Gap Year(s)

Please know that every person who goes to medical school does not necessarily go there straight after graduating from college. It is actually becoming fairly common for students to take a year (or a few years) between graduation and entering medical school. 

Sometimes, you’re “forced” to take a gap because you aren’t admitted in the cycle you applied to medical school. If you apply and interview and are not accepted, be sure to seek out feedback from the admissions committee about how you can improve your application for the next time around. And then really take that advice to heart and do what you must in order to be a stronger applicant. Other times, you may choose to take time before applying in order to have a stronger application. Or you may have an interest in something and want to take time to get a Master’s degree or do a fellowship or extra study in that field. Still other times, you may just know that you need a break, or need to make some money, or have some other (good) reason to take time off before applying to medical school. 

All of those reasons, and other reasons, are totally valid. Having a gap year, or years, on your CV is not the worst thing that can happen. But if the goal is to eventually be accepted to medical school, you need to be smart about what you do during that gap time. 

Get clinical experience and exposure

If you take a break between college and medical school, I would strongly encourage you to continue to get as much clinical experience as possible. You can shadow or volunteer for this experience. You could also work as a scribe or as a medical assistance and get the double bonus of clinical exposure and some extra money…and maybe a physician who can write a letter of recommendation for you.

Boost your GPA

If your GPA, especially your BCPM GPA, isn’t where it needs to be you can do yourself a big favor by taking graduate-level courses. While admissions committees will still see your undergraduate grades, if they can also see really good grades in graduate courses and an “upward trajectory” of your GPA that shows you can do the work in medical school, your application will likely be looked upon more favorably. You may choose to do a medical post-baccalaureate program, enroll in a Master’s degree program, or you may just take some graduate level courses…but why not get a degree if you’re taking the classes! [There will be a full blog entry on post-baccalaureate programs very soon, don’t worry!]

Get that good MCAT score

Some students also use the gap year to really buckle down and dedicate time to studying for the MCAT to get the score they need to be a strong applicant. For some people, not having to split time studying for the MCAT while also studying for college courses is just what they need to get a better score. You can choose self-study or take a prep course to prepare for the exam.

Get a job!

It’s haaaaard to get student loans to pay your bills when you’re not a student anymore! Unless your situation is much different than mine would’ve been coming out of college, you’re going to need to financially support yourself during this time. Yes, a job in healthcare would be great but the priority is getting bills paid and food on the table. If you know you’re going to take some time between college and medical school, start looking early to find a job, preferably one that gives you some kind of experience that you can include in your application.  

Do research 

Taking a year to be part of a research team is another option for you during the gap year(s). You may have the opportunity to continue a project you worked on as an undergraduate, or you can join a new project altogether. If you’re able to do it full-time, this may be a paid opportunity for you. For most medical schools, research experience is not a requirement for acceptance, but it definitely makes you a stronger applicant.

Explore something that interests you

If you’ve got the resources to backpack across Europe, or want to go teach English as a second language, or start a cupcakery…these are all options that are available to you. And they make for really interesting personal statements and talking points during an interview. What you cannot do in this gap year, is waste time doing things that put you no closer to your white coat. If you’re going to take a year/years off, with the plan to eventually get into medical school, please make sure you can “spin” whatever you do in that time to show it made you a better applicant and will make you a future physician.

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Taking some time between college and medical school is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Whether planned or unexpected, you can definitely use that time to make yourself a stronger applicant. 

Do you have any questions or concerns about taking a gap year or years between college and medical school? If so, please feel free to leave it in the comments section below, or you can send me a private email.