Full time or part time job?

[Zbtb7]

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Hi SDN!

I've gotten a job offer for a one-year paid technician position in a lab for my gap year. I'll be meeting with the PI soon to finalize it. He's giving me the choice between a full-time 9-5 position or a part-time (~32hr/wk) commitment. I've good stats (3.9+ sGPA/nsGPA, 23AA) but I'm worried that my ECs aren't strong enough. I'm applying this summer so any improvements I make in my application will only help me if I don't get in my first cycle.

I really want to get involved in volunteering during my gap year to strengthen my candidacy for my second application cycle if I don't get in this cycle because my second cycle will be the last year my DAT score is valid.

Two places I want to volunteer at during my gap year is a low-income dental clinic and a hospice near my workplace. I think I'll be able to setup a weekend commitment for the hospice but the dental clinic requires a weekday commitment. I definitely want to volunteer at the hospice because I'll be spending all my time working with patients and I believe it will improve my bedside manner.

Will having just the hospice volunteering suffice for gap year volunteering or should I go for part-time employment so I can volunteer at the dental clinic as well? Will adcoms look at the dental clinic volunteering more favorably? Additionally, could you please suggest possible leadership opportunities for the college graduate?

Thank you for your help!
-Zbtb7

 

[DentalJedi]

Hi SDN!

I've gotten a job offer for a one-year paid technician position in a lab for my gap year. I'll be meeting with the PI soon to finalize it. He's giving me the choice between a full-time 9-5 position or a part-time (~32hr/wk) commitment. I've good stats (3.9+ sGPA/nsGPA, 23AA) but I'm worried that my ECs aren't strong enough. I'm applying this summer so any improvements I make in my application will only help me if I don't get in my first cycle.

I really want to get involved in volunteering during my gap year to strengthen my candidacy for my second application cycle if I don't get in this cycle because my second cycle will be the last year my DAT score is valid.

Two places I want to volunteer at during my gap year is a low-income dental clinic and a hospice near my workplace. I think I'll be able to setup a weekend commitment for the hospice but the dental clinic requires a weekday commitment. I definitely want to volunteer at the hospice because I'll be spending all my time working with patients and I believe it will improve my bedside manner.

Will having just the hospice volunteering suffice for gap year volunteering or should I go for part-time employment so I can volunteer at the dental clinic as well? Will adcoms look at the dental clinic volunteering more favorably? Additionally, could you please suggest possible leadership opportunities for the college graduate?

Thank you for your help!
-Zbtb7

If you don't get in with your numbers then there's a problem that volunteering won't fix.

 

[seattlesun]

Most research lab positions are flexible about work hours. If you want full time employment and also do some volunteering, maybe you can make a deal with the PI for one day a week to take one morning or afternoon off for your volunteering and stay later or make those hours up in other days.

Talk to the two places where you want to volunteer and see when they would like you there. Most low income dental clinics are happy with people volunteering 3-4 hours (= a half shift) per week. Maybe even weekend volunteering at the hospice could be an option... Then, make sure your PI knows that can count on you to keep this routine, even if it's not the perfect 9-5. Let your PI know that he/she can count on you to be in every day, and according to a routine schedule. You can even have your schedule taped on your desk so everyone knows when to find you there.

 

[Zbtb7]

seattlesun-Thank you for your suggestion. I'll ask the PI and hopefully I could trade working a weekend for time off during the weekday.

DentalJedi-Should I concentrate on getting leadership experience then? I'll already have 150+ hours of shadowing. I don't know how else I could improve for a probable second cycle.

 

[NOLAdentist2016]

So full time 40hrs/wk or part time 32hrs/wk? Not much of a difference, but either way it sounds like the PI is flexible. Personally, I'd work as many paid hours as possible, since applying is $$$$$.
From my experience working in a research lab, they were very flexible with my full time schedule, which was very important for my multiple interviews, DAT, etc.
And honestly, working 40hrs/wk and not being in school, you'll still have plenty of time to volunteer and do other things.