Secondary essays are sent to medical schools to evaluate each applicant's distinct qualities not covered in the AMCAS Work and Activities section or your personal statement for medical school. You can improve your chances of being invited for interviews by writing excellent secondary essays!
These prompts can also assist you in coming up with additional responses to interview questions for medical school. Remember that you are competing with hundreds, if not thousands, of candidates, so you must stand out.
This article focuses on medical school gap year essays and how to ensure that the admission committees notice your application.
What is a Gap Year?
The year you spend between graduating from undergraduate school and beginning medical school is known as a "gap year." A gap year could be one year or more, depending on the circumstances of each individual.
Sometimes, people use a gap year to take a sabbatical or pay off debt. However, it can also increase experience in medicine-related fields, boost GPA, or enhance MCAT scores. A gap year may require some applicants to reapply to medical school.
How to Stand Out in Gap Year Medical School Essay
You might want to prepare for your medical school gap year essay ahead of time if you want to explain to the admissions committee why you took a gap year or had an academic year/s off.
To stand out in your medical school gap year essay, the following should be your main priorities:
The medical school gap year essay asks for an explanation of your decision not to apply in your last year of university. If that applies to you, please briefly summarize your summer vacation activities.
Take a minute to defend your choice to wait without drawing attention to your shortcomings, and then list all the worthwhile experiences you've acquired.
Present your many tiny experiences as a catalog to demonstrate your broad exposure in a condensed period if you have many of them during the gap.
If you have devoted most of your efforts to a particular endeavor, take on all the responsibilities and dedication that come with it.
Sample Gap Year Essay Prompts
Questions concerning medical school gap year essays are usually quite simple.
Nowadays, applicants to medical schools typically have taken one or more years off between undergraduate and medical school, with the average age of matriculants being 24.
If that sounds like you, consider the following when writing your gap year essay: Medical schools merely want to hear about your post-graduation activities and how they helped you get ready for success in medical school and beyond.
Start with the facts when writing your medical school gap year essays. The following are some points you have to strive to cover in your gap year essay:- Be precise when describing dates, times, jobs performed, locations visited, etc.
Sample Gap Year Essays for Medical School
Sure enough, composing your medical school gap year essay is not an easy task. You must ensure the admissions committee sees and notices the value you would bring to the medical school you are applying for.
To strengthen your chances of getting admitted, here are a few sample medical school gap year essays for your reference.
Sample 1
Medical School Gap Year Essay Prompt: "If you have taken a gap year or years, please describe your current and future plans after leaving your undergraduate program."
In my last year of university, I poured myself into the application process for medical schools. After graduation, I spent time getting volunteer and leadership experience, raising my MCAT score, and completing needed science classes after realizing my application was weak.
Attending post-baccalaureate courses was beneficial. My MCAT score increased dramatically from 505 to 517, which thrilled me. My score served as evidence of the effort and commitment I made in my classes on organic chemistry and molecular biology, as well as the improved time management, responsibility, and work ethic I developed while preparing for the MCAT.
My academic performance increased while I took post-baccalaureate science courses, but volunteering at a senior care facility made me more aware of older people's problems and the caregivers who support them. When I walked into the institution, I once heard a patient asking for assistance. The gentleman had fallen and was unable to get back into his wheelchair. I'm not allowed to physically help the residents get into their chairs per volunteer rules.
But once I was sure he was not wounded physically, I reassured him coolly that I was obtaining help and told the nurses about his predicament. I learned and practiced skills like setting and upholding proper limits, collaborating with others, and coolly addressing unforeseen and difficult situations thanks to this episode and other encounters at the center.
My belief system and skill set have evolved and improved due to my varied experiences. I have grown more understanding of people with physical or mental disabilities. I am committed to helping my community overcome these obstacles. The process has taught me the importance of empathy and compassion. Whether as a student or a doctor, I believe this school would be proud of the essential qualities and values I have acquired.
Sample 2
Medical School Gap Year Essay Prompt: How did you spend your gap year, and what did you learn from it? Do you think it will help you as a future doctor?
I relocated to Mexico City after receiving my college degree in May to work full-time as a Spanish language instructor and volunteer on the weekends at a low-income women's health clinic. My objectives in taking a gap year have been to become fluent in Spanish and acquire experience working in an international health environment.
After completing medical school, I intend to return to Los Angeles's suburbs, where I was raised. Despite having studied Spanish up to the intermediate level in college, I believe that improving my language abilities beyond conversational classes is essential to becoming the most fantastic healthcare provider I can be for patients in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, where 45% of people speak Spanish at home.
Additionally, enlightening has been volunteering in the women's clinic. It has not only sped up my language learning, especially in terms of learning useful medical vocabulary in Spanish, but it has also made me more aware of the number of women who lack proper access to routine preventative treatments like cervical cancer screenings and prenatal care. I know these problems are not specific to Mexico; far too many American women encounter the same obstacles.
I am dedicated to delivering compassionate treatment for all patients, especially those lacking financial means or English proficiency. I intend to work towards increasing disadvantaged patients' access to healthcare due to my gap year experiences. I'm excited about the chance to start this job as a volunteer at Columbia's student-run free clinics in New York City for underprivileged communities.
Additional FAQs – Medical School Gap Year Essay
Is a Gap Year a Good Idea For Medical School?
During a gap year, you can obtain invaluable practical experience that will benefit your future profession and medical school application.
To advance your expertise in the field, you can decide to volunteer, work in a medical facility, or look for research possibilities.
However, the answer to this question depends on how and what you can accomplish during your gap year/s.
Do Med Schools Look Down on Gap Years?
If you can show them that you improved as an applicant during your gap year, they will not reject your application based on it.