Are gap years before med school viewed positively?

I'm thinking about taking a gap year before applying to medical school to gain more experience and maybe travel a bit. Do med school admissions committees usually see this as a plus, or could it hurt my application?

Absolutely, gap years can be seen as a positive by medical school admissions committees, provided you use the time wisely. Many students take gap years to bolster their applications with additional experiences, such as research, medical scribing, or other relevant clinical work.

If you can demonstrate significant personal or professional development during your gap year, such as gaining healthcare exposure, enhancing cultural competency through travel, or engaging in meaningful volunteer activities, this can indeed strengthen your application. Furthermore, if you use this time to reflect on your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine and can articulate this well in your application, your gap year could give you an advantage.

It's all about how you frame your experiences and the skills or insights you gained. For example, if you volunteered at a clinic abroad, you could discuss how that taught you about healthcare disparities or improved your communication skills with non-English speakers, both of which are important in the medical field.

Remember, the key is to stay engaged in activities related to healthcare or personal growth, so it's evident to the admissions committee why you chose to take a gap year and how it has prepared you for the rigors of medical school.