For some students, taking a year off before medical school can advance their careers and change their lives. They think that it may be necessary for their academic success.
On the other hand, some students may find themselves unwittingly taking a gap year owing to a lack of preparation. They may plan their gap year from the beginning and know that they have improvements they would like to make in their application.
If you are unsure whether taking a gap year before medical school is for you, this article will help you decide. We are stating why you should (or should) take a gap year and why such a decision would benefit you.
What is a Gap Year?
A "gap year" is the period between finishing your undergraduate degree and starting medical school. A gap year could last a year or longer based on each person's unique situation.
A gap year is sometimes utilized to pay off debt or take a break. Still, it can also be used to get more medically relevant experience, raise one's GPA, or improve one's MCAT scores. Some applicants who take a gap year may need to reapply to medical school.8 Reasons to Take a Gap Year Before Medical School
Since we live in unconventional times, it makes sense that we should make uncommon decisions. Therefore, the gap year has always been a beneficial tool for medical students. Still, when things are changing so quickly in today's environment, it has a whole new meaning.
The extra time you have before applying to medical school can help you become a more qualified and appealing applicant, increasing your chances of being accepted.
Here are the main reasons to take a gap year before medical school.
1. To Fulfill Your Medical School Requisites
Your gap year before medical school can allow you to make up any credits you may have missed. In addition, you get the chance to complete any classes you may need to complete before applying to medical school.
It is possible that the school to which you are applying has a unique criterion that necessitates taking more classes or that you need to boost your credits in a particular subject.
Regardless, taking a gap year can help you catch up on these classes at a time when you can focus, pay attention, and do well.
2. To Improve Your GPA
The benefit of taking these additional courses is that they can also raise your GPA. So if your GPA is not where you would like it to be, you can enroll in different classes during your gap year to improve it before you apply.
Several universities provide post-baccalaureate (post-bac) programs, with on-campus or through affiliate campus courses available.
Whether or whether you complete your schedule there, you might gain from pre-health advising while integrating into a medical school campus.
Admission to med school is becoming more and more competitive every day.
Therefore, applying with the highest GPA possible is always a good idea. You can also gain an advantage by using your post-bac program.
3. To Participate in Extracurriculars
You should consider taking a gap year before medical school if, for instance, you could only shadow one doctor, could not gain experience teaching or working in a lab, and could not engage in significant volunteer work.
Examine your extracurricular activities honestly, and consider the admissions committee's perspective.If the answer is no, postpone applying, develop these experiences, and do so during the upcoming application season.
4. To Gain Real World Experience
You can pursue clinical and non-clinical choices during your gap year to offer yourself a competitive advantage when applying to schools.
Taking a gap year and shadowing licensed medical practitioners is an everyday activity. You can learn critical job-related skills and patient-care techniques by following a doctor.
Additionally, you might be able to participate in or lend a hand with a research project or experiment.
Before applying to medical school, working in a research institution or on-campus at a lab will provide you the chance to advance your abilities and build relationships with people in a related field.
According to a recent study, 88% of graduates who took a gap year said it increased their employability.5. To Avoid Burnout
You might be unable to handle medical school's arduous effort, time commitment, and stress if you felt worn out and burned out.
In this situation, taking a gap year before medical school is preferable to dropping out in the middle of your studies because of extreme stress.
You want to make sure you are in the correct frame of mind to get through medical school and succeed on the other side because it will present many psychological and physical hurdles.
Whatever our own coping techniques may be, they all help you deal with stress and overcome hardship over time.
However, there are situations when uncontrollable circumstances may also force you to take a year off before beginning medical school.
You must pay attention to your body's and mind's demands. If a break is what you need or desire to get best ready for medical school, do it.
6. To Avoid Distractions
Balancing the effort into the several application components of being an overworked college student is one of the most demanding aspects of applying to medical school.
If you feel you cannot handle everything at once and would prefer to finish your undergraduate degree before beginning the application process for medical school, taking a gap year may be advantageous.
You can devote all your time to writing your personal statement, preparing for the MCAT, and completing your AMCAS application. You will not have any other due dates or tasks to worry about.7. To Earn Money
Exposure to patients and the healthcare industry can help you save money. This is in addition to raising your profile.
The average tuition (in-state) for med schools is USD 34,592. In contrast, the average out-of-state tuition is USD 58,688, especially in light of the staggering USD 196,520 average debt of medical students.
These numbers should not be taken lightly. If you are debating taking a gap year, consider your financial situation and whether working for a year or two could be advantageous.
8. To Give You More Time Analyzing Your Options
Suppose you decide on attending medical school and consider it your only career choice. In that case, this will not apply to you.
However, a gap year could be a fantastic opportunity to take a step back and try working in an engineering lab or writing a book if you have also been thinking about other career prospects while in college.
Going to medical school instead is excellent if you do not like it. However, you do not want to leave any regrets because they could increase the stress you already experience while in med school.
Is Taking a Gap Year Before Med School Right for You?
As was previously mentioned, almost everyone can profit from taking a gap year. To determine whether taking a gap year before medical school is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
Consider academic improvement. Studying for the MCAT and improving your GPA during a gap year before med school will significantly benefit you.
Remember that MCAT and GPA are significant factors in medical school acceptance
Increase your exposure to clinical settings and to intellectual activities like research.
Research (along with other extracurricular activities) is one of the major requirements (and advantages) in your medical school application. Put in the extra effort and time to focus on research.
Spend a year (or two) pursuing a particular hobby or discovering a brand-new one. This may be brought up during your medical school interview.
You do not want to waste such an excellent opportunity to impress the admission committee by mentioning a particular hobby that made you want to become a doctor.
Most students cannot finish everything they need to by the conclusion of their junior year of college to be the strongest applicant. Because of this, many students need more time to prepare for medical school.
Regardless of why you want to take a gap year before medical school, if you need to take a break, DO IT.
Additional FAQs – Is Taking a Gap Year Before Medical School Right for You?
Will Taking a Gap Year Ruin My Chances at Med School?
Make sure you can explain to the admissions committee why taking a gap year was advantageous for you in the first place and that you have a good rationale for doing so. Self-development is essential and will always be highly valued.
How Should I Discuss a Gap Year During My Med School Interview?
Instead, describe how you took advantage of this chance to broaden your knowledge and hone the abilities that will help you become a better doctor.
Be sincere; discuss your growth and the lessons you have learned.
Admissions committees are looking for applicants who have shown they are seeking to improve both themselves as people and as potential doctors, not only to make themselves look nice to get into medical school.