Gap Year Before Medical School? | Advice + Ideas

[@Deardhra]

Wow I’m happy I found your KZbin! I’m gonna binge all of these vids

[@sydneyvdong]

Daw you're so sweet girl!!

[@sanammanningayil6393]

i love your vibe sydney!

[@sydneyvdong]

Thank you, Sanam! :-)

[@ellarifica]

Thanks for all of these informative videos! I’m planning to not take a gap year but it’s amazing to know that if it comes to it everything will be ok💕

[@sydneyvdong]

Ahhh yes! You go, girl 💪 In a strange, yet amazing way, it really does :-) Rooting for your journey, Elena 💕

[@lauranavarrogomez359]

Thanks for sharing your experience, it was really helpful. i'm currently debating taking one or two gap years as I am a senior and do not have much time to study for the MCAT right now. Did you find it hard to go back to school after not being in school for 2 years?

[@elizainesse5521]

So if you're planning to do gap year when is the best time to take your MCAT, can you still do it summer of your junior year, so summer going to junior year(don't know if that makes sense lol). I'm still not sure about gap year but I think I might need it with everything closed it's hard to do volunteer work and shadowing. I was planning on taking the MCAT next year the end of my sophomore year. I'm just so confused.

[@sydneyvdong]

No, that's a great question! For a lot of people I've seen take 1 gap year, they took their MCAT the summer after finishing junior year. That gave them time to finish pre-req courses like biochem during junior year or a nice cushion to have an MCAT retake during their senior year if they needed it. Once satisfied with their scores, they applied to med school at the end of their senior years for 1 gap year.

[@elizainesse5521]

@@sydneyvdong Thank yo for replying back. This is so much helpful.

[@emilys5294]

what do you consider passion projects or leadership positions during gap years?

[@sydneyvdong]

Hi Emily 👋 I'd say a passion project is bringing any idea you have to life! For example, if you were super passionate about working with kids and loved to teach, then you could create an after school tutoring program for kids who might not have that resource readily accessible. Or if you loved all things creative, you could integrate an 'Art for Healing' program at your local hospital or senior home. I was very fortunate to work with different types of populations in undergrad, but I hadn't had the chance to work with the homeless. My passion project was to fundraise, assemble care packages and distribute meals to the shelters in my city. Small or big-scale, your passion project can be an opportunity for you to come together with other like-minded individuals in order to do some good!

[@emilys5294]

@@sydneyvdong thank you! (:

[@helpimfat1770]

Do we have to take a gap year? I will be 21 once I graduate so do I still have a chance if I don’t take a gap year and still do all the extracurriculars?

[@sydneyvdong]

Definitely not! Some people apply to medical school after their junior years to have no gap year. You can definitely apply if you feel ready and content with your letters, scores, and experiences!

[@kevindong8719]

Reap that gap year nectar!!

[@sydneyvdong]

dat gap year nectarine 😋

[@hannahmullinax3148]

Thanks for this video!! I love your advice. I am looking forward to also making informative and supportive videos on my KZbin channel :)

[@sydneyvdong]

Aw, thanks Hannah! I'm excited to follow your application journey too :')