How will being a behavioral therapist look on my med school app?

[aayz345]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I plan on applying next cycle. I have worked ~500 hours as a behavioral therapist and plan to continue until my final year before entering med school. I plan to pursue a 1 year MPH at a nearby school during that year. Does working as a behavioral therapist look really good? I work very closely with autistic adolescence by taking note/data on their behaviors and implementing ABA in order to reinforce desired behaviors. I should 1500+ hours by the time I submit my app next June

 

[500miles]

I plan on applying next cycle. I have worked ~500 hours as a behavioral therapist and plan to continue until my final year before entering med school. I plan to pursue a 1 year MPH at a nearby school during that year. Does working as a behavioral therapist look really good? I work very closely with autistic adolescence by taking note/data on their behaviors and implementing ABA in order to reinforce desired behaviors. I should 1500+ hours by the time I submit my app next June

It definitely doesn't look bad! Not sure how much it will give you a leg up over the other premed jobs, but sounds like a solid job to a vulnerable population of people in need of help. Just make sure you also have some volunteer hours inside and outside the clinic.

 

[chaim123]

I plan on applying next cycle. I have worked ~500 hours as a behavioral therapist and plan to continue until my final year before entering med school. I plan to pursue a 1 year MPH at a nearby school during that year. Does working as a behavioral therapist look really good? I work very closely with autistic adolescence by taking note/data on their behaviors and implementing ABA in order to reinforce desired behaviors. I should 1500+ hours by the time I submit my app next June

Does it look good? yes. Does it look REALLY good, as you asked? I don't think it's going to make you stand out more than other clinical jobs, but a good thing to have anyway.

 

[mariposas905]

Here is the definitive answer: it doesnt matter. Unless you are planning to have your background and history erased, you will be applying with being a behavioral therapist. Since you cant change it, speculating on something that we cant possibly predict across 150+ programs and thousand of individual adcom members is a meaningless effort and all it will do will create stress, worry and fear. Surely a behavioral therapist can see that ( and I will stop calling you "shirley")

Now, why are you planning a 1 year MPH while during your application year?

Wait...I was planning to do the same thing. Why would this be a red flag? The MPH would start this summer and end by May 2019 in time for med school matriculation...

 

[Catalystik]

The MPH would start this summer and end by May 2019 in time for med school matriculation...

Or so they say. Not always true.

 

[mariposas905]

And I am asking why are you doing it? Do you have a weaker GPA? Do you think it will enhance your application? Are you trying to make up for some other weakness?

And I always advise applicants that applying to medical school should be considered a full-time job from the beginning of May thru at least August, if not September (This assumes MCAT is done by May). You then may be on call from September thru March. So

I always wanted to do MD/MPH for career reasons. My GPA and app should be fine, so it's not for enhancement purposes. And luckily, my schedule is flexible enough since I have completed many core MPH classes already that I believe it shouldn't interfere with med school. I was wondering if it was looked down upon as a red flag for any other reason?

 

[mariposas905]

Or so they say. Not always true.

Yes, but I think I will be able to finish in the timeframe since I already completed the main core courses and will have these credits applied before I begin the actual program. I'll def confirm that it works out though!

 

[DokterMom]

I always wanted to do MD/MPH for career reasons. My GPA and app should be fine, so it's not for enhancement purposes. And luckily, my schedule is flexible enough since I have completed many core MPH classes already that I believe it shouldn't interfere with med school. I was wondering if it was looked down upon as a red flag for any other reason?

Actually, it can be a bit of a red flag since many of the people completing an MPH before med school do it believing it will compensate for marginal qualifications in other areas.

If you're truly wanting the degree and would choose that option it if it were a 5-year MD/MPH program, be prepared to explain why and show how your activities to date support your interest.

 

[Goro]

It definitely doesn't look bad! Not sure how much it will give you a leg up over the other premed jobs, but sounds like a solid job to a vulnerable population of people in need of help. Just make sure you also have some volunteer hours inside and outside the clinic.

Agree 10000%!

 

[aayz345]

Here is the definitive answer: it doesnt matter. Unless you are planning to have your background and history erased, you will be applying with being a behavioral therapist. Since you cant change it, speculating on something that we cant possibly predict across 150+ programs and thousand of individual adcom members is a meaningless effort and all it will do will create stress, worry and fear. Surely a behavioral therapist can see that ( and I will stop calling you "shirley")

Now, why are you planning a 1 year MPH while during your application year?

I'm really interested in learning more about epidemiology and health disparities. My grades are fine, I just have an interest in public health issues

 

[aayz345]

It definitely doesn't look bad! Not sure how much it will give you a leg up over the other premed jobs, but sounds like a solid job to a vulnerable population of people in need of help. Just make sure you also have some volunteer hours inside and outside the clinic.

I have around 150 nonclinical volunteering hours and 200 clinical volunteering hours. Since I should have 1500hour of BI work by the time I apply, will I be alright in terms of the humanitarian aspect of my app?