Gap Year?

I’m currently a junior who was planning on applying this summer. I have good extracurriculars (research leadership volunteering) and a high gpa (3.93). I don’t have the most shadowing hours but i’m working on that and I will be able to get to 100 by time of applying. I don’t have any experience yet working as a DA. I’ve been super stressed about applying this summer, and i’m wondering if anyone has advice on taking a gap year I don’t have my DAT score yet, but took it in november. I am really hoping to apply in state, and attend a public school but I am so scared about loans and the cost of attendance. I am thinking about taking a gap year and trying to save up like crazy to offset the amount of private loans I have to take out. Just wondering if anyone has advice or was in a similar experience. I don’t love the idea of it I would rather just go straight through like I was planning but with the change in federal loan amount I’m very very concerned.