Your gap year can include a wide variety of activities, from clinical to research to volunteering or even working – the important thing is that you are able to tell your story and continue to gain competencies that you feel may be lacking in your application. Check out those competencies here: AAMC/ADEA/AAVMC.
In her gap year, Faye MacDonald ’24 has been serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA Community Health Project Coordinator. In the six months since beginning her position, she has been able to develop and initiate a public health campaign, manage a texting platform for individuals in substance use recovery, painted murals, and organized a community event for children and young families. While this type of position may not be clinical, she has found it to be a valuable experience – and was willing to share some of her thoughts with us!
Alyssa: Can you tell me a little more about why you decided to join AmeriCorps VISTA for your gap year?
Faye: Part of the reason why I chose AmeriCorps VISTA for my gap year was because of my past experiences working clinically at my host site and as an EMT in the same area. In these roles, I began to see patterns in the health challenges of residents living in a rural, medically underserved community. Before heading off to medical school I wanted to learn more about healthcare outreach and have a direct role in bettering the health of my community. I knew that learning about the health needs that many communities share and how to work towards solutions would be important later as a physician. I ultimately chose the Community Health Project Coordinator role under AmeriCorps VISTA because it was a unique, non-clinical, volunteer opportunity to become involved in community health and demonstrate my commitment to service.
A: How has your current position helped prepare you for medical school? How has taking a gap year in general helped prepare you?
F: I believe my current position has helped prepare me for medical school in several areas.
First, I’ve gained valuable real-world experience working with an underserved community, which has deepened my understanding of how social determinants impact health. Prospective medical school applicants are increasingly recognized for their community engagement and work with disadvantaged populations. In today’s diverse healthcare landscape, institutions seek candidates who are committed to promoting health equity, especially in situations where patients’ health may be influenced by factors beyond their control. Having this characteristic as an applicant I believe has made me stand out.
Second, as a VISTA fellow, I’ve taken on leadership roles ranging from managing interns to leading projects/presentations at the state government level. These experiences have allowed me to further develop my leadership and organizational skills.
Lastly, this position has offered me the flexibility to balance my medical school application commitments, travel, and spend time with family and friends before starting medical school- opportunities that other positions may not have provided.
Overall, I believe my gap year has enriched my personal and professional development, making me a more informed and well-rounded candidate for medical school.
A: What has been your most meaningful or memorable experience so far in your current position?
F: I can’t choose one experience, but to sum up what one of my weeks has looked like- I’ve curated messages for a texting platform that supports roughly 525 individuals in substance misuse recovery, designed and painted a community mural, and analyzed emergency department data to determine the prevalence of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (for which a diagnosis code is not utilized in practice) and hosted an event to get kids interested in the Vermont outdoors…again, all in the same week!
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This AmeriCorps VISTA position is located in Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. Individuals are given a modest living stipend ($25K for this position), a $7,400 educational stipend or a $1,800 cash award upon completion of their service year, and modest rent support in addition to 1 meal per day in the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center cafeteria. The position begins August 11, 2025. For more information or to send your resume, please contact vista.svhealthcare@gmail.com.
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Your gap year can include experiences like with VISTA or can be based in adding to your clinical or research experience, but the important thing is how your experience will contribute to your story and your application. No matter what you choose to do in your gap year though, just keep in mind that your application will be submitted in June of the year in which you are applying, so you would not be able to include a lot of detail on any gap year activities you have not started yet. But you can always include those in an interview!
If you want to talk more about a possible gap year or gap years, what you might do during that time, or your application timeline, check out Handshake to schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor.
