Your Journey, Your Pace: The Empowering Choice of a Gap Year
By: Emma Walytka
If you have ever been hard on yourself for planning to (or have already taken) a gap year (or two), let me (ah yes, the journalism student) be the one to tell you that you are not behind. You are not inferior to your peers who went straight into medical school. You bring your own set of strengths and experiences to this journey. You are planning for your unique future with your individual needs, circumstances, financial abilities, and familial obligations at the forefront. In fact, you would be among the majority of matriculants who took one or more years between undergrad and starting a health professional program.
According to the 2024 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) given by the American Association of Medical Colleges, 74.5% of new incoming matriculants take at least one gap year before starting medical school. 50.2% of those are working in another career, while the rest are volunteering in research, working to improve finances, and/or fulfilling family obligations.
I will say it: it is a privilege to go straight into health professional school, especially when many students are working while going to school, and don’t have extra time to do unpaid experiences and extra preparation for exams like the MCAT. I say this not to make those who do go straight to medical school feel guilty, but to validate the experiences of those who may not have the same opportunity.
There are, of course, the inevitable pros and cons that come with any difficult decision. But, given the current stigma surrounding gap years, this blog will focus on some of their potential benefits.
According to Brown Health Careers Advising, some students may view a gap year as a way to fill a “gap” in their application; however, this is not an effective strategy unless two gap years are planned, because an application will need to be submitted before the gap year begins. At the PHSRC, we have our own Gap Year page compiled with resources and admissions perspectives, which can be helpful in gauging how many gap years are best for you to take.
Brown University recommends using a singular gap year to pursue activities that you are passionate about, such as completing additional coursework to boost your GPA (most successful with two gap years), gaining experience through a clinical environment, paying down existing debt, and preparing yourself mentally (yes, you read that right).
We are programmed to feel guilty for not constantly doing something academically or occupationally “productive,” yet sometimes a mental break can be the best kind of productivity — the kind that internally sets you up for success.
So, let’s go over four benefits of taking a gap year, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges (one of the top organizations for medical schools) and the Surgical Education Journal.
- Improve your medical school application: If you have struggled to keep up your grade point average, you may choose to either enroll in a master's program or pursue an “academic enhancer” post-baccalaureate program. These programs may offer the opportunity to engage in shadowing, volunteer work, MCAT review, getting clinical experience, and even retaking the MCAT.
- Save money and limit financial stress: 85% of medical school graduates have educational debt, averaging $264,519 in 2024. During a gap year, students have the opportunity to repay existing debt from their undergraduate careers and set aside money to act as a cushion for the cost of medical school. Many students have not had the privilege of having parental or external financial support, making payment not only a more difficult process but also an inequitable one.
Spend time reflecting and recharging: The pre-medical years are no easy task, with the application process adding additional layers to that pre-existing stress. According to an NIH study on burnout, premedical students who experience burnout during their undergraduate careers are more likely to depart from a medical career path. In other words, prioritizing mental well-being is a key item for medical students and those preparing to apply to medical school.
Improve emotional intelligence: While you are now in a phase of “adult life,” taking a gap year can allow you to experience life as an adult outside of a structured school setting. Not only is emotional intelligence valuable for working with future patients, but it is also a guiding ability in working within a team. A University of Manchester study found that residents who took a gap year before medical school scored higher in levels of empathy, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
From improving medical school applications and helping students with pre-existing financial stressors to serving as a period to recharge and improve core soft skills, the benefits of taking a gap year (or years) prove to be beneficial for some.
But is taking a gap year what’s best for everyone? Not necessarily. The decision to take a gap year is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and taking a gap year can also come with its own set of potential pitfalls. If a gap year is not used as an attempt to gain meaningful experiences, some students may experience a loss of focus and a harder readjustment to student life in the future. In other words, don’t fall into the gap; build a bridge from your undergraduate to your medical school application.
At the end of the day, a gap year isn’t a detour; it’s a thoughtful decision that is unique to you. Choosing to take a pause before taking a step forward takes courage. For many aspiring health professionals, this time can serve as a time to strengthen an application or gain clinical or research experience.
Whether you choose to dive right into medical school or take time to work, save money, grow interpersonally, or simply take a pause, your path is still valid, still forward, and still yours.