In freshman year, I attended a club meeting where there were supposed to be upperclassmen mentors who can help you plan out your premed journey.

Upon telling one of the mentors that I was a statistics major, and that I was deferring taking general chemistry until sophomore year, the mentor exclaimed “oh no! You’re screwed!”

Which you know, is exactly what a freshman wants to hear–not.

Discouraged, I went to another mentor at the club meeting, who then also told me that I was “screwed”. 

It’s just funny because their definition of “screwed” was that I would have to take a gap year–because supposedly, if I deferred general chemistry by one year, I wouldn’t be ready in time by junior year to take the MCAT, and apply my senior year, to go straight in to med school. (That logic is also not really true, by the way–plenty of people try to self-study various topics or try really hard to cram them into a limited number of semesters before taking the MCAT.) 

Accepting defeat, that night after the club meeting, I told my parents that I would be taking a gap year after undergrad. “you’re WHAT?” my mom said, clearly concerned. 

I explained that a gap year is just a year you take off, but you don’t do nothing–you work or do a service year or you do research. 

I didn’t convince my parents right away, but over time, they came around to it. By senior year, I decided I would take not just one, but two gap years. And let me tell you: it’s one of the BEST decisions I’ve made in my life thus far. Here’s why.

You can take your time to take the prereqs

If you’re like me and have a million different classes you want to take, then this might be a good idea. You can spread out the pre-med prereqs and only take 1-2 difficult classes a semester. 

This might make a big difference in your GPA! And plus, you won’t feel as stressed having to cram everything in if you’re like me and your major and pre-med doesn’t overlap that much.

All of your Undergrad years “make it” onto your med application

If you are planning on not taking any gap years, then you are applying in the summer before your senior year–that means your senior year doesn’t really make it onto your application unless it’s in the form of updates. This might be disadvantageous if you started a meaningful research experience late in your undergraduate career, and you want more of it to make it onto your application.

Now, if you take one gap year, all of your undergrad years make it–and if you take two, whatever you do in that first gap year “makes it” onto your application, too. 

It’ll allow you to build relationships outside of undergrad

Taking gap years and doing research in those gap years has helped me meet my current mentor in the medical field–her guidance thus far has been tremendous for me, and without taking the gap years, I never would’ve met her.

Of course, I’ve built meaningful mentor relationships at Cornell, but dedicating a year/years to a specific job can help you get to know someone (and let someone know you!) on a deeper level.

Some of us are “late Bloomers”–but that’s totally OK!

Sometimes it takes a year or two more of soul searching to realize your “why” for medicine (as is the case for me!), and gap years can really help facilitate that. I spent my summers in consulting and not necessarily med-related things, and I needed a tiny bit more time to figure everything out. 

The thing is, I think this works out better because I’d rather be 100% sure of my career path than go into it unsure, then back out later. 

You’ll be a more mature applicant!

A bit more work experience and life experience will make you a more mature applicant overall, which definitely can’t hurt. I don’t think med schools want to fill their entire class with just 22-year-olds, so taking one or a few gap years can’t hurt, only help.

At the end of the day, 1-2 years is nothing

We’re all gunna be like in our 30s by the time we finish residency and fellowship, y’all, that’s just the truth.

1-2 years might seem like enough to “derail” your entire life plans now, but trust me, 5-10 years down the line, it makes no difference.

Final Thoughts

Taking gap years was one of the best decisions I made in undergrad. Not only do I get a small break from the constant studying grind as a student (and got to pick up other hobbies in this year “off”!), I met tons of amazing people, my mentor, and have more time to think about the critical question of “why medicine.” 

Because I also chose to work in research, I will also have more relevant experience to include on my application, which is also a plus! Don’t be afraid of the gap year–it has only helped me and strengthened my desire to become a doctor.