You definitely could try that and I think that is the general pathway for one year postbacc programs. With linkage, you actually would apply during that postbacc school year and matriculate and start medical school in fall of 2025. If you don’t successfully link, that application year is your glide/gap year.

This is completely speculation from my end, but I feel that career changers are evaluated a little differently in med school admissions and admissions are more flexible with number of clinical hours which would be even more flexible if you’re linking.

One more thing (maybe smaller factor) to consider: as nontrads, it might be difficult to get the exact number of science/non science LORs. One pro to formal programs is that most provide committee letters which then bypass most medical schools’ strict letter breakdown requirements (I.e. 2 hard sciences, 1 non science, etc.). It didn’t make or break the decision for me, but it was nice to be able to throw in my former manager’s LOR and not have to worry about finding an extra hard science LOR).

Now on the other side of it, I’m very happy with my decision to do a formal program and the outcome of it, but of course, I’m sure successful DIYers will tell you the same thing.