Gap Year Decisions: Which job?

[ThisisReality]

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So, I have two possible jobs for next year. I will be starting in Aug when I return from a summer scholarship program.

- Scribe at a hospital ($20/hr), but dependent on whether or not I have patients, so hours will fluctuate and may dip a little below 40 sometimes, or maybe even over a little. Possibility to maybe scribe for more physicians? This is paid hourly and does not have any benefits. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

- MA at non-profit community health center ($14/hr), I would use a language I will be studying this summer, so I am very interested in this, but the pay will be less... the hours are more stable and I would have opportunity for OT. Although I am probably covered by parents, there is also dental and medical insurance since it is a health center.

Both are located in NYC, so cost is a concern. I have the option of living with my parents on Long Island, but the 2 hour-commute and drop in my social life concerns me. I also am planning to apply to a MPH program first before medical school, so I feel that the MA job would make more sense... but I can't shake the pay difference....

Or, if I take the scribe job, since I'll have some more money, should I just volunteer my time somewhere or may I could get involved in community organizing?

Or, other option is just to suck it up, and just live at home and work the MA job? or maybe suck it up even more and work the MA job, do OT, and get an cheap apartment?

Thoughts?

 

[vellez]

Firstly, an ADCOM isn't gonna fault you for making the smart financial decision. They understand you need money. Scribing is still a good experience. Med/dental pretty much adds on like >$10,000 to whatever you'd make at the MA place. So keep that in mind.

 

[ThisisReality]

Firstly, an ADCOM isn't gonna fault you for making the smart financial decision. They understand you need money. Scribing is still a good experience. Med/dental pretty much adds on like >$10,000 to whatever you'd make at the MA place. So keep that in mind.

So are you saying that I should choose the MA job since the benefits are better?

 

[aprilfools]

So are you saying that I should choose the MA job since the benefits are better?

Considering this a temporary job for you and I'm assuming you're still on your parents' medical insurance the benefits are practically meaningless for you. The advice of adding 10k to account for benefits is ludicrously off-base in this instance.

 

[ThisisReality]

Considering this a temporary job for you and I'm assuming you're still on your parents' medical insurance the benefits are practically meaningless for you. The advice of adding 10k to account for benefits is ludicrously off-base in this instance.

So, simply go for the job with the higher pay? Scribe?

 

[aprilfools]

So, simply go for the job with the higher pay? Scribe?

That's what I would do, especially living in New York. 28 hours/week average at $20/hour matches 40 hours/week at $14/hour, so if you are pretty sure you'll be averaging 28 hours/week as a scribe I would absolutely take that. Also gives you the opportunity to pick up a second job or keep working with some ECs if you'd like as well.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Take the scribe job IMO, you'll learn both from both jobs and the higher pay will help you save/earn.

 

[raiderette]

Taking the scribe job with no guarantee of hours can be dangerous. I would rather be guaranteed 40+ hours than scramble to get 30 hours when bills are due.

 

[aprilfools]

Taking the scribe job with no guarantee of hours can be dangerous. I would rather be guaranteed 40+ hours than scramble to get 30 hours when bills are due.

As mentioned above, OP only needs to average 28 hours/week with the scribe job to break even, which I would think is highly likely.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Do what you find most interesting, neither is going to be a huge advantage over the other for either MD or MPH.

 

[deleted446889]

Damn, haven't heard of a scribe making $20 an hour before.

 

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

So, I have two possible jobs for next year. I will be starting in Aug when I return from a summer scholarship program.

- Scribe at a hospital ($20/hr), but dependent on whether or not I have patients, so hours will fluctuate and may dip a little below 40 sometimes, or maybe even over a little. Possibility to maybe scribe for more physicians? This paid hourly and does not have any benefits. If I don't work, I don't get paid.

- MA at non-profit community health center ($14/hr), I would use a language I will be studying this summer, so I am very interested in this, but the pay will be less... the hours are more stable and I would have opportunity for OT. Although I am probably covered by parents, there is also dental and medical insurance since it is a health center.

Both are located in NYC, so cost is a concern. I have the option of living with my parents on Long Island, but the 2 hour-commute and drop in my social life concerns me. I also am planning to apply to a MPH program first before medical school, so I feel that the MA job would make more sense... but I can't shake the pay difference....

Or, if I take the scribe job, since I'll have some more money, should I just volunteer my time somewhere or may I could get involved in community organizing?

Or, other option is just to suck it up, and just live at home and work the MA job? or maybe suck it up even more and work the MA job, do OT, and get an cheap apartment?

Thoughts?

Yes the only scribe positions I have ever heard of are like $10/hr max. So $20/hr is really good. COuld you please give me information about what an MA is?? I am fluent in few languages so that would be something I could be interested in?

 

[ThisisReality]

Yes the only scribe positions I have ever heard of are like $10/hr max. So $20/hr is really good. COuld you please give me information about what an MA is?? I am fluent in few languages so that would be something I could be interested in?

MA stands for medical assistant. It's not a job that requires a foreign language, but because the community health center serves a certain immigrant population, it requires fluency in a certain language. I will be studying this language this summer!

Damn, haven't heard of a scribe making $20 an hour before.

Many scribe jobs are sourced from companies, like ScribeAmerica and CityMD. This job thankfully is directly from the hospital. So, for better pay, I would look into hospitals that hire themselves!