Taking a gap year before starting medical school can be a highly productive alternative to the traditional straight-through route. This time can be used to gain work experience, boost your MCAT score, perfect your essays and compile all components for your medical school applications, and much more!

Dual degree medical programs, such as Physician-Scientist programs, offer ambitious and curious students the opportunity to become leaders and experts in a particular field of study that is related to healthcare.

Congratulations, you have been accepted into medical school! After more than a year studying for the MCAT, writing countless essays, and practicing for interviews—not to mention fulfilling all the pre-med requirements during college—your hard work has paid off.