Internship=work experience?

[EdgeTrimmer]

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Does a summer internship count as work experience? Is there a difference between (research) internship in academic setting vs private businesses?

 

[LizzyM]

Who's asking? For what purpose? Are you completing a secondary, a resume or a late AMCAS application?

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Who's asking? For what purpose? Are you completing a secondary, a resume or a late AMCAS application?

@LizzyM - Asking for a current junior who is planning for next summer and hoping to apply for next cycle. Already has strong research and good volunteering experiences. Should they pursue an industry research experience (biotech) or continue research in academic setting or get additional volunteering and focus next summer on applications?

 

[LizzyM]

In my opinion, something done during the summer that applications go in should not be so intensive that it does not allow for time to write and submit secondaries. It should also be something that might help prepare for full-time employment on a long-term basis if the application cycle doesn't work out (which is the situation for >50% of all applicants).

What a person chooses to do might be best determined by what they'd like to do long term if the application cycle doesn't work out. There is no one right answer but at least one right answer for each individual.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

In my opinion, something done during the summer that applications go in should not be so intensive that it does not allow for time to write and submit secondaries. It should also be something that might help prepare for full-time employment on a long-term basis if the application cycle doesn't work out (which is the situation for >50% of all applicants).

What a person chooses to do might be best determined by what they'd like to do long term if the application cycle doesn't work out. There is no one right answer but at least one right answer for each individual.

Thanks @LizzyM Not thinking about application cycle not working out for now (aware of the stats) Only thinking about strengthening the application but at the same time mindful of time it takes to complete for secondaries. Planning to take MCAT in January and by the time scores are out it may be too late to apply for internships.

 

[LizzyM]

Apply for the internship if that’s what you want. If your circumstances change, you could always decline the offer. Would this be a paid position? Is it related to new knowledge and scientific discovery or using laboratory methods for business/ customers. (eg quality control in manufacturing , genetic testing for clients etc.)?

 

[Franzd'Epinay]

It's one summer--it won't make or break your application. I doubt schools will care that you did x years + 3 months of research vs. x years of research + 3 months of biotech work. Do what sounds most interesting to you.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

It's one summer--it won't make or break your application. I doubt schools will care that you did x years + 3 months of research vs. x years of research + 3 months of biotech work. Do what sounds most interesting to you.

It's more about getting work experience as @Goro and others recommend. They have no work experience besides paid research internships at academic institutions. That's why wondering doing an internship in industry (biotech or others) counts as real work experience.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Apply for the internship if that’s what you want. If your circumstances change, you could always decline the offer. Would this be a paid position? Is it related to new knowledge and scientific discovery or using laboratory methods for business/ customers. (eg quality control in manufacturing , genetic testing for clients etc.)?

It is paid positon and relevant to their research (computational) intersts.

 

[LizzyM]

It is paid positon and relevant to their research (computational) intersts.

employment, non-clinical for one summer in an industry that could be a potential employer if for any reason the application cycle is disappointing would not be a bad thing and could be seen as a positive. It can also be part of a "why medicine?" response... tried research given my interest in computational biology and found that my long term goals are better aligned with clinical care medicine for the following reasons....