Interested in geriatrics, should I work at a pediatrics practice?

[E0001234]

Want to open by mentioning that I have already submitted the majority of my secondaries.

I have a pretty strong interest in geriatrics, and have tried to demonstrate that with nearly 1k hours research experience on geriatric health services in combination with >500 hours nursing home activity aide work.

However, during my gap years, I have been working as a scribe at a pediatric hospital, and now have the opportunity to begin working as an MA at an outpt pediatrics practice.

A few questions: will it look weird to adcoms that I’ve done stuff in pediatrics even though I say I’m interested in geriatrics? Is it worth investing in the certifications I might need for the MA role (won’t need MA cert, it’s a sort of job targeted towards pre-meds in gap years, but will need other certs) considering that my applications are complete?

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[LunaOri]

Enjoy your experience in pediatrics! We do not expect you to have committed to a specialty before you have even begun med school.

 

[E0001234]

Enjoy your experience in pediatrics! We do not expect you to have committed to a specialty before you have even begun med school.

Thank you! I guess I’m also wondering whether transitioning to the MA role would ‘add’ anything to how schools evaluate me as an applicant since the role won’t be in my primary app? I know we shouldn’t do things just to check boxes, but I am quite comfortable in my scribing job and want to be sure leaving the job would be the right move

 

[AJS59]

Thank you! I guess I’m also wondering whether transitioning to the MA role would ‘add’ anything to how schools evaluate me as an applicant since the role won’t be in my primary app? I know we shouldn’t do things just to check boxes, but I am quite comfortable in my scribing job and want to be sure leaving the job would be the right move

It's something you can bring up in update letters or interviews, but as long as you have sufficient clinical experience (nursing home aide activity work is a borderline case, depending on what it is you were actually doing and if an adcom considers nursing home residents patients or not) then the MA role won't really tip the scales meaningfully.

 

[E0001234]

It's something you can bring up in update letters or interviews, but as long as you have sufficient clinical experience (nursing home aide activity work is a borderline case, depending on what it is you were actually doing and if an adcom considers nursing home residents patients or not) then the MA role won't really tip the scales meaningfully.

That makes sense. I have the scribing (>1k hours) which I hope is solidly clinical, but with the activity aide work I helped residents ambulate/set up meals/other limited ADL assistance. I chose to categorize it as non-clinical work on AMCAS just to be safe, but either way it was super meaningful to me.

 

[LizzyM]

Some schools might ask if there have been any changes to your application since you submitted the secondary or what you are going during this year. Just tell them what your job is, etc. No biggie, really. The concern would be if you were not looking for work and not really doing anything.