Important questions: please comment

[embracethepain]

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1) I feel that the jobs I'm applying to are all really similar to stuff I've done before. Even if they are on a different subject, I don't feel like I'm "stepping up." I'm applying to RA1 and RA2 positions at universities. I want more responsibility and something "more." I don't know how else to put it. If I want to stay with the idea of working at a university, do I have to settle with RA1/RA2 jobs? I really want to write a research paper/write articles/etc. What should I do? Are there better positions to apply for? Also, how long can I expect to wait before hearing back for an interview?

2) MCAT-for those who are taking the test in Jan, how are you scheduling yourself? What are you doing? There's a gap of 5 months from now till then, not sure how to use my time wisely.

3) Are there any short term, medically relevant jobs out there? I'm talking 2-3 months.

4) If you (like me) live in a very suburban area with a few hospitals, what is the best way to spend your time?

5) If anyone is taking 2 gap years, is it a bad idea to do research for only 1 of those years?

6) Are there any top MS programs that start in Dec/Jan? I have a 3.6 gpa and want to show adcoms I'm capable of getting a 4.0 in higher level coursework.

I don't feel useful or that I'm doing the right thing right now so I'm trying to solicit some advice.

 

[embracethepain]

Also-why do clinical research positions require things like cell culture, pcr, etc? Isn't that benchwork? I thought clinical research was more interacting with patients, looking at charts, etc. super confused.

 

[Lucky Louie]

Be mindful that med schools will ask what you've done since you graduated, so better be as busy as you can. I strongly urge you to ask for guidance from the school where you graduated. They would probably have advisors to help you get started. They may also have job listings to offer. You will find it's difficult to get a job for 2-3 months. In fact, commission for a one year jobs can be limited. Why would you want such a short time period?

 

[embracethepain]

Be mindful that med schools will ask what you've done since you graduated, so better be as busy as you can. I strongly urge you to ask for guidance from the school where you graduated. They would probably have advisors to help you get started. They may also have job listings to offer. You will find it's difficult to get a job for 2-3 months. In fact, commission for a one year jobs can be limited. Why would you want such a short time period?

Premed advising/advising in general in my school is really bad. They encourage students to make bad decisions/forget to send committee letters/etc.

I'm looking for a 1.75 year position. But, seeing as applications take time, I'm not sure what to do in the short term. Which is the next 2-3 months. I've been shadowing and volunteering in the hospital....but there's only so much of that one can do and still be useful.

My school does have positions open but I don't think my former PI would like it if I went back and worked in someone else's lab. I don't want to get into a weird situation since my PI wrote me a rec and I might need more references/recs from him in the future.

 

[DAPI]

1) I feel that the jobs I'm applying to are all really similar to stuff I've done before. Even if they are on a different subject, I don't feel like I'm "stepping up." I'm applying to RA1 and RA2 positions at universities. I want more responsibility and something "more." I don't know how else to put it. If I want to stay with the idea of working at a university, do I have to settle with RA1/RA2 jobs? I really want to write a research paper/write articles/etc. What should I do? Are there better positions to apply for? Also, how long can I expect to wait before hearing back for an interview?

2) MCAT-for those who are taking the test in Jan, how are you scheduling yourself? What are you doing? There's a gap of 5 months from now till then, not sure how to use my time wisely.

3) Are there any short term, medically relevant jobs out there? I'm talking 2-3 months.

4) If you (like me) live in a very suburban area with a few hospitals, what is the best way to spend your time?

5) If anyone is taking 2 gap years, is it a bad idea to do research for only 1 of those years?

6) Are there any top MS programs that start in Dec/Jan? I have a 3.6 gpa and want to show adcoms I'm capable of getting a 4.0 in higher level coursework.

I don't feel useful or that I'm doing the right thing right now so I'm trying to solicit some advice.

7) Also-why do clinical research positions require things like cell culture, pcr, etc? Isn't that benchwork? I thought clinical research was more interacting with patients, looking at charts, etc. super confused.

1) Not really. If you can get a position in a small lab, you may get to help with a paper. And by small, I mean like 1 post-doc and 2 RA's

2) Only study for 3 of those months. Much longer than that results in small returns. Follow this if you need help making a schedule: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898

3) Highly unlikely

4) Find a job, volunteer, and pursue your hobbies

5) Adcoms may ask why you left your position after only one year and then started something else (or did nothing).

6) Probably, but I believe Adcoms do not take MS grades that seriously as there is a huge grade inflation problem with them IIRC.

7) What you are describing is either considered basic research or translational research (depending on what your researching... more or less). If you want to do clinical research look for a Study Coordinator position, but they often require a MS or RN degree.

 

[embracethepain]

1) Not really. If you can get a position in a small lab, you may get to help with a paper. And by small, I mean like 1 post-doc and 2 RA's

2) Only study for 3 of those months. Much longer than that results in small returns. Follow this if you need help making a schedule: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898

3) Highly unlikely

4) Find a job, volunteer, and pursue your hobbies

5) Adcoms may ask why you left your position after only one year and then started something else (or did nothing).

6) Probably, but I believe Adcoms do not take MS grades that seriously as there is a huge grade inflation problem with them IIRC.

7) What you are describing is either considered basic research or translational research (depending on what your researching... more or less). If you want to do clinical research look for a Study Coordinator position, but they often require a MS or RN degree.

Thanks! I did apply to a few positions that required help with grants/papers so maybe hopefully can get coauthored. If I'm a tech I can probs get automatically coauthored right? (atleast that's how it was at my lab). I already have a pub but want more.

What is the difference between RA1 and RA2? I suppose I could apply to the study coordinator position and hope they see how amazing I am and bypass the MS/RN (no chance).

Thanks for the help!

 

[chillaxbro]

What's the diff between RA1 and RA2

 

[DAPI]

Thanks! I did apply to a few positions that required help with grants/papers so maybe hopefully can get coauthored. If I'm a tech I can probs get automatically coauthored right? (atleast that's how it was at my lab). I already have a pub but want more.

What is the difference between RA1 and RA2? I suppose I could apply to the study coordinator position and hope they see how amazing I am and bypass the MS/RN (no chance).

Thanks for the help!

Not all labs publish their techs, you would need to ask the lab (note: tech =/= RA)

The reality is there is probably not that much of a difference. An RA2 is higher than an RA1 and generally RA2's are required to like order supplies and crap whereas an RA1 is not, but you would need to read the job posting.

 

[PingPongPro]

3-4: Its very unlikely to even find any job, nonetheless a medically related one, that will hire for only 2-3 months. I also live in a suburban area with limited opportunities, but I drive to a clinic in an urban area over an hour away regularly to volunteer there.The opportunities are out there if you can find them. I've been also working as a part time tutor. Not exactly medically related, but it does keep the stuff fresh in your mind during the down time. And the pay for tutoring is ridiculously higher than anywhere else I thought about working: ambulance company, research job, etc.

Also, I don't understand why your PI would be offended that you started working at another lab. I'm willing to bet he understands the game and would still think of you positively.

 

[embracethepain]

3-4: Its very unlikely to even find any job, nonetheless a medically related one, that will hire for only 2-3 months. I also live in a suburban area with limited opportunities, but I drive to a clinic in an urban area over an hour away regularly to volunteer there.The opportunities are out there if you can find them. I've been also working as a part time tutor. Not exactly medically related, but it does keep the stuff fresh in your mind during the down time. And the pay for tutoring is ridiculously higher than anywhere else I thought about working: ambulance company, research job, etc.

Also, I don't understand why your PI would be offended that you started working at another lab. I'm willing to bet he understands the game and would still think of you positively.

My PI is a little hard to understand/communicate with. I just don't want to mess up anything.

Tutoring actually sounds amazing. Did you go through a specific program (sylvan, komen) or do you freelance?

Yes, I am shadowing/volunteering so I'm not being a totally useless person but it is really bothering me that I'm not doing more. I just can't think of what else to do.

Do you think it is ok to ask/tell a PI that I want to publish and be involved with the writing process? I don't want to come off rude but it's something I've wanted to do.

 

[DAPI]

My PI is a little hard to understand/communicate with. I just don't want to mess up anything.

Tutoring actually sounds amazing. Did you go through a specific program (sylvan, komen) or do you freelance?

Yes, I am shadowing/volunteering so I'm not being a totally useless person but it is really bothering me that I'm not doing more. I just can't think of what else to do.

Do you think it is ok to ask/tell a PI that I want to publish and be involved with the writing process? I don't want to come off rude but it's something I've wanted to do.

A better way to go about it would be at the end of an interview, when the PI says, "do you have any questions for me?" One of them should be something along the lines of, "Do [job title you are applying for]'s participate in the actual writing of the paper and/or grants, because its something I have always been interested in doing." Or something like that, don't just tell him/her you want to help write the papers because that may come across strange.

 

[PingPongPro]

My PI is a little hard to understand/communicate with. I just don't want to mess up anything.

Tutoring actually sounds amazing. Did you go through a specific program (sylvan, komen) or do you freelance?

Yes, I am shadowing/volunteering so I'm not being a totally useless person but it is really bothering me that I'm not doing more. I just can't think of what else to do.

Do you think it is ok to ask/tell a PI that I want to publish and be involved with the writing process? I don't want to come off rude but it's something I've wanted to do.

lol about your PI. Sounds like a good description of a lot of people in academia ^^.

I need to know where you live before I tell you how I tutor. I can't have you stealing any potential clients... just kidding... I found that searching on craiglist under jobs/education has been really effective. If you did well on your SATs and graduated from a good undergrad, its pretty easy to get work.

I think its a little imposing to ask/tell a PI that, until you get to know them well that is. From their perspective, they might have been working on a project before you arrived at the lab and now you're asking for credit on the project without putting in your dues. Even if you arrive at the beginning, its hard to make it work out if you plan to leave for medical school. I think thats why a lot of PIs choose not to let premeds in their lab. Its probably better to just say that you "want to get much more involved and possibly take on more responsibilities".

 

[DAPI]

lol about your PI. Sounds like a good description of a lot of people in academia ^^.

I need to know where you live before I tell you how I tutor. I can't have you stealing any potential clients... just kidding... I found that searching on craiglist under jobs/education has been really effective. If you did well on your SATs and graduated from a good undergrad, its pretty easy to get work.

I think its a little imposing to ask/tell a PI that, until you get to know them well that is. From their perspective, they might have been working on a project before you arrived at the lab and now you're asking for credit on the project without putting in your dues. Even if you arrive at the beginning, its hard to make it work out if you plan to leave for medical school. I think thats why a lot of PIs choose not to let premeds in their lab. Its probably better to just say that you "want to get much more involved and possibly take on more responsibilities".

IDK about that last part... You should definitely make sure whatever job your applying for is allowed to be listed as an author, even if one of the last authors, if you contribute enough to the project. I mean, if they are using data you generated from doing experiments in the lab, you should definitely be on the author list. The labs I have worked in, the RA's do basically as much work as the post-docs and are always listed as a contributing author if they were apart of the project.

Lab techs do not always get published because they aren't exactly doing the experimenting, they are more or less just doing what the post-doc or RA told them to do, like run a qPCR or something, but RA's should be getting published in most settings.

 

[embracethepain]

lol about your PI. Sounds like a good description of a lot of people in academia ^^.

I need to know where you live before I tell you how I tutor. I can't have you stealing any potential clients... just kidding... I found that searching on craiglist under jobs/education has been really effective. If you did well on your SATs and graduated from a good undergrad, its pretty easy to get work.

I think its a little imposing to ask/tell a PI that, until you get to know them well that is. From their perspective, they might have been working on a project before you arrived at the lab and now you're asking for credit on the project without putting in your dues. Even if you arrive at the beginning, its hard to make it work out if you plan to leave for medical school. I think thats why a lot of PIs choose not to let premeds in their lab. Its probably better to just say that you "want to get much more involved and possibly take on more responsibilities".

Haha I graduated from a solid undergrad. The things I've heard about craigslist...I can foresee ending up in the newspaper under the "missing" section. I'll look there though.

In my prev. lab, usually everyone who contributes ends up on the paper as a coauthor. That includes techs (because without them, papers would be impossible), RAs, grad students, and postdocs who worked on that project. So I'm assuming there will be some labs like that around.

 

[embracethepain]

IDK about that last part... You should definitely make sure whatever job your applying for is allowed to be listed as an author, even if one of the last authors, if you contribute enough to the project. I mean, if they are using data you generated from doing experiments in the lab, you should definitely be on the author list. The labs I have worked in, the RA's do basically as much work as the post-docs and are always listed as a contributing author if they were apart of the project.

Lab techs do not always get published because they aren't exactly doing the experimenting, they are more or less just doing what the post-doc or RA told them to do, like run a qPCR or something, but RA's should be getting published in most settings.

agreed. I'm hoping I could ask them. I'm explicitly saying I want to work on pubs in my cover letters so hoping it will be obvious to them.

 

[DAPI]

agreed. I'm hoping I could ask them. I'm explicitly saying I want to work on pubs in my cover letters so hoping it will be obvious to them.

IDK how that is going to go over. I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, but explicitly saying you want to get published shows you have the wrong motivations. Explicitly saying you want to help write the paper seems pretentious. I mean, if someone asked to me help write a paper in a lab I had recently joined (< 1 year) I would really have no idea where to begin. The amount of background in that one specific area needs to be very extensive to be able to really contribute in a meaningful way when actually writing the paper.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[embracethepain]

IDK how that is going to go over. I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, but explicitly saying you want to get published shows you have the wrong motivations. Explicitly saying you want to help write the paper seems pretentious. I mean, if someone asked to me help write a paper in a lab I had recently joined (< 1 year) I would really have no idea where to begin. The amount of background in that one specific area needs to be very extensive to be able to really contribute in a meaningful way when actually writing the paper.

Just my 2 cents.

I'm just putting in a sentence saying I'm interested in writing/helping writing. Sounds very subtle. And I only put it for the postings that said the job requires writing/editing papers/grants.

I see where you are coming from though. One does need extensive background knowledge to write. I've seen ppl on their 2nd and 3rd postbacs reading a million papers to brush up on background while writing so I doubt i'll know .00001% of what they know. Urgh. this is annoying. idk how to not come off douchey.

 

[capsaicin trip]

1) I feel that the jobs I'm applying to are all really similar to stuff I've done before. Even if they are on a different subject, I don't feel like I'm "stepping up." I'm applying to RA1 and RA2 positions at universities. I want more responsibility and something "more." I don't know how else to put it. If I want to stay with the idea of working at a university, do I have to settle with RA1/RA2 jobs? I really want to write a research paper/write articles/etc. What should I do? Are there better positions to apply for? Also, how long can I expect to wait before hearing back for an interview?{/quote]

In this economy, you'll be lucky to find anything in a lab that pays.

3) Are there any short term, medically relevant jobs out there? I'm talking 2-3 months.

Not if you're hoping to get paid. Even if you submit your application today, you'll be incredibly lucky if you're interviewed and officially hired within one month. (And I thought you wanted to write articles? How do you expect to get enough data for a paper in only 3 months?)

If you want something to keep yourself busy, start by finding a volunteer job in a lab/hospital. You can keep applying to paid jobs, but since you don't know how long it'll take you to find one, it's good to have something that will look good on your application.

 

[embracethepain]

1) I feel that the jobs I'm applying to are all really similar to stuff I've done before. Even if they are on a different subject, I don't feel like I'm "stepping up." I'm applying to RA1 and RA2 positions at universities. I want more responsibility and something "more." I don't know how else to put it. If I want to stay with the idea of working at a university, do I have to settle with RA1/RA2 jobs? I really want to write a research paper/write articles/etc. What should I do? Are there better positions to apply for? Also, how long can I expect to wait before hearing back for an interview?{/quote]

In this economy, you'll be lucky to find anything in a lab that pays.



Not if you're hoping to get paid. Even if you submit your application today, you'll be incredibly lucky if you're interviewed and officially hired within one month. (And I thought you wanted to write articles? How do you expect to get enough data for a paper in only 3 months?)

If you want something to keep yourself busy, start by finding a volunteer job in a lab/hospital. You can keep applying to paid jobs, but since you don't know how long it'll take you to find one, it's good to have something that will look good on your application.

I have a volunteer job! I don't want to work in a lab for 2-3 months. I need to get a job for 2-3 months until I start working in the lab. I'll jut continue volunteering and shadowing till I get into the job. I hope volunteering/shadowing only won't look like I wasted my time to adcoms!

 

[DAPI]

I have a volunteer job! I don't want to work in a lab for 2-3 months. I need to get a job for 2-3 months until I start working in the lab. I'll jut continue volunteering and shadowing till I get into the job. I hope volunteering/shadowing only won't look like I wasted my time to adcoms!

If you want a 2-3 month job, go work at McDonalds. 1) No one else is going to hire you quickly enough, meaning you would really only work for <2 months. 2) No one wants a 2-3 month employee, including McDonalds.

Also, why do you want a 2-3 month job? Why don't you just focus on getting the lab job for now?

 

[embracethepain]

Hi guys, sorry to revive this thread again. However, I read through all the past posts regarding CRC vs research assistant 2 posts and was wondering, which do you guys recommend? Can CRCs get published???