Lag year blues

[indymed]

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Ok, its been three months and I still can't find a job. What are some options for the lag year other than research or teaching. I know emt courses take a whole year, so that may not be a good option. What else is acceptable/ look good for med school? I really need to get busy. How does one go about becoming a hospital orderly? Any advice I can get. Thanks.

 

[breezey]

hey, if you are into the EMT idea, it only takes one semester to complete the course, at least it did when i took it. it was pretty fun and low-key too.

as for other ideas for your lag year, from somebody whose lag year is ending in 12 hours (med school starts tomorrow morning), i would say, anything looks good to the adcoms as long as you are continuing to be an engaged and interested member of society. work, volunteer, travel, do school, whatever floats your boat, but keep busy. you want to have a good answer in your interviews when they ask you what you have been up to recently, but you don't have to just choose from the standard ideas of "what looks good" to the adcoms. its transparent to them and you wont enjoy your year as much as if you just do what interests you/is neccesitated (ie working).

good luck with your apps and your upcoming year. remember how good it is to be young and free, for a little longer at least!

breezey

 

[DOtobe]

I had a "lag year" between when I graduated from college and when I started med school, and after going on interviews for jobs doing research but getting no job offers, I decided that I was just going to get a part-time job. I didn't do anything science- or medicine-related...I worked as a cashier in a grocery store. It was a nice, low-stress job that gave me plenty of free time to just relax. And my interviewers didn't hold it against me when I told them I was doing that job at the time. I think as long as you show that you are not at home on the Internet all day, they will not hold it against you. I would just get a low stress job (or even volunteer, as breezey said) because once you start medical school there will not be much time to just chill out and relax.

 

[s42brown]

I am just finishing up a lag year with medschool starting in a few weeks. I would suggest looking into job openings at you local community college. I just finished a year working in the math and science learning center at St. Louis Community college and loved it. I really believe sitting around solving science and math problems all day make you sharper. In addition it was completely stress free. just my 2 cents

 

[DD214_DOC]

What does it matter what they care, if you've already been accepted?

 

[EMPOWERurSELF!]

I suggest maybe going to yahoo.com, click on yellow pages, and take a look at the different categories under Health. Thats where I found an awsome volunteer opportunity at a community health clinic and also the job at the hospital where I work now. I just looked up some interesting-looking places and then called or checked out their websites. I couldn't believe how many different and unique places there are that I never knew about who are willing to hire students or take them in as volunteers.

 

[PublicHealth]

During my "lag year," I completed an MPH in psychiatric epidemiology, published two review articles and one research article, shadowed a D.O., and volunteered in the Dept. of Psychiatry at a local hospital.

There's plenty to do!