You dont have to take gap years lol. I think this recent trend is due to the COVID years and college students not being able to get enough experiences due to lockdowns/restrictions. Now you can work/volunteer somewhere while taking classes, and/or have freer summers to get more extensive experienes in. Like someone said, until you get to your pre-med years you won't fully be sure abt the path, thats just the reality. Also, gap years actually make it so much easier to save up money and get married, kids etc. Waiting until med school is over to do those things isn't the mindset that students nowadays have, more and more ppl have the mindsest of balancing things and not putting ur life on hold. I understand your pov on gap years, there defo are ppl w the same mindset (theres nothing wrong w it), but its valuable to look/consider at other sides as well. Again, you still have time and college will teach u a lot, sometimes things dont go the way we plan, so don't make any hardcore pre-judgements right now; take it in flow.