Gap Year -- teach high school, substitute teach, Americorps?

[Amalfi.aqua]

Hi,

I'm a junior graduating a year early (May 2015) and I'm trying to decide what to do for my gap year (2015-2016). High 3.8's GPA, 32 MCAT, Texas resident, solid shadowing, some research, but my community service is a little weak. I feel like I'm a cookie-cutter applicant.

1. Americorps - pros: my university town has a solid Healthcorps program where you get to work with an underserved community. Great opportunity.
cons: 11-month commitment (9/15 - 7/16), little pay, full-time, would have to get an apartment

2. Teach junior high/high school - pros: solid paycheck, can live with parents for year, teaching experience; would also volunteer on weekends
cons: likely stressful, may be difficult to take time off for interview

3. Substitue teach - pros: live with parents, earn some $, low-stress, could do substantial volunteering during week, easy to do with interviews
cons: not very impressive

I live in a city that has a huge healthcare sector so I could try to find a job at a hospital or medical school. However, it seems to be difficult to get any job without related experience. Still, it might be worth a try.

I think the Healthcorps thing would be a rewarding experience and help make me be a better applicant. On the other hand, I'd rather live at home for a year and be able to chill out for a few months before matriculation (if I get an acceptance). I'm definitely not interested in Teach for America.

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[Porkloins]

If schools see a bunch of minor volunteer activities crammed in at the last minute during your gap year, it may raise some eyebrows. I think going for immersion (Americorps) might be best for your application, if not your wallet.

 

[karayaa]

Hi,

I'm a junior graduating a year early (May 2015) and I'm trying to decide what to do for my gap year (2015-2016). High 3.8's GPA, 32 MCAT, Texas resident, solid shadowing, some research, but my community service is a little weak. I feel like I'm a cookie-cutter applicant.

1. Americorps - pros: my university town has a solid Healthcorps program where you get to work with an underserved community. Great opportunity.
cons: 11-month commitment (9/15 - 7/16), little pay, full-time, would have to get an apartment

2. Teach junior high/high school - pros: solid paycheck, can live with parents for year, teaching experience; would also volunteer on weekends
cons: likely stressful, may be difficult to take time off for interview

3. Substitue teach - pros: live with parents, earn some $, low-stress, could do substantial volunteering during week, easy to do with interviews
cons: not very impressive

I live in a city that has a huge healthcare sector so I could try to find a job at a hospital or medical school. However, it seems to be difficult to get any job without related experience. Still, it might be worth a try.

I think the Healthcorps thing would be a rewarding experience and help make me be a better applicant. On the other hand, I'd rather live at home for a year and be able to chill out for a few months before matriculation (if I get an acceptance). I'm definitely not interested in Teach for America.

If you try to match a stereotype (shadowing, research, comm service), you'll just pack yourself tighter into the cookie cutter. Instead of trying to create a balanced/perfect application that matches what you think adcoms are looking for, point yourself in a specific direction that builds on the theme of your application (maybe teaching?) and pursue it as deeply as you can.
Be pointy rather than well-rounded (schools look for both kinds of applicants, but the former is more rare and could communicate greater higher passion/drive/initiative and more diversity than a well-rounded applicant).

I don't think substitute teaching would be bad, as long as you fill 40h/wk with something profitable.
If you're a JH/HS teacher, I don't think you'll have time/energy for extra volunteering on the weekends.

 

[AlteredScale]

Hi,

I'm a junior graduating a year early (May 2015) and I'm trying to decide what to do for my gap year (2015-2016). High 3.8's GPA, 32 MCAT, Texas resident, solid shadowing, some research, but my community service is a little weak. I feel like I'm a cookie-cutter applicant.

1. Americorps - pros: my university town has a solid Healthcorps program where you get to work with an underserved community. Great opportunity.
cons: 11-month commitment (9/15 - 7/16), little pay, full-time, would have to get an apartment

2. Teach junior high/high school - pros: solid paycheck, can live with parents for year, teaching experience; would also volunteer on weekends
cons: likely stressful, may be difficult to take time off for interview

3. Substitue teach - pros: live with parents, earn some $, low-stress, could do substantial volunteering during week, easy to do with interviews
cons: not very impressive

I live in a city that has a huge healthcare sector so I could try to find a job at a hospital or medical school. However, it seems to be difficult to get any job without related experience. Still, it might be worth a try.

I think the Healthcorps thing would be a rewarding experience and help make me be a better applicant. On the other hand, I'd rather live at home for a year and be able to chill out for a few months before matriculation (if I get an acceptance). I'm definitely not interested in Teach for America.

Do whatever you feel will most strongly support the theme of YOUR story. It doesn't matter what you do, there will always be applicants who are better than you and you can't beat them by piling on more EC's than them. The name of this game is to make your story stand out above the rest.

 

[ProudMD]

I would do Americorps.

 

[mats7]

I'm doing AmeriCorps right now. You get maximum EBT/Food Stamps! That's $196 extra a month. My supervisor is a professor at the local medical school. XD