Getting a non-medical/non-research job in the one year gap b/w graduation and med sc?

[DZT]

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Unlike the average premed, I really dont want to get a research, nitty gritty, lab based job after I graduate and wait for med school decisions. As an English major, I really want to do medical writing for the AIHA (American International Health Association) or simply work in publishing; does it really matter to ADCOMS that I didnt jump on the reseach bandwagon, which everybody does, and chose a different route? Also, does what u do after you send in your apps really matter in terms of the decision? Thanks.

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[NineSixteen]

Not so sure there is such thing as an "average" pre-med these days, so many people with so many interesting experiences apply to med school that the "average" Biology major going straight from undergrad to med school is in the minority of applicants (or at least the ones who get in🙂) Anyway, I think it's great to do something different during your year off, just be careful that you do have SOME clinical/lab work to put on your AMCAS application...you didn't mention if you did anything medical-related in undergrad, so I don't know your situation.
What you do in that time from AMCAS submission to acceptance isn't that important, you're right, but it does give you something to talk about during interviews...my clinical research didn't go on my AMCAS since I started in August, but it definately went on Secondaries and was talked about LOTS during interviews.

 

[mpp]

It matters very little.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

I think that sounds like a cool idea. But have you done any volunteering? A few hours once a week would be a good idea IMHO.

I think what you do matters very little b/c if it's not on amcas it's "unofficial" according to one of my interviewers. Then again, if you end up trying to get off at least ONE waitlist in the end and would like to update your file, it would be nice to have something to say!. Also, it is common for interviewers to ask what you have done since you submitted amcas. The Vermont secondary specifically asks for that info.

I really don't think research is necessary, and you plan on working in the health field, so it's all good! 😎

 

[DZT]

Well, in terms clinical/volunteer experiences I'm set.
1.) Hospice volunteer
2.) Hundreds of hours or surgical observation
3.) Worked with a rural GP
4.) Big Brothers/Sisters
5.) Research Assistant at SUNY Upstate Psychiatric
6.) HS experiences (don't count)-ER volunteer, electrocardiophysiology research, MORE surgical observation
7.) Medical Term Abroad to Hungary, UK and Neth

I feel confident in my experiences, but I want to try something different and pioneer a bit into different facets of the workforce, though I'm 1000% committed to medicine.

 

[altaskier]

I've been told my many medical students to do something you truely like on your year off. So, I went skiing a lot and also kept up with my volunteer activities (one of my activities is basically like a part time job). The closer I get to medical school, the more I realize that they were right. Do whatever you like. What you do now very little influences your file. Your interviewer may ask you what you've been to, etc. But just kick back and relax. Applying is itself a full time job. From the secondaries to the interviews, you see your year off isn't as "OFF" as you'd like it to be.

 

[CalBear]

the only problem i see with taking a non-medical/non-research position is that your employer may not be very understanding when you need to take off time for interviews. I took off 6 whole weeks for interviews between august and feb! Luckily, I work in research and my boss is an M.D., so he didn't mind. all of my friends think i am EXTREMELY lucky not to be fired, cause they sure would have been. good luck deciding what to do.

 

[altaskier]

Yeh that is true. My boss at my volunteer position understood and was really supportive too. Maybe it's because she too is an M.D.

 

[giantDHrider]

dude,
i worked as a IT/strategy consultant for a year after i got outta college before med school.

careful tho...the money sure was hard to walk away. 😀