A spare year

[PuKcAo]

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If i were to prolong application a year just for the life experience what are some things I could do. Remember good life experience and it wouldn't hurt if it looked good on an app. I know I need to do what I want to do but I'm just lookin for ideas.

Anyone know anything about the peace corp-how does it look on an app?

 

[skypilot]

Peace Corps is awesome but they require a two year committment. There are other projects you could do for a year instead. I think there is a book on alternatives to the peace corps. You could probably google it.

There are also lots of research projects you could participate in especially if you can find funding.

 

[PuKcAo]

One year is a long time--two is forever. I dont think I could handle that.

 

[calstudent]

peace corps is awesome. if you want a "mini peace corps," try amigos de las americas.
teach 4 america is AWESOME too, but that would be 2 years also.
for one year, get a job in something you are REALLY passionate about, and i guarantee it will help your application--whatever it is, research, biotech, community health, etc. (i dunno how easy/tough it is to get these jobs, though)

 

[Khenon]

Get involved in any kind of volunteer opportunity like your church, local shelter, school, politics, etc. I would do this while holding a job though, to show you can juggle multiple responsibilities. Oh, and study for the MCAT!! 🙂 If you've got that much time, there's not much of an excuse to do poorly on the MCAT, and a high MCAT score will look REALLY good on your application. 🙂

 

[biendesalud]

Google: international development volunteer program. I didn't dig too deep, but maybe you can find something that fits.

 

[EllieElle]

calstudent is right- find something that you're going to be passionate about! There's no law that says you *must* do research, by the way, and I have several friends who are quite miserable this year with their research jobs while I'm teaching (at a private high school) and I'm quite happy with that.

A word of advice: if you decide to spend this year in a pursuit completely unrelated to medicine (e.g. climbing Mt. Everest or something), make sure that you can "defend" your choice in front of an interviewer.

 

[dr_pepper]

Check out AmeriCorps - I believe you can do it for just one year.