A "gap year" typically refers to a period of time, usually a year, that a person takes off between major life stages such as finishing high school and starting college, or between completing an undergraduate degree and pursuing further education or entering the workforce. During a gap year, individuals often engage in a variety of activities such as traveling, volunteering, gaining work experience, or pursuing personal interests.
Gap years can be beneficial for personal growth, gaining life experience, and developing new skills. They can also provide opportunities for self-discovery and reflection before embarking on the next phase of life. Many people find that a gap year allows them to explore their interests, gain valuable experiences, and make more informed decisions about their future educational or career paths.
If you are planning for entry to a professional school (MD/DO/Dent/Vet) immediately following Bard, keep in mind that you will only have the grades and experiences up until the end of the junior year to include in your application.
Clinical Experience If you have not had the opportunity to get clinical experience until the spring of your junior year, have little experience or none at all; highly consider waiting until you have had the time to fully explore your field of interest and enter the next cycle with a full portfolio of experience that demonstrates your commitment.
Academics If your performance in the sciences has not been as strong as you anticipated, strongly consider taking the senior year to improve your academic record. Finishing strong will indicate that you have a facility in the sciences and can handle the rigors of medical school; An upward trajectory is always looked at favorably. If you are graduating, or have been out of school longer, consider Post-Bac Options or taking a class or two to enhance your academic profile.
Standardized Tests Keep in mind that you will likely be sitting for a spring MCAT/DAT (April-June) if you have not already taken it. This means that in addition to any coursework you are taking in the spring you will be preparing for the MCAT/DAT. Preparation for the test is like adding another course to your roster so be sure you will have the time to dedicate to studying for it.
Don't do anything to the detriment of your grades. You could potentially retake the test (though you should shoot to take it once!) but once you complete your coursework you cannot change your transcript! If studying for the MCAT/DAT detracts from your attention to your coursework, consider delaying the test and the application so that you can focus on the work that is before you.
Delaying the test opens up summer test dates where you can prepare for and take the test when you are not in school, or later in the year.
Interviews Finally, we hope that you are successful in obtaining interview invitations... while some schools are still conducting virtual interviews since COVID, some have gone back to in-person interview days which means you could be flying all over the country or at the very least traveling to in person interviews during your senior year. Think about what you need/want to accomplish in the senior year and if adding the application process and interview requests will fit well with your schedule.
Sometimes it is better to wait a year or more to gain the experience you need to both reality check that this career is a good fit for you and demonstrate to the schools that you know what you are getting yourself into. The only way to know if you will enjoy being a clinician is to work in real world environments that expose you to the day to day activities of the professional you aspire to become. If you need more experience you could apply for a job that allows you to work in an environment that exposes you to healthcare related activities. Explore Handshake for job opportunities and schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your options.
There are no drawbacks to taking a year or more to gain experience, perhaps simultaneously pursuing something you love that is not related to medicine, before you commit to enrolling in a program. Once you get to medical school you will be committing to study for four years+, after you complete your residency you will likely go into practice, so if you've got something on your bucket list cross it off before you dive into your training.
Perhaps you would like to enhance your academic record so that your application will be more competitive. Consider the Post-Bac options that could help you prepare you for a rigorous science program and demonstrate your readiness for it.
Maybe you want to work for a year or more to save money prior to applying... there are lots of reasons people decide to take a year or more before applying to professional school. As long as you continue to demonstrate your commitment to the field you are pursuing by working or volunteering it is fine, and sometimes encouraged, to take the time you need prior to entering the application cycle.