Endoscopy tech vs. optometric tech during gap year?

[jjh18]

I am taking a gap year before hopefully starting medical school, and I'm torn between two job offers as either an endoscopy tech or an optometrist tech. As an endoscopy tech, I would basically be preparing and cleaning the procedure rooms and assisting the doctors and nurses during the endoscopy procedures. As an optometrist tech, I would be doing all the testing (diagnostic, vision screenings, etc.) before the optometrist sees the patient. Which job do you think would be looked at more favorably in terms of clinical experience by admissions committees? I know optometrist techs aren't technically working in a "medical" office, but the clinic I interviewed at also gets a lot of diabetic and glaucoma patients who need treatment. Would either job be a good choice? Any input would be appreciated, thank you!

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[Cornfed101]

I currently work as an ophthalmic tech, and I work with optometrists as well. While sometimes there is an overlap in patients, you see a lot more pathologies with the ophthalmologists. I think the endoscopy tech job would be beneficial because you are working with physicians as opposed to ODs. If you prefer one position over the other, I think both are good clinical experience.

 

[Catalystik]

I am taking a gap year before hopefully starting medical school, and I'm torn between two job offers as either an endoscopy tech or an optometrist tech. As an endoscopy tech, I would basically be preparing and cleaning the procedure rooms and assisting the doctors and nurses during the endoscopy procedures. As an optometrist tech, I would be doing all the testing (diagnostic, vision screenings, etc.) before the optometrist sees the patient. Which job do you think would be looked at more favorably in terms of clinical experience by admissions committees? I know optometrist techs aren't technically working in a "medical" office, but the clinic I interviewed at also gets a lot of diabetic and glaucoma patients who need treatment. Would either job be a good choice? Any input would be appreciated, thank you!

Which seems more interesting to you. Which one pays better?

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Which do you feel more strongly about? I keep repeating this with every post like this. You don't need to overthink this. You could work at Burger King and volunteer at a hospice during your gap year and if you write about it in a meaningful and honest way, it really doesn't matter. AdComs know every applicant has different circumstances for their choices.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

At one of my OR tech jobs, we did a lot of work in the endo suite. I always thought it was super cool. Really cool experience and you’re very intimately involved in patient care. We also got to do a lot of the scoping (like pushing scope—the docs drove the camera).