Best way to spend gap year?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

bubleeshaark

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Hey guys,

I'm sure there are threads like this, but I just want to go over my work/experiences and see what you guys say I need to do.

GPA: 3.46
MCAT: 31M (9V,10,P,12B)
Pre😛ediatrician

Volunteer
I have gone on a one-week nonmedical mission trip to the Yakama Natives annually for the past 6 years. I volunteer at my church all the time (you could say its my life): president of our young adult group, volunteered at youth summer camps, led morning service for a couple terms, play bass for worship, etc. Do I need more volunteer outside of my church?

Clinical:
I have no clinical experience and that is what I am definitely going to focus on for this gap year (I am volunteering at the children's hospital at Sacred Heart and I am going to look for shadowing a pediatrician!).

What additional things I should do? Should I become a CNA or something like that?

Academia:
I would love to get my GPA over that threshold of 3.5, but I would have to spend another 2.5K for spring quarter to do that. I got a 1.4 in a Field Botany class. If I retook that and got a 4.0 it would alone bump me to a 3.54.

Research:
I sort of have research. I don't have any published papers or anything. I took a class on researching where my group and I researched the effects of prenatal vitamins on mens scalp hair growth. (Results would have been positive if one of our subjects took the WHOLE dose instead of just half). I'm not sure if I can list that though. Then I am going to be doing more research for my Senior Capstone this winter. Do those research experiences "count"?

Should I get more research experience? I don't want a PhD; I just want my MD. I know a professor that is doing some cool research on dopamine receptors and such, and he might still be taking 'helpers' (he offered for one of my classes that anybody could help him last fall.)

Anyways, that is basically my application. I want to make the most of this year, so please give me good suggestions!!
 
Hey guys,

I'm sure there are threads like this, but I just want to go over my work/experiences and see what you guys say I need to do.

GPA: 3.46
MCAT: 31M (9V,10,P,12B)
Pre😛ediatrician

Volunteer
I have gone on a one-week nonmedical mission trip to the Yakama Natives annually for the past 6 years. I volunteer at my church all the time (you could say its my life): president of our young adult group, volunteered at youth summer camps, led morning service for a couple terms, play bass for worship, etc. Do I need more volunteer outside of my church?

Clinical:
I have no clinical experience and that is what I am definitely going to focus on for this gap year (I am volunteering at the children's hospital at Sacred Heart and I am going to look for shadowing a pediatrician!).

What additional things I should do? Should I become a CNA or something like that?

Academia:
I would love to get my GPA over that threshold of 3.5, but I would have to spend another 2.5K for spring quarter to do that. I got a 1.4 in a Field Botany class. If I retook that and got a 4.0 it would alone bump me to a 3.54.

Research:
I sort of have research. I don't have any published papers or anything. I took a class on researching where my group and I researched the effects of prenatal vitamins on mens scalp hair growth. (Results would have been positive if one of our subjects took the WHOLE dose instead of just half). I'm not sure if I can list that though. Then I am going to be doing more research for my Senior Capstone this winter. Do those research experiences "count"?

Should I get more research experience? I don't want a PhD; I just want my MD. I know a professor that is doing some cool research on dopamine receptors and such, and he might still be taking 'helpers' (he offered for one of my classes that anybody could help him last fall.)

Anyways, that is basically my application. I want to make the most of this year, so please give me good suggestions!!

If you can retake that field botany class I would do that, maybe if you get certified as a CNA and work a bit you can earn enough money to retake that class to get you at a 3.5

For clinical experience I know there are random jobs you can find working in an ER such as scribing or even just being a secretary or clerk. And then there are the other jobs that you need certification for like ER tech, CNA, phlebotomy. (Although I'm not sure if ER tech's have to be certified EMT's it depends on the state). Also, many jobs in hospitals just require certification in BLS which I believe doesn't take too long to get. If you become an EMT you can also volunteer for an ambulance, many squads are willing to pay for the course as long as you are willing to volunteer with them upon receiving your certification so that is a pretty good deal. Your best bet is to look up jobs at your local hospital and see what kind of certification they require. If you have a bachelor's degree, their might even be leadership positions available like clinical trial coordinator's or working for a Cancer Institute. Stuff like that.

Best of luck!
 
Top