In a bit of a gap year bind, advice ?

[ShopgirlNY152]

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Hi all,

I'm currently having to choose between (3) options for my gap year. I want to do a mix of what I'd like most, and also, ultimately, what would reflect favorably upon my med school application. I graduated this month, and will be taking a projected (2) gap years before matriculation. I'd planned on taking 1, and taking my MCAT this summer, but I have not taken Biochemistry, and don't feel comfortable enough just self-studying it.

Option 1: Go to Indonesia as a Fulbright ETA Fellow. This option is awesome! I love Indonesia! But, my cGPA and sGPA are mediocre at best right now, and I do need to take Biochemistry and a few other classes to get my cGPA to over a 3.7 and my sGPA over a 3.5/3.6. If I go on my Fulbright, I will not be able to take post-bacc classes unless they are online, and a lot of schools do not accept online credits.

Option 2: Teach HS Biology at an area school. I'm a licensed teacher, and was recently offered a job teaching full time. I'm not sure if adcoms see this as a plus or minus, I've been told both. I've also been told that adcoms will question my intentions of wanting a career in medicine if I've already worked in Education. Also, while I do love teaching, it is very high stress, especially for a first-year teacher. Planning, teaching, and grading can be very time consuming tasks, so I am not sure how much time I will be able to devote to my courses, as well as MCAT preparation.

Option 3: Take a job as an NIH IRTA Fellow. I actually got called from a lab this evening after cold calling and emailing a copious amount of PI's. The money is not so good (About half as much as I'd make being a teacher), but the research experience is GREAT. Also I do not think this is as high stress as being a teacher, but I fear it is a very cookie-cutter thing to do. Additionally, this is a good resume filler as I plan on re-applying for a Fulbright Research position if I do not end up doing Fulbright ETA this year.

Option 4: Become a dentist...lol, kidding! But it is enticing sometimes...haha jokes.

Anyways, any opinions would be greatly appreciated!!​

 

[ramifications]

Option 3, given that you could possibly take classes on the side. ETA isn't as prestigious as the actual Fullbright. Research is also better on the side to have.

 

[ShopgirlNY152]

Option 3, given that you could possibly take classes on the side. ETA isn't as prestigious as the actual Fullbright. Research is also better on the side to have.

Yeah I've heard that before too, that an ETA doesn't look as impressive. Tbh, if I didn't have coursework this would be a no brainer, a year in Indonesia sounds awesome! But, in order to not further delay my gap years, I have to buckle down and make some sacrifices.

Thank you for your advice. Teaching is awesome, but I am leaning towards NIH.

 

[northernlights15]

1) Do you have any research experience at all?
2) What's your current cGPA/sGPA?

If you have no research and need to take classes to boost GPA, I like option 3 the best!

 

[ramifications]

I mean at one point you will have to decide: is your goal to become a teacher or a doctor. I can't contest you if you say that you want to be a medical professor but then you'd be sacrificing some years of clinical training.

 

[ShopgirlNY152]

1) Do you have any research experience at all?
2) What's your current cGPA/sGPA?

If you have no research and need to take classes to boost GPA, I like option 3 the best!

Thanks, yeah I have a lot of non-science research, but I'd like some science experience.

 

[ShopgirlNY152]

I mean at one point you will have to decide: is your goal to become a teacher or a doctor. I can't contest you if you say that you want to be a medical professor but then you'd be sacrificing some years of clinical training.

Lol, I've decided, I want to be a doctor. I'm just wondering what to do during my gap years.

Edit: I meant doctor! haha dang phone typing on the metro

 

[AgentMay]

I would go with Option 1 if you have already been accepted into the Fullbright program. It doesn't only allow you to gain research experience, but also allow you to expose to other culture, plus you get to travel before you start med school. I see that as a life time opportunity. However, if you haven't been accept yet, I think Option 3 would be best. Because again, you can gain research experience, while taking classes/studying for MCAT on the side. If your goal is to go to med school and become a doctor, having research experience is important for applying to med school (especially the research oriented one, which almost every single med school is), a bonus if you can get your name on pub.

With all of this being said, if you want to choose to teach at a local high school, don't sweat it. As long as you manage to maintain competitive MCAT and GPA when you apply, you will be fine. There are plenty of non-trad who get into med school with their compelling stories.

 

[ShopgirlNY152]

I would go with Option 1 if you have already been accepted into the Fullbright program. It doesn't only allow you to gain research experience, but also allow you to expose to other culture, plus you get to travel before you start med school. I see that as a life time opportunity. However, if you haven't been accept yet, I think Option 3 would be best. Because again, you can gain research experience, while taking classes/studying for MCAT on the side. If your goal is to go to med school and become a doctor, having research experience is important for applying to med school (especially the research oriented one, which almost every single med school is), a bonus if you can get your name on pub.

With all of this being said, if you want to choose to teach at a local high school, don't sweat it. As long as you manage to maintain competitive MCAT and GPA when you apply, you will be fine. There are plenty of non-trad who get into med school with their compelling stories.

I have already been accepted to the Fulbright, but I'm just hesitant because I hear adcoms are weary of online creds. And I NEED to apply next year, I can't delay more than that!

 

[AgentMay]

Now I wonder if you can take some of your science classes in Indonesia while doing Fullbright there? Man, this is hard to see you pass up prestigious opportunity like this one since it is not easy to come by. My last piece of advice to you (take it as a grain of salt) is that med school will always be there whether you apply now, next year, or two years later. No need to rush. Also, whatever experience you choose to do, make sure you choose the experience that you can see yourself enjoy doing and not because it looks good on your AMCAS. Because (1) you are not only doing yourself a favor but (2) it will also help you when it's time for you to apply to med school. Especially, during the interview, you don't want to bore adcoms while telling your unexcited experience that you did to get into med school.

Whatever option you choose to do, I'm sure you'll be fine. And good luck with everything.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I really don't think working as a teacher is going to hurt your chances that much. A lot of medical schools like teaching experience, and since many are trying to produce leaders in academic medicine, showing that you enjoy teaching (while also displaying clearly that medicine is your ultimate goal) may actually be a plus. Just be prepared to explain why medicine instead of full-time teaching and it could work in your favor.

 

[vellez]

Do whatever will teach YOU about medicine/how to be a doctor. Don't concern yourself with how it will "look", because when it comes time to write your PS, the things you did to "look" good will be hard to write about. The things that TAUGHT you something will be a lot easier, and frankly, much more interesting. You'd be surprised at how many of premeds activities overlab (albeit, they are good activities).

 

[LostinLift]

Also most online classes won't show up as online on your transcripts, nor do I recall any schools asking for information regarding any online classes.