You might be surprised to learn that gap years between undergraduate studies and medical school are becoming increasingly common. According to the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) 2023 Matriculating Student Questionnaire, 73.2% of new, incoming matriculants had at least one gap year between undergrad and medical school.
Whether taken by choice or due to an unsuccessful application, a gap year can provide valuable opportunities for both your personal and professional growth.
When used correctly, a gap year can enhance your medical school application and better prepare you to become a doctor by allowing you to gain relevant experience, improve your GPA, and explore your interests in depth. However, the key is to use this time purposefully; failing to do so may result in a more negative outcome.
Let’s talk about the pros and cons of taking a gap year before medical school, the most productive ways to spend one, and if it can improve your med school application.
Read Next: Top AAMC Resources for Getting into Medical School
Most AdComs (admissions committee members) now expect to see gap years. Of course, they accept some students straight from undergrad, but taking gap years can only help you as long as you’re dedicating them to improving yourself, your application, and your future. Here are the top benefits of taking a gap year:
Does a gap year look bad? While a gap year can offer valuable opportunities, it can also present drawbacks if not managed well. If the time is not used productively — such as by failing to enhance your academic record, gain relevant experience, or develop key skills — it could negatively impact your medical school application process.
Additionally, admissions committees could potentially view an unproductive gap year as a lack of commitment or focus. To avoid this, ensure that your gap year is purposeful and demonstrates growth, readiness, and a clear commitment to a career in medicine.
Quite honestly, though, the only scenario where taking a gap year is bad for medical school and doesn’t help is if you don’t use it to explore another career or to build your pre-med extracurricular portfolio.
In fact, many med schools are seeing the benefit gap years can provide to future applicants, if managed well, and some are even recommending students take them.
A gap year can significantly enhance your medical school application by demonstrating maturity, responsibility, and a thoughtful approach to your career path. It provides an opportunity to boost your GPA, complete additional coursework, and gain valuable experiences that reflect your commitment to medicine.
Additionally, it helps you develop skills such as compassion and humility, which are highly valued by admissions committees.
If you’re wondering what to do during your gap year before medical school, here are 6 things that can help improve your med school application.
Use your gap year to gain more experience in the medical field, including:
It’s important to note, too, that working in the clinical and research fields can help you make connections with professionals who can serve as mentors and may even provide you with future letters of recommendation. This is just another way to take advantage of this extra time outside of school.
This isn’t really a secret, but it’s important to include, as it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of — especially if your scores weren’t so hot the first time around and you need to retake it!
Consider exploring new study techniques and habits that differ from those you used previously. Hiring a tutor or adopting innovative study methods can help refresh your approach and deepen your understanding. Embracing different ways of learning during this time will improve your adaptability and readiness for the diverse challenges and coursework you’ll encounter in your medical education.
Pre-meds should always be involved in at least one volunteering activity, even if they’re working full time in research or clinical during their year off. Great opportunities include volunteering at a clinic, senior center, local healthcare nonprofits, or even with sustainable international volunteering organizations.
A note on international volunteering: The knowledge you obtain from volunteering internationally can be extremely valuable when you’re a medical student and working with patients from different backgrounds and cultures. You may even discover some ways that healthcare could or should be implemented into our healthcare ecosystems based on what you observe during travel.
I encourage students to thoughtfully consider organizations that operate sustainably and do not perpetuate systems of white saviorism or short-term “missions.”
Use your gap year to get some great volunteering experience that not only boosts your med school application, but will also make you a more robust physician.
Consider using your gap year to take additional coursework through a post-baccalaureate program or master’s degree. Focus on required or recommended classes you missed during undergrad, or use this time to enhance your GPA by excelling in upper-level science courses.
A post-bacc or master’s degree can be a big commitment, both time- and money-wise, so you should consider this option carefully before making a final decision. In general, they’re worth the time, energy, and money if you need to fulfill extracurricular requirements or boost your GPA. Otherwise, you’re probably better off spending your gap year doing research or clinical work.
Read Next: The 32-Hour Rule: Myth or Fact? Plus, Med Schools that Use It
Medical schools often like applicants who have spent time in another profession. Teaching experience is a great lead-in to a medical career, as is any STEM profession like engineering or software. A business background would probably be appreciated, and military experience is also super valued by AdComs.
However, if you use gap years to pursue other career options, keep in mind that you will also need service and volunteer experience, shadowing hours, and clinical experience, just like any other applicant. Your experiences should collectively show that you understand the ultimate career you’re getting into and that you’ve put the expected time and effort into preparing for it.
Read Next: 2025/26 TMDSAS Application Guide for Prospective Doctors
Whether you are filling out the Work and Activities section on the AMCAS or talking to an admissions committee during an interview as a pre-med, there are some key points to remember when it comes to talking about your gap year and your experiences during it.
Honesty is the best policy, and that’s especially true when it comes to discussing your gap year(s) and experiences. You obviously don’t want to sell yourself short, but you also don’t want to exaggerate your accomplishments to the point where your story ends up being incredibly distorted. Find a happy medium using empowering language said as truthfully as possible.
Don’t overshare. While honesty is always the best policy, that doesn’t mean you need to dwell on the weak points of your application. Remember that if you’ve received an interview invite, it means that the admissions committee has deemed your application acceptable on paper. (The purpose of the interview is to screen for soft skills, not pick apart your CV.)
Therefore, you should focus on being personable and highlight your qualifications for med school. If the interviewer asks about a weak point, like a missing extracurricular or an MCAT retake, of course you should address it honestly and explain what you learned from it. But there’s no need to proactively point it out in your essays or in an interview.
The exception to this rule is if you are a reapplicant who didn’t get accepted the first time around. If that’s the case, the best strategy is to mention overcoming any weak points in your application and interview as part of your story as a pre-med. Remember — over half of applicants in a given year don’t get accepted to med school. AdComs are used to dealing with re-applicants, so don’t be embarrassed. Instead, explain how you’ve strengthened your candidacy.
Communicating your gap year experiences well in both writing and interviews is key. You want to write and speak coherently and clearly while also being engaging and relatable.
Consider writing down bulleted outlines of some of the growth experience you’ve had before writing a personal statement or stepping into an interview. This gives you a chance to organize your thoughts and, hopefully, communicate them well in the future.
Additionally, it’s important to think of your skills and life experiences outside of academics and the medical realm that you may have acquired and how they translate to your role as a future physician. For example, if you’ve been raising a family during your gap years, then you’ve learned the value of time management and organization. Make sure to highlight these types of experiences and skills during your interview.
Medical school admissions may be looking for certain academic and application criteria, but they also want to know what makes you stand out from other applicants. Reflect on and discuss what makes you unique, what makes you a valuable addition to the school, and what you have to offer when writing your personal statement, secondaries, and during interviews.
Our quirks, non-traditional choices, and unique ways of thinking can often serve as some of our greatest strengths.
Read Next: The Best Medical Schools for Non-Traditional Applicants (2025)
According to AAMC’s 2023 Matriculating Student Questionnaire, 73.2% of incoming medical students took at least one gap year between the time that they completed undergrad and started med school. This is an increase of 6.9% from 2020, where it was reported that 66.3% of matriculating med students took at least one gap year.
So, it’s safe to say that more than half of matriculating students take one gap year (or multiple).
When you finish your undergraduate program, your federal student loans will enter into a grace period, which is typically about 6 months long. During this time, no payments are required.
However, after the grace period runs out, you will need to start repaying your federal loans. Loan servicers will often provide a payment schedule at least 30 days before your first after-grace-period payment is due.
Federal loans offer several reduced repayment options (including for $0 payments) based on your income and certain work situations. If you’ll be making a small income during your gap years, you may qualify for deferred payments or a reduced-cost repayment plan during this time.
Yes, you can take the MCAT before starting your gap year. Many students choose to take the exam in the spring or summer before their senior year of college. This allows them to spend the year after graduation applying to medical school while simultaneously building up their pre-med experience. Remember — you should continue your extracurriculars during your application year. That way, you can send relevant updates to AdComs that demonstrate your progress.
Alternatively, many students opt to take the MCAT the summer after graduating. This sets them up to apply the following cycle, which means taking two gap years between undergrad and medical school. These two extra years of experience will only improve their chances, as long as they are spent wisely.
Ready to elevate your medical school application to the next level? Partner with MedSchoolCoach to craft an unforgettable application that highlights your strengths and sets you apart from other applicants.
Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.
Table of Contents The extracurriculars you choose and the experience they provide are one of the most important parts of[...]
Table of Contents You might be surprised to learn that gap years between undergraduate studies and medical school are becoming[...]
Check our our list of the medical schools in Ohio to find median GPA and MCAT, and tuition rates to[...]
Thinking about applying to medical school? Discover what high school students need to know about obtaining a career in medicine.
DownloadGet ready for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 with this free guide to study planning and resource utilization.
Download