M1 Summer, need help making a choice

[DrBB]

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I currently have two options for this summer:

Option 1: Do basic science research at my school for 8 weeks full time. Stipend of $4000 is provided. Also allows for the possibility of getting a letter of recommendation from the PI.

Option 2: Internship at pharmaceutical company. 12 weeks, full time. Pays significantly more, and most likely won't be able to get a letter from a PhD or MD that would help for residencies.

What would you guys do? Option 1 allows me to have at least a few weeks at the end of the summer to recharge my batteries for M2. Option 2 pays better but takes the entire summer and probably won't get me a letter of recommendation.

 

[Speculatrix]

I currently have two options for this summer:

Option 1: Do basic science research at my school for 8 weeks full time. Stipend of $4000 is provided. Also allows for the possibility of getting a letter of recommendation from the PI.

Option 2: Internship at pharmaceutical company. 12 weeks, full time. Pays significantly more, and most likely won't be able to get a letter from a PhD or MD that would help for residencies.

What would you guys do? Option 1 allows me to have at least a few weeks at the end of the summer to recharge my batteries for M2. Option 2 pays better but takes the entire summer and probably won't get me a letter of recommendation.

What is your financial status? Is this just for play money? What is your academic status? Are you going into something very competitive? Do you need bolstering of your academic CV? Do you have any current deficiencies?

Most of your letters for residencies are going to come from attendings you've worked with in 3rd and 4th year, unless you plan on applying to places with a specific research bent, in which case the PI letter will help.

If I were you, if the pay is >40% more at the pharmaceutical company, I would take it. You can parlay that experience into a few lines in your personal statement. Keep in mind you may still need to do research later on, especially for some competitive residencies.

 

[DrBB]

What is your financial status? Is this just for play money? What is your academic status? Are you going into something very competitive? Do you need bolstering of your academic CV? Do you have any current deficiencies?

Most of your letters for residencies are going to come from attendings you've worked with in 3rd and 4th year, unless you plan on applying to places with a specific research bent, in which case the PI letter will help.

If I were you, if the pay is >40% more at the pharmaceutical company, I would take it. You can parlay that experience into a few lines in your personal statement. Keep in mind you may still need to do research later on, especially for some competitive residencies.

Thanks for your response. A good portion of the money would go towards tuition right away, bc I don't want to accumulate interest on the loans. The only thing really holding me back from the pharma job is that it would take the entire summer, and would not give me any time to relax.

I'm not quite set on what specialty I want to go into, but it could very well be something be competitive. Do you think the basic science research at school is better for my CV?

 

[Speculatrix]

Thanks for your response. A good portion of the money would go towards tuition right away, bc I don't want to accumulate interest on the loans. The only thing really holding me back from the pharma job is that it would take the entire summer, and would not give me any time to relax.

I'm not quite set on what specialty I want to go into, but it could very well be something be competitive. Do you think the basic science research at school is better for my CV?

You need to set a price on your time/happiness. The time to relax may be very important to you if you are feeling especially burnt out or want to recuperate before second year. You will be "paying yourself" to relax by taking a paycut in that time off. Also will depend on how much time you get off after boards next year, etc. The basic science research at school is undoubtedly better for your CV (but maybe not by much? especially if you don't publish). This boils down to an issue of relaxation vs money in my opinion, since the academic boost doesn't seem terribly significant to me. It doesn't sound like you have terrible financial issues so maybe you ought to make relaxation your priority.

 

[njbmd]

I currently have two options for this summer:

Option 1: Do basic science research at my school for 8 weeks full time. Stipend of $4000 is provided. Also allows for the possibility of getting a letter of recommendation from the PI.

Option 2: Internship at pharmaceutical company. 12 weeks, full time. Pays significantly more, and most likely won't be able to get a letter from a PhD or MD that would help for residencies.

What would you guys do? Option 1 allows me to have at least a few weeks at the end of the summer to recharge my batteries for M2. Option 2 pays better but takes the entire summer and probably won't get me a letter of recommendation.

Residency LORs need to come from your clinical preceptors during your third year. Any EC-type LORs are not worth much once you have entered medical school and certainly do not sway a residency program director very much. Don't let obtaining a LOR sway your summer choice.

If your grades are OK, you don't need to do much during the summer except relax and get ready to do well next year. Making money is nice but relaxation is worth more. This is essentially your last summer to relax until you graduate from medical school. I certainly wouldn't waste the chance to do just that. You can't get this time back.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I'd go the pharm route.

8 weeks in basic science research isn't enough time to get much accomplished. You also wouldn't use a LOR from a basic scientist in most instances.

The pharm route is more unique, pays better, and sounds more fun to me.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'd go the pharm route.

8 weeks in basic science research isn't enough time to get much accomplished. You also wouldn't use a LOR from a basic scientist in most instances.

The pharm route is more unique, pays better, and sounds more fun to me.

👍

I mean, I'd recommend sitting on your butt and playing video games or whatever all summer, but if you want to do something academic-ish, the pharm thing sounds pretty cool.

 

[anony mouse]

Dr. BB, out of curiosity I've just got to know, how much are the pharm folks going to pay you?

In my opinion, the pharm internship might hurt more than it helps, at least at my school/hospital Pharmaceutical companies aren't looked too highly upon. Would you want to open yourself up to thoughts that your future actions might be influenced by the $$$ that the company shelled out to you for a summer? For the same reason that more and more institutions are kicking pharm reps out and that physicians are being discouraged from doing so much as accepting free pens from drug companies, I would avoid it. Don't mean to sound preachy, just some thoughts to consider. Besides, $4,000 for 8? weeks of research is pretty stellar (double what I got paid), you will get to know folks at your home institution and will still have some time left over to chillax, which is important.

Of course, if you are planning to go into consulting for a pharm company that would be a different story . . .

 

[Perrotfish]

Definiltey option C: Travel, relax, and go even deeper into debt.

Failing that, my vote is for the research thing.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Dr. BB, out of curiosity I've just got to know, how much are the pharm folks going to pay you?

In my opinion, the pharm internship might hurt more than it helps, at least at my school/hospital Pharmaceutical companies aren't looked too highly upon. Would you want to open yourself up to thoughts that your future actions might be influenced by the $$$ that the company shelled out to you for a summer? For the same reason that more and more institutions are kicking pharm reps out and that physicians are being discouraged from doing so much as accepting free pens from drug companies, I would avoid it. Don't mean to sound preachy, just some thoughts to consider. Besides, $4,000 for 8? weeks of research is pretty stellar (double what I got paid), you will get to know folks at your home institution and will still have some time left over to chillax, which is important.

Of course, if you are planning to go into consulting for a pharm company that would be a different story . . .

Yep, I bet your school is also strongly opposed to prescribing any medications and to any pharmaceutical R&D, right? DrBB didn't say he was going to work as a pharma sales rep for the summer, for chrissake.

 

[DrBB]

Dr. BB, out of curiosity I've just got to know, how much are the pharm folks going to pay you?

In my opinion, the pharm internship might hurt more than it helps, at least at my school/hospital Pharmaceutical companies aren't looked too highly upon. Would you want to open yourself up to thoughts that your future actions might be influenced by the $$$ that the company shelled out to you for a summer? For the same reason that more and more institutions are kicking pharm reps out and that physicians are being discouraged from doing so much as accepting free pens from drug companies, I would avoid it. Don't mean to sound preachy, just some thoughts to consider. Besides, $4,000 for 8? weeks of research is pretty stellar (double what I got paid), you will get to know folks at your home institution and will still have some time left over to chillax, which is important.

Of course, if you are planning to go into consulting for a pharm company that would be a different story . . .

I actually don't know exactly what the pay at the pharm company is going to be, but they let me know that I got the job and will give me the specifics shortly (I will probably find out tomorrow). The research position at school comes out to be something like 12 dollars an hour and I'm assuming that the pharm company will pay more simply because its a pharm company.

I also thought about the negative connotations that may be associated with working for a pharm company, but since its only a summer gig, I doubt it would hurt me.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I actually don't know exactly what the pay at the pharm company is going to be, but they let me know that I got the job and will give me the specifics shortly (I will probably find out tomorrow). The research position at school comes out to be something like 12 dollars an hour and I'm assuming that the pharm company will pay more simply because its a pharm company.

I also thought about the negative connotations that may be associated with working for a pharm company, but since its only a summer gig, I doubt it would hurt me.

It won't hurt you.

 

[DrJosephKim]

What's your long-term goal?

 

[DrBB]

What's your long-term goal?

Not sure exactly, but I always imagined myself going into practice.

 

[AlexMorph]

Not sure exactly, but I always imagined myself going into practice.

As opposed to not practicing as a doctor?

 

[DrBB]

As opposed to not practicing as a doctor?

Yeah, there are other options for people with MD's you know...Pharmaceutical industry, teaching, etc.

 

[starkcrazy]

i'd do the pharm thing and earn some ca-ching --- only if it's a job that's not excruciatingly painful/depressing/boring..... in which case, ur better off doing research at ur home institution or doing nothing at all

pick something not-stressful.

 

[hurdlepup]

Here is what I'm doing:
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Cutting open cadavers. (couldn't get enough👍)

Home improvements.

Wilderness first aid class (I like being outdoors)

brewing beer

traveling to central america

taking a tropical med elective

weddings, weddings, weddings...
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No research, but should be plenty busy!!

 

[JustCallMeDoc]

Do whatever you would actually enjoy doing more. Don't do research just because you think you are supposed to, and don't work at the pharm company just because it pays you more. The money won't make that big of a difference in the long run anyways. Some people absolutely love research, and they should do it in the summer after first year, but for most people it would be much better to relax before second year. Don't waste the last summer you'll have for a long time doing something you don't enjoy, or something that might be so much work that you will be burnt out at the end of the summer. The summer needs to rejuvenate you. Pick whichever option will do that more.

 

[Kahlan]

You should also take into account that in many cases the stipend you get for summer research comes out of your fall financial aid. Several students at my school didn't know that and were very strapped for cash that quarter. You'd have to check into that if you were going to make a decision based on money.