Hi! I am looking for advice.
I graduated with my BAs in Economics and Philosophy in May 2022 (GPA: 3.725 with graduate distinctions from a top 5 school), and started a full-time post-bacc for career-changers program in May 2022 (very challenging program at a well-known school). I decided during my senior year of undergrad, after some very hard self-reflection, that I wanted to pursue medicine; thus, I would have to complete almost every single science prerequisite in a post-bacc program. The program I attend has a linkage opportunity that I am very interested in, but I am keeping my options open and am not necessarily set on pursuing the linkage. The linkage requires a 3.5 undergrad GPA and 3.7 post-bacc GPA for application, so at the moment that is my minimum in terms of standards I've set for myself. I worked full-time as a scribe for 12 weeks over my first summer in the program, then accepted a full-time clinical research coordinator position on an Alzheimer's study in September 2022 - I am now the lead coordinator for the biomarkers portion of our study (lumbar punctures), and conduct office testing visits (cognitive testing, sensorimotor testing, etc.). My position is fully patient facing, and I am responsible for a great deal of the data our study collects. I spend over 45 hours each week working in the lab, and really enjoy the position as well as feel like I am curating clinical skills that most medical school applicants don't get the chance to develop.
I have completed Bio 1 and 2 with labs, Gen Chem 1 with lab, Physics 1 with lab, and am currently enrolled in Gen Chem 2 with lab, Physics 2, and a biology elective this semester - I will complete the program in Spring 2024, and only have Orgo 1 with lab, Biochem, and a second physics lab left to complete after this semester. You may wonder how I am taking 11 credit hours (of difficult pre-reqs) while working 45 hours/week, and the answer is that I am struggling (drowning is a better descriptor). My GPA over the summer was a 4.0, but it took a hit last semester and dropped to a 3.72 - remember that I had never taken college-level science courses until this year, so it's not shocking that there was a bit of a learning curve in the chemistry/physics classes for me. Additionally, the average pre-med GPA at the school I attend is around a 3.64, and the matriculation rate to medical school is around 90%; so the curriculum is clearly viewed by schools as challenging.
I am here to ask if anyone has advice on whether I should I attempt to power through this semester and stick to working full-time, or if I should ask my PI if the opportunity to drop down to part-time (around 25 hours) exists, creating a better environment for me to succeed academically and pursue strengthening the service portion of my application. I am already planning on leaving my position in January 2024 to study full-time for the taking the MCAT in April/May 2024 while working PRN as a phlebotomist. My fear is that medical schools will view my transition to part-time as an indicator that I could not handle a high-stakes/high-stress workload, and it will negatively impact my application. Of course, I am also fearful that my PI will not take my request well and will simply fire me... or refuse to write me a recommendation letter (I have already worked in this lab for over 800 hours, and not receiving a letter from the PI would most certainly hurt my application).
I've put myself between a rock and a hard place, and I would really appreciate any advice! Do I keep working full-time at the risk of a lower GPA and fewer service hours, or do I ask to drop to part-time and boost my GPA and service hours?
I graduated with my BAs in Economics and Philosophy in May 2022 (GPA: 3.725 with graduate distinctions from a top 5 school), and started a full-time post-bacc for career-changers program in May 2022 (very challenging program at a well-known school). I decided during my senior year of undergrad, after some very hard self-reflection, that I wanted to pursue medicine; thus, I would have to complete almost every single science prerequisite in a post-bacc program. The program I attend has a linkage opportunity that I am very interested in, but I am keeping my options open and am not necessarily set on pursuing the linkage. The linkage requires a 3.5 undergrad GPA and 3.7 post-bacc GPA for application, so at the moment that is my minimum in terms of standards I've set for myself. I worked full-time as a scribe for 12 weeks over my first summer in the program, then accepted a full-time clinical research coordinator position on an Alzheimer's study in September 2022 - I am now the lead coordinator for the biomarkers portion of our study (lumbar punctures), and conduct office testing visits (cognitive testing, sensorimotor testing, etc.). My position is fully patient facing, and I am responsible for a great deal of the data our study collects. I spend over 45 hours each week working in the lab, and really enjoy the position as well as feel like I am curating clinical skills that most medical school applicants don't get the chance to develop.
I have completed Bio 1 and 2 with labs, Gen Chem 1 with lab, Physics 1 with lab, and am currently enrolled in Gen Chem 2 with lab, Physics 2, and a biology elective this semester - I will complete the program in Spring 2024, and only have Orgo 1 with lab, Biochem, and a second physics lab left to complete after this semester. You may wonder how I am taking 11 credit hours (of difficult pre-reqs) while working 45 hours/week, and the answer is that I am struggling (drowning is a better descriptor). My GPA over the summer was a 4.0, but it took a hit last semester and dropped to a 3.72 - remember that I had never taken college-level science courses until this year, so it's not shocking that there was a bit of a learning curve in the chemistry/physics classes for me. Additionally, the average pre-med GPA at the school I attend is around a 3.64, and the matriculation rate to medical school is around 90%; so the curriculum is clearly viewed by schools as challenging.
I am here to ask if anyone has advice on whether I should I attempt to power through this semester and stick to working full-time, or if I should ask my PI if the opportunity to drop down to part-time (around 25 hours) exists, creating a better environment for me to succeed academically and pursue strengthening the service portion of my application. I am already planning on leaving my position in January 2024 to study full-time for the taking the MCAT in April/May 2024 while working PRN as a phlebotomist. My fear is that medical schools will view my transition to part-time as an indicator that I could not handle a high-stakes/high-stress workload, and it will negatively impact my application. Of course, I am also fearful that my PI will not take my request well and will simply fire me... or refuse to write me a recommendation letter (I have already worked in this lab for over 800 hours, and not receiving a letter from the PI would most certainly hurt my application).
I've put myself between a rock and a hard place, and I would really appreciate any advice! Do I keep working full-time at the risk of a lower GPA and fewer service hours, or do I ask to drop to part-time and boost my GPA and service hours?
