How can I improve my ECs (taking a gap year)

[Latteandaprayer]

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I’m a junior right now but I’ve decided to take a gap year to work in my lab some more, but now I’m getting worried that my application is more geared toward a PhD program than an MD program. Here’s what I should have by the time I apply at the end of my senior year:
- ~200 hours hospital volunteering
- 50 hours shadowing an internist
- ~150 hours volunteering at a soup kitchen
- many, many hours working in a lab (I have a manuscript right now, but it looks like it might get rejected)
- I work as a home caretaker for a family member
- I am involved in a theater club on campus, in which I mainly take directing and stage managing roles, and I’m the conflict-resolution person on the board

I really enjoy research, and I get paid for it, so I work about 20-25 hours a week in the lab. I work about 10 hours a week as a caregiver, and I volunteer 2 hours a week at the hospital, and 2 hours at the soup kitchen. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but I’m also a full time student, so I spend a lot of my time studying and doing homework or in class. Hopefully over the summer I’ll increase my soup kitchen hours, but as of right now if I stay at only 2h/w I’ll have 150 hours.

I should spend my gap year doing clinical work, but my PI and I have talked about me working in the lab during my gap year. Of course I’m not a slave to him, but I feel bad about going back on my commitment, especially after all he’s done for me.

My cGPA is a 3.7 and my sGPA is 3.6, I’m taking the MCAT in the summer. I want this post to focus more on ECs, though.

 

[thankthegodsforbessie]

For me, I had the choice of continuing in my lab (probably getting my name on a couple papers) or working as a medical assistant/scribe. I chose the ma/scribe route and I have no regrets. I have learned and seen so much and it definitely helped while I was writing secondaries and gave me a lot to talk about in interviews. If you are planning to apply MD-PhD, I would stay in the lab. If just MD, I recommend clinical.

On a side note, I think you can list the home caretaker as an experience in amcas? I would double check with someone.

 

[NYCVillain]

You can’t do both? I know during my gap year I’m working 20hrs a week as a scribe and 6hrs/week at a soup kitchen. Don’t overload yourself obviously but if you can negotiate hours, you may have time to keep your research experience while also filling in any gaps in your app

 

[Latteandaprayer]

You can’t do both? I know during my gap year I’m working 20hrs a week as a scribe and 6hrs/week at a soup kitchen. Don’t overload yourself obviously but if you can negotiate hours, you may have time to keep your research experience while also filling in any gaps in your app

I can probably do both, my only concern is that clinical jobs would want a lot of hours and my PI expects near full-time work in the lab. I’m definitely upping my volunteer hours, though.

Do you see any major gaps?

 

[Latteandaprayer]

For me, I had the choice of continuing in my lab (probably getting my name on a couple papers) or working as a medical assistant/scribe. I chose the ma/scribe route and I have no regrets. I have learned and seen so much and it definitely helped while I was writing secondaries and gave me a lot to talk about in interviews. If you are planning to apply MD-PhD, I would stay in the lab. If just MD, I recommend clinical.

On a side note, I think you can list the home caretaker as an experience in amcas? I would double check with someone.

I’ve asked before and it is indeed an experience, but not a clinical one because it’s for a family member (and I’m not necessarily providing care beyond helping with showering, dressing, and cooking).

While it sounds stupid, I already told my PI I’d work for him during the gap year. I’m worried about changing my mind and risk losing his LOR, and just generally I really enjoy research and I want to incorporate it into my career. MD-PhD might be a bit too much though—I don’t want an 80/20 split, but maybe like a 30/70 split (research/clinical).

 

[boundlesscorpuscle]

If you can I would recommend trying to split you gap year between research and clinical experience. Keep in mind that clinical experience does not necessarily have to be through employment (though obviously this is one of the easier ways to do it). Your commitment to your PI is understandable and even admirable, but surely he understands that you are trying to get into medical school and that you have other obligations. Have a candid conversation with him and you can likely arrange better hours in the lab.