Updated 7/31/2023
Whether you call it a gap, glide, or bridge year...this is the time between the completion of your bachelor's degree and your future health professions program. You may want to use this time to enhance your application, do something meaningful, and/or gain more exposure to healthcare.
Everyone's journey/timeline looks different from each other. We encourage you to meet with your advisor to discuss if a gap/bridge year may be for you to improve your academics or pursue employment, volunteer, research, or other meaningful activities before applying to health professions school. This page is not comprehensive of all opportunities you could consider for your gap year and is meant to serve as a starting point. Helpful articles:
Gap Year and Short-Term Post-Graduate Opportunities (by Yale University)
International Internship and Gap Year Opportunities (by Calvin College)
Alumni Gap Year Panel (recorded on April 15, 2021)
This panel featured three alumni:
Tolulope Akinshola, a medical student and the president of Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
Joey Harmon who has been accepted to several programs and is starting medical school Fall 2021
Amanda Miller who transferred to USciences, is taking a gap year, and in the 2021-2022 application cycle
"Mind the Gap" Year Alumni Panel (recorded on May 9, 2022)
You may have heard people talking about a "Gap Year" - what is it, how is it beneficial, and is it right for you? Did you know that 44% of entering medical students in 2019 took one or more gap years!? In fact, that number is likely rising as this path is becoming more and more attractive to application committees. This panel featured three alumni:
James Lonnay, who completed a Master of Biomedical Sciences at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kevin Chao, who sought out clinical experience during his gap year and just completed his first year at Drexel University College of Medicine
Pallavi Kawatra, who completed a research technician gap year and will start medical school in the fall of 2022
Before applying to medical school, you may want to consider taking at least a year off prior to applying in order to strengthen your academic profile. A post-baccalaureate program is a program of study at the undergraduate or graduate level, which prepares students who have already earned a bachelor's degree to be more competitive in the process of applying to health professions schools. Common reasons students pursue a post-bacc program: improve science GPA (grade enhancer) or take necessary prerequisite coursework (for career changers). Learn more about FAQs about post-bacc programs here.
Some considerations when looking for a post-bacc program to suit your needs:
Undergraduate vs. Graduate-level courses
Do you receive a certificate or masters degree?
Cost of the program
Length of time to complete
Does it require a minimum undergraduate GPA?
Does it require an MCAT score to apply?
Does the program offer linkage agreements or affiliations with health professions schools? (e.g. guaranteed interview for maintaining a certain GPA)
A starting point to search for post-bacc programs (not all may be listed):
AAMC’s Postbacc Database, search by state, public/private, certificate, program focus, and graduate/undergraduate level
PostBacCAS: search for post-bacc programs that participate in this centralized application service to help you complete academic prerequisites for admission to different health professions programs. Programs that do not participate in PostBacCAS handle their application processes separately.
Listen to this podcast and learn what post-bacc programs are for, why someone might apply to one to prepare for health professions school, and about the different types of post-bacc programs. Two directors of such programs Post-Bac from Bryn Mawr and Washington University in St. Louis serve in admissions roles as well and share what it means to be an “Unconditional Applicant.”
Some of our pre-health alumni have pursued the following post-bacc or graduate programs on their way to health professions programs. Some may include test prep, a linkage agreement, committee letter, etc.
Drexel University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - MS in Biomedical Sciences (2 years) or Certificate (1 year)
Touro College - MS (1 year)
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine - MBS (1 year)
Rowan University - MBS (2 years)
Temple University - Basic Core in Health Sciences or Advanced Core in Health Sciences (\
Jefferson University - Postbaccalaureate Pre-Professional Program (P4)
University of Pennsylvania - Pre-Health Core Studies or Pre-Health Specialized Studies
Becoming a Medical Scribe is a common employment opportunity for pre-health students to gain experience in healthcare settings. Assist physicians of clerical or secretarial duties so they can focus more directly on clinical care. The scribe is an unlicensed person and exclusively non-clinical. They do not touch patients and do not engage in any type of patient care. A scribe’s role is limited to documentation and efficiency management for the physician. The scribe observes the physician during patient encounters and performs documentation on the physician’s behalf. Under the direction of the physician, they enter information into the patient’s electronic or written chart in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. All documentation is reviewed and edited by the physician. It is signed with an attestation by the provider that the scribed chart accurately reflects all work, treatment, procedures, and medical decision making performed by them. These positions may be part-time or full-time positions. See the organizations below that may be hiring a medical scribe:
See current openings across primary care centers in Philadelphia, including medical scribe, medical assistant, & community health worker.
Work as a Clinical Assistant at their various locations in PA and NJ
See current openings, including full time Medical Scribe positions in the greater Philadelphia region
See current openings, including Medical Scribe positions across
ScribeAmerica's Medical Scribe positions require a 1-year commitment:
part time: 20+ hrs/week (2-3 shifts)
full time: 36+ hrs/week (3-5 shifts)
Info session recording for USciences about where scribes work, expectations, how to apply, the training process, increasing your chances of placement, and FAQs.
Contact Recruiter: Bridget McNierney
Please note that these are considered service rather than employment because they pay a living allowance with benefits rather than a salary. Visit Idealist.org database for volunteer opportunities worldwide or check out some of these opportunities for your gap year:
The AmeriCorps VISTA service program works with local nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the U.S. organizations to fight poverty.
Register for an upcoming info session on Wednesdays at 2 pm
FEMA Corps members travel throughout one of five regions in the United States completing service projects relating to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities
Habitat AmeriCorps is part of the growing national service movement. In partnership with Habitat organizations throughout the U.S., our program places AmeriCorps members to serve in the field and in the office to build and repair homes, expand housing services and engage the community. A service term with Habitat provides hands-on nonprofit experience that allows members to learn and develop lifelong skills and confidence. Our members serve a critical role in helping Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.
Global Health Fellows work with high-impact health organizations in yearlong paid positions. Throughout the year, they engage in intensive leadership development and community building, striving to embody our leadership practices as they work to address health inequities across the global health field.
National Health Corps: This Americorps program in Philadelphia recruits, trains, and places emerging leaders in resource-limited organizations to help build healthy communities by providing health education and health access to under-served individuals.
While participating in a year of service, Bon Secours Ministry Volunteers live together in an intentional community, commit to a simple lifestyle, and reflect on service and justice throughout the year. Volunteers share meals, prayer, social activities, and household chores. All Bon Secours ministry volunteers receive an orientation and participate in three retreats during the year to enrich and deepen their service experience.
Information about the application process can be found here, and you can also review the Campus Advocate Toolkit below.
BSVM Campus Advocate Toolkit_edt_030723.pdf
City Year is an education-focused organization founded in 1988 dedicated to helping students and schools succeed. City Year partners with public schools in 29 urban, high-poverty communities across the U.S.
Bridging the Gaps (BTG) includes the Community Health Internship Program (BTG CHIP) in all locations as well as two additional components in Philadelphia: the BTG Seminar Series and the BTG Clinical Program. Each academic year, students representing health and social service disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work, creative arts in therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacology, public health, law, physician assistant, and related fields, take part in BTG.
Become a National Alliance of Research Associates Programs (NARAP) Chief Research Associate at an affiliate hospital around the U.S. (including Jefferson) and volunteer 20 hours/week to conduct clinical research in the Department of Emergency Medicine!
