper understanding of myself and my goals. So far, I've taken to workout classes like spin and heavy-bag boxing classes to help me de-stress and also stay healthy!

I believe this gap year will not only recharge my batteries but also provide me with invaluable experiences that will make me a better and more empathic doctor in the future.

Your Thoughts?

Now, I want to hear from you! Are you planning to take a gap year or go straight to med school? What factors are influencing your decision? Let’s share our thoughts, experiences, and advice. Your insights could help someone make one of the biggest decisions of their life.

Drop your comments below and let’s get the conversation started!

#SBAGiveaway

Comments

  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 2

    Moderator

    🚨

    @Carli_Tornambe There are a lot of factors to consider, really. First and foremost, think about what would be "enough" improvement for you - are you looking for a 506ish score? 509? 512? It's important to have a relatively well-defined goal in mind, otherwise if you are just saying "well, as high as I can go", then it's tough to EVER feel ready for the test. If you haven't looked at it yet, there is a resource from the AAMC called the MSAR (it's not included in your Kaplan course, but it's a fairly cheap subscription for one year) which lets you look up what sorts of numbers are competitive for various schools, so that can be really helpful for gauging your goals.

    As far as the cycle goes, it is true that applying earlier can give you an advantage, but how MUCH of an advantage is probably way over-stated by students. In my experience, students with applications that are overall competitive for the schools they are looking at have applied as late as August and still gotten multiple interviews and offers. I would always recommend prioritize having an application you are comfortable with, rather than trying to rush to get in as early as possible. So, you probably COULD push back a bit if you needed to. You can also look at the specific schools you are interested in applying to, and see when they send out secondary applications as a rough gauge for when they start doing a deeper look at students, and consider that applying to both MD and DO schools might give you more flexibility as well.

    Finally, when it comes to trying to gauge how much you might improve, that's always a tough question to answer, but there are some trends to consider. For example, if there are clear areas you can improve in content-wise that are showing up repeatedly, that's actually a good sign, as it gives you something very direct to work on. Similarly, if you have a strong sense of a strategic change you need to make (such as "I really don't make predictions often, if at all"), that too gives some clear direction on what you need to work on. The more you can articulate concrete action steps for yourself, the more likely you are to see big gains!

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