Confused about Gap Year Options

[EasternMer]

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Right now, I'm a trainee teacher studying for the MCAT. I plan on applying this summer, so a gap year might not have much affect on my application cycle.

However, I am confused because I was offered two, seemingly equally wonderful opportunities for next year.

My first one was working as a Middle School Physical Sciences Teacher at the Parochial School I teach for.

The second is working as a Biology Research Assistant at UT-Austin.

Both pay ~45K.. My PS and essays are heavily slated towards my teaching experiences with middle schoolers. Also, I think schools would like to hire a teacher more than another researcher. But, teaching is difficult, and research is, for the most part easy.

I'm confused because I don't want to ruin my one "IT" factor during the app cycle. Also, I am applying selectively to about 5 MD/PhD programs.

 

[caffeinemia]

Oh - you're learning something about life now. It's called opportunity cost and there is no perfect choice. Go with your heart, you will regret it less and the outcome will be the same. Also, hire me to help you spin it on your personal statement. (Duh).

 

[SkipJunior]

Right now, I'm a trainee teacher studying for the MCAT. I plan on applying this summer, so a gap year might not have much affect on my application cycle.

However, I am confused because I was offered two, seemingly equally wonderful opportunities for next year.

My first one was working as a Middle School Physical Sciences Teacher at the Parochial School I teach for.

The second is working as a Biology Research Assistant at UT-Austin.

Both pay ~45K.. My PS and essays are heavily slated towards my teaching experiences with middle schoolers. Also, I think schools would like to hire a teacher more than another researcher. But, teaching is difficult, and research is, for the most part easy.

I'm confused because I don't want to ruin my one "IT" factor during the app cycle. Also, I am applying selectively to about 5 MD/PhD programs.

MD/PhD programs value extensive research experience. Do you have that already? If not, I suggest you choose the RA option.

 

[EasternMer]

MD/PhD programs value extensive research experience. Do you have that already? If not, I suggest you choose the RA option.

Yeah, I have about 4 years of Research Experience. Enough presentations and a pub to get me through I believe.

 

[SkipJunior]

Yeah, I have about 4 years of Research Experience. Enough presentations and a pub to get me through I believe.

do you think you will be able to do something research oriented while also working as a teacher?

You may be asked during your md-phd interviews why you weren't doing research during your application cycle? why is the focus of your application on teaching and not research?

 

[EasternMer]

do you think you will be able to do something research oriented while also working as a teacher?

You may be asked during your md-phd interviews why you weren't doing research during your application cycle? why is the focus of your application on teaching and not research?

Well, I'm a teacher, and all my research has been on education. But, a summer research experience changed my mind, and now I want to learn more about Regenerative Medicine.

But, my research is sparse in that area. That's ok because the programs I'm applying to like to see research experience in the sciences or non-sciences, without a specific undergraduate focus on your intended graduate research area.

And no way jose. Teaching is the most time consuming job I can imagine, the busy work reproduces everyday and then you end up with like 256 things on your checklist haha. Endless. Absolutely endless.

 

[SkipJunior]

have you considered do-phd like that offered in tcom and michigan state-com?

 

[EasternMer]

have you considered do-phd like that offered in tcom and michigan state-com?

Not really. Tbh, I'm not applying DO this cycle. If I don't get in, I'm going to try to work on my application, and reapply MD/DO, but for now, I want to shoot for the stars!