Do adcoms value non-medical career experience?

[markconn]

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My personal case:

I started worked as an intern at several software companies since my junior year of high school, and have been a contractor with my current company for the last 3 years. Quite a while ago I decided that I did not want to work in software, but I kept the job because, 1. The pay and flexibility worked well, and 2. It allowed me to be productive in a way that pouring over a textbook didn't

I feel that this side-career taught me numerous things (leadership, professionalism, yada, yada), but will adcoms see it the same way? Or, will it come off as a simple college side job - or worse, a lack of dedication to medice?

Essentially, how much emphasis should I place on this in my application?

I plan on applying MD/PhD for bioengineering, it that makes any difference.

 

[BA11]

Yes, they value non-medical jobs/volunteer work. It certainly can't hurt your application if that's what you're asking.

 

[Whatyousay]

For MD - yes.

For MD/PhD - it's really all about your research experience (assuming your GPA/MCAT are high enough).

 

[Myuu]

My personal case:

I started worked as an intern at several software companies since my junior year of high school, and have been a contractor with my current company for the last 3 years. Quite a while ago I decided that I did not want to work in software, but I kept the job because, 1. The pay and flexibility worked well, and 2. It allowed me to be productive in a way that pouring over a textbook didn't

I feel that this side-career taught me numerous things (leadership, professionalism, yada, yada), but will adcoms see it the same way? Or, will it come off as a simple college side job - or worse, a lack of dedication to medice?

Essentially, how much emphasis should I place on this in my application?

I plan on applying MD/PhD for bioengineering, it that makes any difference.

One of my classmates did IT security for 10 or so years before he applied.🙂

 

[LizzyM]

For MD - yes.

For MD/PhD - it's really all about your research experience (assuming your GPA/MCAT are high enough).

For MD/PhD it is all about research experience that fits well with the research opportunities at that school. If you have already had experience in a similar lab, or if you already have learned some of the skills and techniques used in that lab, you have a better chance than someone whose research experience is not applicable to the labs at the medical school you're looking at.

If you were to apply to a school that does research that involves software for medical technology or bioinformatics, your work experience might be highly valued. If you were looking at a school that has a big focus on immunology/virology it might not be as important.

In any case, you really should list it as it was a major use of your time and otherwise it looks as if you spent a fair amount of time goofing off (otherwise unaccounted for).

 

[odysseus88]

My personal case:

I started worked as an intern at several software companies since my junior year of high school, and have been a contractor with my current company for the last 3 years. Quite a while ago I decided that I did not want to work in software, but I kept the job because, 1. The pay and flexibility worked well, and 2. It allowed me to be productive in a way that pouring over a textbook didn't

I feel that this side-career taught me numerous things (leadership, professionalism, yada, yada), but will adcoms see it the same way? Or, will it come off as a simple college side job - or worse, a lack of dedication to medice?

Essentially, how much emphasis should I place on this in my application?

I plan on applying MD/PhD for bioengineering, it that makes any difference.

This depends on your ability to let them see it that way. Make sure you convey effectively what you just told us. Adcoms see quite a range of experiences. It's how you can make it memorable to them that matters. Use this to paint yourself overall as an effective individual.