Finding gap year programs in NY/NJ area HELP

[puma613]

Hello future doctors,
So I am a senior at the University of Delaware with a 3.71 GPA and am planning on taking my MCAT this upcoming January. I am graduating this May and while I am going to send in my applications for the entering class 2016, I have decided to take a gap year. I live in Northern Jersey and am desperately looking for research opportunities, fellowships, internships (paid or unpaid) in my area just to gain some experience and fill my time with something new. If anyone could point me in the direction of ANY program (I've looked into summer programs with NIH Pre-IRTA but have heard mixed reviews) that I could apply to I would really appreciate it because I have been having so much trouble actually finding anything to apply to.

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[FFH]

I would recommend the research associate program at St Luke Roosevelt Emergency department but that's more of a part time gig. Lots of opportunity to get published if you do extra work. But it's not paid. Any entry CRC job would be a good one since it usually pays well and it can pass as both clinical and research experience.

 

[Helse23]

Would you be able to commute to NYC? I just graduated in June. I applied to ~100 jobs in Chicago and got 5 responses. I applied to ~15 jobs at NYU Med Center, Columbia, Cornell, and Memorial Sloan Kettering and I was offered 6 interviews within 2 days of submitting my applications. There are a lot of jobs in NYC, but they pay average salaries for new grads ($35,000-39,000) so you'll either be commuting from home (like me) or spending all your money on living expenses.

 

[FFH]

Would you be able to commute to NYC? I just graduated in June. I applied to ~100 jobs in Chicago and got 5 responses. I applied to ~15 jobs at NYU Med Center, Columbia, Cornell, and Memorial Sloan Kettering and I was offered 6 interviews within 2 days of submitting my applications. There are a lot of jobs in NYC, but they pay average salaries for new grads ($35,000-39,000) so you'll either be commuting from home (like me) or spending all your money on living expenses.

Columbia entry level CRC pays above >$41k. I believe it's the same case with MSKMC/Rockfeller. NYU/Mount Sinai pays a bit less, but not by much. IMO if one can makes enough money to cover the gap year living expenses and to do something that strengthen you app and your knowledge about medicine, then it's good enough. It's not that expensive to live in the city if you know where to look.

 

[puma613]

How do you even find those programs to apply to them? Am I just not searching for the right things? Thanks SO much! But yes I would be able to commute to NYC.

 

[Helse23]

MSKMC was $39,000. And, yeah, I guess it depends on what the OP needs. I just know I wouldn't have been able to make my loans payments and save for med school apps if I lived in the city. It's just something the OP should think about.

 

[Helse23]

You just apply on the job site

 

[Helse23]

https://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1417397117270
Here is Columbia's for example. I would start applying for jobs ~1 month before graduating (and looking at one of Columbia's lab tech jobs, the salary is only $32,000). And if the job posting mentions any name, you should look that person up and email them directly with your resume so you don't get overlooked.

 

[seabiscuit31]

soo, I have a question about this kind of position, I have been looking into it and they are entry level jobs but most require experience, I am also done in May and really think this would be great job for a gap year. What would anyone who has been successful with this suggest to do to get experience? Try and volunteer in clinical research?
I've been having a difficult time volunteering in labs at my school, even though I have a professor trying to use connections to get me in they all say their grad students don't want to train someone new 🙁 and that's university labs not a clinical trial! maybe there are others with a similar problem who could also use some advice!!

 

[Helse23]

soo, I have a question about this kind of position, I have been looking into it and they are entry level jobs but most require experience, I am also done in May and really think this would be great job for a gap year. What would anyone who has been successful with this suggest to do to get experience? Try and volunteer in clinical research?
I've been having a difficult time volunteering in labs at my school, even though I have a professor trying to use connections to get me in they all say their grad students don't want to train someone new 🙁 and that's university labs not a clinical trial! maybe there are others with a similar problem who could also use some advice!!

Some say "experience preferred," so you can submit a cover letter that highlights the skills that would help you in a lab setting and just give it a shot. But definitely try to build up some experience now. Don't rely on your professor's connections. Just email the PIs you want to work with and hopefully if you aren't even asking to be paid, they would be willing to help.

 

[Lysinee]

Hello future doctors,
So I am a senior at the University of Delaware with a 3.71 GPA and am planning on taking my MCAT this upcoming January. I am graduating this May and while I am going to send in my applications for the entering class 2016, I have decided to take a gap year. I live in Northern Jersey and am desperately looking for research opportunities, fellowships, internships (paid or unpaid) in my area just to gain some experience and fill my time with something new. If anyone could point me in the direction of ANY program (I've looked into summer programs with NIH Pre-IRTA but have heard mixed reviews) that I could apply to I would really appreciate it because I have been having so much trouble actually finding anything to apply to.

1. You can start emailing research people in a couple of departments at your nearby med school. Explain your situation and you should be able to find a suitable PI for a clinical or basic science research project. It will probably be unpaid.
2. Did you read some mix reviews about the NIH program on SDN? It seems like a structured program with a stipend. Try your best to find a paid research position because you don't want to work for free for 1 year.

 

[FFH]

https://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1417397117270
Here is Columbia's for example. I would start applying for jobs ~1 month before graduating (and looking at one of Columbia's lab tech jobs, the salary is only $32,000). And if the job posting mentions any name, you should look that person up and email them directly with your resume so you don't get overlooked.

technical position pays $5k to $10k less than clinical/office position. Bench work is a lot less fruitful than clinical research if you only have 1 year. For columbia, any CRC would be entry level officer job starting pay is def above $41k.

 

[Helse23]

technical position pays $5k to $10k less than clinical/office position. Bench work is a lot less fruitful than clinical research if you only have 1 year. For columbia, any CRC would be entry level officer job starting pay is def above $41k.

That may have been your experience, but it wasn't mine. I hope you're right so the OP finds a job that pays over $41k 'cause more money is always useful. I more wanted to give the OP a heads-up so they can plan out their options.

 

[FFH]

That may have been your experience, but it wasn't mine. I hope you're right so the OP finds a job that pays over $41k 'cause more money is always useful. I more wanted to give the OP a heads-up so they can plan out their options.

Actually, $41k was what they were paying 4 years ago. Now it's $50k.
All entry level CRC jobs are at grade 103.
CUMC's salary info is published on their human resource website.
Plenty recent grads found jobs as CRC.


Medical Center / Health Sciences Campus Position Salary Schedule
For Officers of Administration — Effective July 1, 2014
Grade
Minimum
103

$50,050

104

$53,270

105

$59,680

106

$75,360

107

$104,360

108

$127,320

 

[Helse23]

Actually, $41k was what they were paying 4 years ago. Now it's $50k.
All entry level CRC jobs are at grade 103.
CUMC's salary info is published on their human resource website.
Plenty recent grads found jobs as CRC.


Medical Center / Health Sciences Campus Position Salary Schedule
For Officers of Administration — Effective July 1, 2014
Grade
Minimum
103

$50,050

104

$53,270

105

$59,680

106

$75,360

107

$104,360

108

$127,320


View attachment 187405

So, I guess you are right in that regards. But all the "clinical research coordinator" positions explicitly require two years of experience (and some a masters), so these jobs are not actually relevant to the OP (or anyone just leaving college).