How do Adcoms view having a job?

[Insulinshock]

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I work at Applebees.. a lot.. (25 hrs/ wk) and I don't really have a choice because I'm responsible for a lot of finances. I still maintain fairly high grades, but the only real volunteering I do currently (and most likely in the future, aside from summers) is at the hospital once a week for a couple hours..

I was wondering if anyone had any experience in how adcoms view holding down a job? I would love to do a lot more volunteering and other EC's, but I really can't without it affecting my grades.. How sympathetic are they to these type of situations??

Any input is appreciated, thank you.

 

[Lukkie]

i think adcoms like having a job

 

[lord_jeebus]

It's a good thing, but you probably don't get the same impact that some people get from doing 25 hrs/wk of research or community service. While it is understood that some people need to do a lot of work to meet their financial needs, and that this is admirable, inevitably someone with lots of research and publications (from 25 hrs/wk of unpaid research while the parents pay for things) is going to have more of a wow factor.

Don't let your grades drop for the sake of ECs, but do the best you can to show your interest in the medical field. Look for projects you can do during the summer when you have more time.

I also worked my way through college and I hope you are successful in the admissions process.

 

[enjoydrywax]

Lord_Jeebus is right. This process really favors those who "donate" their time to volunteering and/or research.

I personally think it is a million times harder to do what you are doing (working through a solid chunk of your week for $$$) than to sit at some lab bench and perform maxipreps or change the glove boxes in some hospital ward. The sad thing though is that medical schools will look more favorably upon a student who performs these (relatively) worthless functions over somebody like you (hard worker, real-life issues etc).

To me this is just another one of the injustices that make it much more difficult for the lower socioeconomic rung to obtain acceptance into medical school.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Fortunately, most med school applicants have not dedicated 25 hrs/wk to any one thing, so there's still an advantage.

 

[Cwc127]

What if that job is in a health clinic that you have been doing for the past 4 years?

 

[lord_jeebus]

What if that job is in a health clinic that you have been doing for the past 4 years?

Do you smell patients? You're golden.

 

[rabidpanda13]

What about working in a public defenders office? I didn't smell any patients obviously but I definitely smelled some of the underserved population. Will that be taken into account or will it just be looked at as another job?

 

[lord_jeebus]

What about working in a public defenders office? I didn't smell any patients obviously but I definitely smelled some of the underserved population. Will that be taken into account or will it just be looked at as another job?

You can also smell the underserved working at McDonald's - so in a clinical sense, no.

It's still a relatively interesting work experience to have, and I imagine you could have learned good things there.

 

[ODorDO]

Do you smell patients? You're golden.

how would you reflect that on your personal statement? i'm afraid that adcom will consider me as one of those pre-meds that would do things just to check off the list... i really don't think "smell" patients would be enough.