MCAT Instructor & Textbook Contributing Author vs. front desk job vs. entry level research

[Gauss44]

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Out of the 3 jobs in the title, which do you think most ADCOMs would find most impressive, second most impressive, and least impressive?

So far those are my options for a summer job. Feel free to indicate how much better or worse you think these 3 jobs are.

(......Yes, of course GPA and MCAT rule, but that's not my question. .......and my GPA and MCAT aren't bad either!)

 

[Kelevra]

Do you already have research? Have you held others jobs? I think if you want to have something interesting to discuss, front desk would be last.

 

[Gauss44]

Do you already have research? Have you held others jobs? I think if you want to have something interesting to discuss, front desk would be last.

I see your point. And how much "fun" an interview is can be influenced by what there is to discuss.

 

[Kelevra]

I see your point. And how much "fun" an interview is can be influenced by what there is to discuss.

Precisely.

 

[Catalystik]

MCAT Instructor & Textbook Contributing Author vs. front desk job vs. entry level research
Out of the 3 jobs in the title, which do you think most ADCOMs would find most impressive, second most impressive, and least impressive?

So far those are my options for a summer job. Feel free to indicate how much better or worse you think these 3 jobs are.

(......Yes, of course GPA and MCAT rule, but that's not my question. .......and my GPA and MCAT aren't bad either!)

If you have no research, get the research in. If you have a decent amount of research already, go with the first choice provided.

 

[caffeinemia]

If you have no research, get the research in. If you have a decent amount of research already, go with the first choice provided.

Agree. In a results oriented world:

Publication + some research >>> some research plus more research >> no research + some research >> no research + publication?

Now I am confused...

 

[Doug Underhill]

You guys think being a MCAT instructor looks better on someone's app than front desk in a clinic? I interact with patients all the time in my front desk position at an ambulatory clinic. It's given me some great insights into longitudinal primary care.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

You guys think being a MCAT instructor looks better on someone's app than front desk in a clinic? I interact with patients all the time in my front desk position at an ambulatory clinic. It's given me some great insights into longitudinal primary care.

Why not do both? You can just do a lecture a week right? Not sure which test prep company you would be working with but it can be a seriously part time job to teach MCAT.

 

[gyngyn]

Research is a necessary component for many schools.
People skills are vital in medicine.
Test prep teachers are quite common in this pool.

 

[Catalystik]

You guys think being a MCAT instructor looks better on someone's app than front desk in a clinic? I interact with patients all the time in my front desk position at an ambulatory clinic. It's given me some great insights into longitudinal primary care.

Side comment: OP didn't not specify what type of front desk job he was referring to, and due to lack of other descriptors, a nonclinic job was a reasonable conclusion.

@Doug Underhill :Both require people skills, but the latter provides essential active clinical experience. The former demonstrates you are able to impart information effectively to others so they retain it. If you have no experience interacting with sick folks, the front desk clinic job would be critical to one's success. If you do, then the teaching gig broadens your appeal.

 

[Gauss44]

Side comment: OP didn't not specify what type of front desk job he was referring to, and due to lack of other descriptors, a nonclinic job was a reasonable conclusion.

@Doug Underhill :Both require people skills, but the latter provides essential active clinical experience. The former demonstrates you are able to impart information effectively to others so they retain it. If you have no experience interacting with sick folks, the front desk clinic job would be critical to one's success. If you do, then the teaching gig broadens your appeal.

I've been an ER volunteer and volunteer trainer forever practically so I am inclined to think that a front desk job at the hospital or clinc would be redundant for me. Since I'm looking for guidance, feel free to express different perspectives.

At this point, I think I'm leaning toward a combination of being an MCAT Instructor, textbook author, and doing a little research on the side, which should all be possible. If I have to pick and choose because schedules conflict or something, then the fun begins again.

 

[Catalystik]

I've been an ER volunteer and volunteer trainer forever practically so I am inclined to think that a front desk job at the hospital or clinc would be redundant for me. Since I'm looking for guidance, feel free to express different perspectives.

At this point, I think I'm leaning toward a combination of being an MCAT Instructor, textbook author, and doing a little research on the side, which should all be possible. If I have to pick and choose because schedules conflict or something, then the fun begins again.

They might be redundant, but if the front desk clinic job is paid, considering you need to support yourself, it's reasonable to go with that. So long as you do some research, too, if it's lacking.

It crossed my mind that it was possible to incorporate all those elements on a part-time basis, but that wan't a provided option. On what topic is the text book chapter you'd work on?

Is a full-time paid lab assistantship on the table?

 

[Goro]

1) Research
2) MCAT Instructor
3) desk job (but as Doug U points out, it depends where this is)

Love what you do and do what you love, not try to impress us.

Out of the 3 jobs in the title, which do you think most ADCOMs would find most impressive, second most impressive, and least impressive?

So far those are my options for a summer job. Feel free to indicate how much better or worse you think these 3 jobs are.

(......Yes, of course GPA and MCAT rule, but that's not my question. .......and my GPA and MCAT aren't bad either!)

 

[Gauss44]

They might be redundant, but if the front desk clinic job is paid, considering you need to support yourself, it's reasonable to go with that. So long as you do some research, too, if it's lacking.

It crossed my mind that it was possible to incorporate all those elements on a part-time basis, but that wan't a provided option. On what topic is the text book chapter you'd work on?

Is a full-time paid lab assistantship on the table?

The textbook chapter would be an MCAT topic. I suspect that we would negotiate that. What did you have in mind when asking?

Yes, I think I'm going to try to incorporate the research, instructor, and authorship positions.

 

[Catalystik]

The textbook chapter would be an MCAT topic. I suspect that we would negotiate that. What did you have in mind when asking?

Great expertise in some fields of endeavor might be prized by some adcomms. Others, not so much.