…in regard to “Also, how would taking an extra year affect your MCAT?” - I do not know, but I would predict that taking gap year would affect MCAT score negatively. D. made sure to take MCAT 2 weeks (she regretted such a long break later, she complained that it cut her summer time) after her finals in Physics and one of those upper Bio classes that are helpful on MCAT (either physiology or genetics). She said that this way, the material was still fresh in her head. She was not much into Physics, her favorite was Gen. Chen, she did not need to study Gen. Chem. for the MCAT at all.