<p>Anyone run into this advice-my daughter is in her Junior year of college and is PreMed. She has been to several group meeting in which the advisors are telling 90 % of the students to take a gap year before applying to med school. I find this strange that these students (most of whom were tops in their hs classes) are excelling in college, doing tons of ECs, and are being told to take a year off so that their senior year of college will be fully included in the med school apps. Can anyone else comment on this--daughter is at JHU and although I realize that the advisors have lots of experience, it seems strange. I have many friends who went to average colleges, did well, and were accepted into medical school. Daughter has not had her individual meeting yet with her advisor but a friend of hers (with a 3.8 gpa from Hopkins) was told not to think about applying next year. What is this all about?</p>
<p>While I know that many med school matriculants are older than the usual 22 year old grad, my D's senior friends are doing well so far in getting in to at least one school.</p>
<p>If they feel ready to apply then they should.</p>
<p>Which college are you referring to? Just wondering why this has become such an issue lately. It seems that if 50% of the JHU grades are being told not to try for medical school yet, and to take a gap year, I'm wondering why I haven't heard about this before. Other colleges are not advising in this way, and their grads are being accepted?</p>
<p>There's a difference between 50% and 90% (as reported in your original post).</p>
<p>To have a 50/50 split of alumni vs. undergrad applicants is very normal.</p>
<p>My son, who went to WashU undergrad, told me that the WashU Med School dean of admissions told them in a meeting not to take a year off. His view was if you want to be a Dr., why wait? I suspect that different medical schools may have different views on this; perhaps what JHU is saying is correct for some medical schools, but not others. I think it's very hard to firmly say which route is better, so why not apply when you want? If you are a marginal candidate, perhaps an additional year can yelp, but if you are a strong candidate, why wait?</p>
<p>If memory serves, WUSTL's medical school (admissions chair Edwin Dodson) has the youngest incoming class of any medical school in the country.</p>
<p>My daughter clarified it for me somewhat. In a large group meeting, the advisors told the undergrads that it is usually in their best interest to take a "slide" year. When she questioned them further, they stated that about 1/2 of the class will apply, and the other half will take the slide year. We'll know for sure which side she is considered part of soon, but it's tough to argue with a panel of so-called experts. Also, my daugher was accepted to two 7-year programs right out of high school, in which she could have graduated with a MD in 7 years. Right now I'm wondering if she should have taken that route--she basically was accepted into 2 medical schools ( we have the acceptance letters) in these programs, and didn't need to take the MCATs.</p>
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I think it's very hard to firmly say which route is better, so why not apply when you want?
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<p>Because JHU has a premed committee that writes your committee letter. They essentially control whether you apply or not.</p>
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If you are a marginal candidate, perhaps an additional year can yelp, but if you are a strong candidate, why wait?
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<p>Because once you get into med school, you are in for the long haul (4 years of med school, followed by 3-7 years of residency/fellowship). If you always planned to backpack through Europe or go to culinary school, why not do it now when you don't have any other responsibilities than when you get out of residency at age 33 with a wife and 2 kids? Why rush it?</p>
<p>If you are a marginal candidate you would be strengthening your application not going on vacation.</p>
<p>nocal,
I have been on adcom and am prof.
I agree with your comment that once you start, you are in for the long haul.
If you are solid, then I don't think it would hurt your chances at all. In fact, if you made a journal or DVD or your trip and "sold it" to the interview doc, then it might even help. The other option is to take a year off during medical school. It can be harder, but not impossible.</p>
<p>Bring a journal/DVD to a med school interview?</p>
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If you are a marginal candidate you would be strengthening your application not going on vacation.
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<p>The question was why you would take time off if you were a STRONG candidate. There are plenty of reasons to take time off regardless of the strength of your application. It can't hurt unless you sit on your ass for a year.</p>
<p>Gap years are wonderful, for the right person. If you're ready to delve into medicine, and feel like your credentials are great, there's no reason against applying straight out of college. However, remember that you're young and medicine is a long career. If there are things you'd like to explore before going, whether it be research, testing another career, traveling, etc. I'd strongly encourage it. It will most likely afford you great new experiences that will help you with you a career as a physician and maybe even help mold a path for yourself while in medical school. I've very extensively investigated my career in medicine and encountered and talked with a number of doctors who have taken very different paths (from specialities to general career directions). Remember that the MD degree affords you the opportunity to delve into many many different areas of practice, from a strictly clinical physician, to a researcher, administrator, physician executive, etc. Despite the fact that you go to medical school and through the same process, these careers in medicine are vastly different. </p>
<p>Gap years are wonderful times to continue to find yourself and learn about the world. And in most every case will make you a better candidate for medicine.</p>
<p>Premededout's response is exactly why I'll be taking time between undergrad and applying to medical school. I want to travel, continue some research I've gotten into, and in general enjoy being in my 20s. Medical school is a long road and once I get there I want to be 100% committed, I'm really in no rush to start my career.</p>
<p>I would say about half of my pre-med/med school friends, if not more, have taken/will take a gap year, and a lot of them are fairly strong applicants. Usually wanting to work/volunteer/travel/live, rather than doing it because they need to improve their application, aren't qualified, or are worried about the academic aspect of medical school.</p>
<p>Yes. You need to show them what you did - as above post stated, that you did not sit on your ass (although time out to smell the roses might be good, too.).</p>
<p>The spoof on Legally Blond was not unheard of. We have had concert mucisians tape themselves, dancers, etc. What you need to tell the adcom is why they should pick you instead of the guy next to you. The interview has two purposes: 1) to sell yourself and 2) for the school to sell itself (not done to all candidates).</p>