Medicine Gap Year...

So... I've received 1/4 of my med offers so far (interviewed with all). And i am 10000% committed to studying medicine. But, the past couple months i've had a strong urge to volunteer abroad and help developing areas with education, childcare, equality and also (ideally) explore and help out with medical fields in other countries. I have been shoving this feeling down but recently i feel like if I don't do something about it I'll really regret it. So... a huge part of me is considering taking a gap year to fulfil this dream before starting uni (which will be intense). I wouldn't reapply because we all know how hard the med application process is, and would contact unis to defer. But i'm really unsure if this is a good idea, i'll be amongst the oldest of the first year students, and i may get fomo seeing all my friends head off to uni. UGH IDK!!! help.

If you can defer (unis have been known to reject deferral requests) and if you can find a place in which you will be allowed to volunteer abroad in a medical setting (as you are lacking proper medical training still, this is a pretty big if), then go for it. Few people care about age, I am the second oldest in my cohort, very good friends with the oldest one and you know what? Actually few people realise our age, and literally nobody cares we are the oldest Plus there are lots of gap year students in all degrees, but I'd imagine they are particularly common in medicine. I didn't really get fomo when I took a gap year because I was busy doing my own thing too, and I went to uni at the end of it, so no harm, no foul!