You apply to medical/dental school in June, about 16 months before your desired matriculation date. So to take one glide year, you apply in June after graduation and interview at schools from about August through March. While schools’ stated deadlines are not until the fall, applying early in the summer gives you the best chance at admission.

 Glide year, gap year, opportunity year, bridge year—all are terms for the time taken between graduation and matriculation into health professions school. We prefer “glide year” because it evokes the image of a smooth transition from one phase of life to another, during which you pursue activities that may assist in that transition, whereas “gap” sounds like a break or a hole. Whatever term you’re most comfortable with is fine—they’re used interchangeably.

In the past five years (2020-2024), about 20% of Princeton applicants started medical school directly after graduation (10% through the regular admission process and 10% through sophomore early assurance programs.) About 53% took 1-2 glide years, and about 26% took three or more years between graduation and medical school matriculation.

There are aspects of the Princeton experience that lend themselves to applying after senior year and taking a glide year:

• Your senior thesis is a significant accomplishment; having it on the application, along with a letter from your thesis adviser, can be meaningful.
• The transition to Princeton can be a steep climb. Applying with a glide year allows more time to demonstrate academic ability because all four years of grades will be on your application.
• Taking the MCAT and applying take a significant amount of time that may be better spread over another year.
• A student may not have had as much time to leave the “Princeton bubble” and gain real-world experience as they would like, so the year can be a chance to mature and grow away from an academic environment (it’s hard to describe how meaningful this is until you have done it, but if you ask students who have taken a year or two off, this is one of the first things they say about the benefit of doing so).
• Finally, Princeton is tough, emotionally and intellectually, and taking some time to refresh before jumping into the rigors of medical school can help you start with more energy and abilty to do your best.

According to the 2023 Matriculating Student Questionnaire administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, about 73% of first-year medical students took one or more years between graduation and medical school matriculation.

First, focus on filling any potential gaps in your candidacy. Then, seek opportunities that will fit into your narrative and inform your future in your chosen profession.

Each applicant brings different strengths and distinguishing qualities to their application and many juniors who apply for direct entry are successful in the application process—we’re happy to talk with you about your candidacy and give you feedback about your readiness in consideration of your goals.

Definitely! If you take one glide year, you will prepare your application as a senior and submit your application right around graduation. After that, we are available by phone and zoom, and all application resources are posted online. If you meet our committee letter eligibility, which includes having graduated within five years of applying, we can support you with our letter. If you don’t meet our criteria, we will still support you with advice and guidance.