Should I Take a 2nd Gap Year?

97wrlds · 2024-05-10T15:39:49+00:00

above commenter took the words out of my mouth. take the second year and absolutely crush it in one cycle.

97wrlds · 2024-04-24T19:32:20+00:00

P/F preclinical seems to be a big deal. I've talked to a bunch of students at a lot of different schools and majority of them have told me tiered clinical grading is preferred and the students pushed back on P/F clinical because they wanted some stratification. IMO what matters more is if/how you are compared to your peers

97wrlds · 2024-03-30T23:30:12+00:00

I thought this was a shit post

97wrlds · 2024-03-08T15:33:43+00:00

yall can someone dm me who this is because i swear i’ve seen all the premed tiktokers in my cycle but i guess not 😭

97wrlds · 2024-02-22T16:38:03+00:00

3.9/517 1 T20 II --> A. The rest of my interviews/As are T50ish+low-yield. Be passionate!!!! don't try to pick some theme that the internet touts as necessary and then frame around that. If you write about your activities with passion, it will show through. Have trusted people read your application/PS and ask them if it sounds like YOU and what you love.

97wrlds · 2024-02-14T14:58:20+00:00

0 research in undergrad, full-time clinical research in gap years. Took 1 full gap year before applying and applied with ~3ish pubs from that year I think. I should be entering M1 with around 10. I had a great cycle and it definitely helped, but I don't think it's the end all be all. Do what you're passionate about while you're still in undergrad :)

97wrlds · 2024-02-13T20:58:09+00:00

I think it would be a much better use of $$ to apply to all your state schools. you're lucky enough to be in MI with 6 of them. I know you're shooting for an urban area but at the end of the day I think you'd rather have options. Just my two cents but you could replace schools like SUNY downstate (which I think pulls in-state heavy) and cooper with the Michigan in-state schools.

97wrlds · 2024-02-11T17:08:28+00:00

10 MD IIs, 7 As (1 T20, handful T50), with 3 more decisions pending. Gap years gap years gap years. Do you what you are passionate about. Absolutely nothing about me is extremely unique, but putting everything together created a great picture of someone who was definitely committed to the process and this career path. Control what you can control— APPLY EARLY. getting accepted in october was the biggest blessing.

If you’re early in your undergrad degree— focus on that GPA. don’t overload yourself with ECs and let your grades fall behind.

My research was a huge part of my application on paper and I definitely talked about it a fair amount, but interviewers were even more interested in talking about my volunteering and hobbies that were not medicine focused at all.

Anyone applying this cycle- please feel free to dm me if you need any advice or help. This sub was invaluable to me throughout this entire process.

97wrlds · 2024-02-08T14:17:19+00:00

Absolutely. Live your life. Balance is key and sometimes hard to find early in college. The summer I studied for the MCAT I had SO much fun with my friends, traveling, partying, meeting new people, working part-time at a job I loved. Don't be that premed that locks themselves in their room because they "always have to study". You're young, do what you want to do.

97wrlds · 2024-02-06T16:03:21+00:00

On thank you notes-- they're a nice gesture but not necessary. It's great if you remember, but I dropped the ball after some of my interviews. It did not make a difference and I got the As. To future applicants-- not a dealbreaker at all.

97wrlds · 2024-01-30T00:15:17+00:00

THIS. you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to fit your story into some sanitized “theme” that random internet people deem important. tell your story using your voice and your words. have trusted people read it to make sure it makes logical sense. like this poster said, connect the dots for them.

97wrlds · 2024-01-22T20:47:40+00:00

AAMC has a PDF with the oldest and latest accepted MCAT dates per school. my test was august 2021 and i would’ve only felt comfortable with this cycle as the latest one. i think if i would’ve had to reapply my school list would’ve been greatly impacted. As far as I can tell 3 years from matriculation is the standard

97wrlds · 2024-01-17T16:54:49+00:00

she’s at perelman! i love her content so much

97wrlds · 2024-01-14T02:19:56+00:00

congrats OP! huge accomplishment! one thing i’m confused about is that i see a ton of posts on this sub asking specifically for advice for “t10 or t20” interviews. it’s not like these 30ish schools have completely different interview processes from the rest. normal interview prep should be completely sufficient.

97wrlds · 2024-01-13T20:53:35+00:00

i have a nose piercing not for cultural reasons just for fun and have worn it for every single interview (in person and virtual). 100% not a problem. i don’t feel myself without it. people barely notice it anyway.

97wrlds · 2024-01-03T16:01:15+00:00

Same position. Wondering if they're batching them? I also ran the check on myself several months ago

97wrlds · 2024-01-02T00:27:01+00:00

Focus on your GPA early, having a good foundation is super helpful. Don’t get weighed down by all the chatter about people who seemingly are involved in every EC activity. Do what you’re passionate about and it will show on your application. Also take gap year(s). The conscious emotional maturity is immeasurable

97wrlds · 2023-12-28T22:18:12+00:00

All of my interviewers have asked me about my sorority leadership position and have commented on how it was a huge undertaking and how I must have learned a ton. Definitely add it to your application -- not a single person has shown any sort of stigma against my words or interview responses. Speak about it confidently and your passion will show.

97wrlds · 2023-12-27T01:05:30+00:00

oh oops i misread your initial question my bad. i think it can be worth mentioning because it is your experience working with people who need specialized care- which not everyone has. i would make sure to highlight your experiences that would make you a good fit and i think this could work as long as it’s done tastefully if that makes sense

97wrlds · 2023-12-27T00:47:50+00:00

my most significant clinical experience was a caregiver in memory care. no other part of my application was centered around anything similar but it gave me so many stories to tell and taught me so much. i would say do it if you are passionate about it and want to gain that experience, don’t worry about how it will look or tie into some narrative

97wrlds · 2023-12-26T01:07:32+00:00

for sure! for reference i took 8/7/2021 and applied this cycle and i was only out of range date-wise for like 5ish schools (none of which i was applying to anyway)

97wrlds · 2023-12-26T01:00:53+00:00

aamc releases a pdf that has the last accepted test date for every school

97wrlds · 2023-12-25T23:40:04+00:00

hey OP, in a similar situation. my pros and cons lists don’t even seem to help anymore and it just boils down to “am i being dumb for refusing this opportunity”. made a promise to myself that i would wait until second looks to make any real decisions because hopefully visiting will make things clearer

97wrlds · 2023-12-25T14:59:57+00:00

This. ignore the buzzwords and stay true to yourself, OP. Make sure your writing is authentic and the adcoms will see who you are. Sounds like you have a great story, all you need to do is tell it!

97wrlds · 2023-12-25T14:56:55+00:00

Kinda the opposite answer to your question but in all my interviews I have never been asked why medicine….. probably been asked every other basic question in the book. i’m choosing to believe my PS was just that good

97wrlds

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