Gap year advice

[SDS1115]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a recent graduate and I am taking two years off before I plan to go to medical school. I took my MCAT the summer going into my senior year and I was unhappy with my score which means that I'm delayed two application cycles because I was unable to take it this summer. My plan is to prepare in the upcoming moths and take it either sometime in April or May depending on when I feel ready.

However, I end my paid summer internship in early August and I won't be able to last until after my MCAT in the Spring with no money which means I need a source of income. I'm looking for advice on what I should do during this time, if medical scribe is worth it or if I should work to earn a certification in something like phlebotomy. I also need time to study for the MCAT again and possibly taking a prep course so I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this and if there's any advice to be offered on what I should do.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Don't scribe. Waste of time, and not worth the minimal they pay.

Finding certification is okay as it leads to better paying jobs.

Additionally, if you want $$, explore being a pharm tech as your local CVS or Walgreens. They pay well and medical schools don't care that its pharamacy employment. It's perfectly acceptable to say it was the only job you could find immediately given your financial situation.

Additionally, if your MCAT score is not where you'd like it to be, working + studying is hard to pull off. I understand your financial situation is hard, but MCAT studying, especially for a retake, must show substantial improvement, and can often be a full time ordeal.

 

[SDS1115]

Don't scribe. Waste of time, and not worth the minimal they pay.

Finding certification is okay as it leads to better paying jobs.

Additionally, if you want $$, explore being a pharm tech as your local CVS or Walgreens. They pay well and medical schools don't care that its pharamacy employment. It's perfectly acceptable to say it was the only job you could find immediately given your financial situation.

Additionally, if your MCAT score is not where you'd like it to be, working + studying is hard to pull off. I understand your financial situation is hard, but MCAT studying, especially for a retake, must show substantial improvement, and can often be a full time ordeal.

Thank you! I totally work as a pharm tech now at CVS and I'm actually leaving the job. I agree it's great pay and I've gotten decent experience but I couldn't stand how rude and demeaning some "customers" were and it wasn't worth risking my mental sanity lol. That's why I'm looking for something a little different. Thank you again!

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Thank you! I totally work as a pharm tech now at CVS and I'm actually leaving the job. I agree it's great pay and I've gotten decent experience but I couldn't stand how rude and demeaning some "customers" were and it wasn't worth risking my mental sanity lol. That's why I'm looking for something a little different. Thank you again!

That is unfortunate how annoying customer's can be. Friends of mine have scribed. They have told me they have all had variable experiences, but it boils down to your shift leader. Good leader = good time scribing. Bad leader (far more common) = **** show.

 

[mwsapphire]

That is unfortunate how annoying customer's can be. Friends of mine have scribed. They have told me they have all had variable experiences, but it boils down to your shift leader. Good leader = good time scribing. Bad leader (far more common) = **** show.

I'm actually applying for scribe jobs rn and am hoping the whole " two year commitment" thing really is a sham because I only plan on doing like 8-9 months before quitting. I mean it's just a labor job so that shouldn't be a big deal. But still, I'm worried they'll ask about why I'm doing scribe ing in the interview and I'll just be like " uh..". If i don't get this job I'll just be milling around for a while....

 

[BoneBroCO]

I say get your EMT and get hired in an emergency department as a tech. If you can find a hospital that pays weekend or night differential you can be making close to $25 an hour. From what I hear this may be somewhat subject to where you live as not all states have ED tech positions, but with a quick google you should be able to tell. With my shifts being 12 hours I can easily make plenty of money for bills in just two night shifts a week, leaving me 5 days for MCAT study and other EC's.

 

[SDS1115]

I say get your EMT and get hired in an emergency department as a tech. If you can find a hospital that pays weekend or night differential you can be making close to $25 an hour. From what I hear this may be somewhat subject to where you live as not all states have ED tech positions, but with a quick google you should be able to tell. With my shifts being 12 hours I can easily make plenty of money for bills in just two night shifts a week, leaving me 5 days for MCAT study and other EC's.

Soooo I actually already have my EMT certification which I thought I would really like. But after having a not great experience with my training I quickly learned I’m not one for emergency medicine. I have to earn my Re certification soon as I did it a couple years ago but maybe I’ll look into teching again...thanks!

 

[BoneBroCO]

Soooo I actually already have my EMT certification which I thought I would really like. But after having a not great experience with my training I quickly learned I’m not one for emergency medicine. I have to earn my Re certification soon as I did it a couple years ago but maybe I’ll look into teching again...thanks!

Sad to hear you had a bad experience! Would you mind sharing? Were you training for a job of for the actual certification? All I can say is that the training and all pre hospital jobs are NOTHING like being an ED tech. If you want to know any more about it I would be happy to share. I do however understand that it is not for everyone, and there is no point in forcing yourself to do something you don't enjoy 🙂

 

[Dr. Stalker]

I'm actually applying for scribe jobs rn and am hoping the whole " two year commitment" thing really is a sham because I only plan on doing like 8-9 months before quitting. I mean it's just a labor job so that shouldn't be a big deal. But still, I'm worried they'll ask about why I'm doing scribe ing in the interview and I'll just be like " uh..". If i don't get this job I'll just be milling around for a while....

It's a sham. ScribeAmerica carefully words the agreement stating future scribes "agree verbally to a 2 year contract" no actual signature/legal binding.