Need help choosing between two job offers!

[nontradalex]

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Okay ladies and gents,

I'm applying to medical school May 2016. Been on the job hunt for medical related work to strengthen my application and I have landed two job offers.

Job #1 is as a medical scribe. Unsure hours as they will send me to wherever a doc needs a scribe, probably pays ~$12/hour, probably not the best employee benefits.

Job #2 is as a medical technologist. Set full time hours, more independent responsibility, $50k a year, full employee benefits.

Which is looked on more favorably by medical school admission boards? Could you see yourself scribing for more than 2 years in a row as the job I choose will be what I will do until I start medical school in 2017?

 

[md-2020]

It won't matter. Go for the better compensation with the med tech!

 

[Catalystik]

Okay ladies and gents,

I'm applying to medical school May 2016. Been on the job hunt for medical related work to strengthen my application and I have landed two job offers.

Job #1 is as a medical scribe. Unsure hours as they will send me to wherever a doc needs a scribe, probably pays ~$12/hour, probably not the best employee benefits.

Job #2 is as a medical technologist. Set full time hours, more independent responsibility, $50k a year, full employee benefits.

Which is looked on more favorably by medical school admission boards? Could you see yourself scribing for more than 2 years in a row as the job I choose will be what I will do until I start medical school in 2017?

Take the higher paying job with full benefits.

 

[Meeehai]

Job #2 offers more learning experiences as well as better pay and benefits. Also, scribing can be really boring. I don't see why you would even consider the first option.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

No questions asked, pick the second job.

 

[nontradalex]

Job #2 offers more learning experiences as well as better pay and benefits. Also, scribing can be really boring. I don't see why you would even consider the first option.

The only reason I am considering the first job is because I'm under the impression that admission boards consider scribing to be more "clinical experience" than being a medical technologist.
Can anyone tell me if my impressions are true or not?

Money is not really my priority right now. I'm focused on making my application as strong as possible. I have a lot of research experience already, have volunteered at hospitals doing non-clinical stuff. No success shadowing a doctor so I need clinical experience badly.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I think the tech job would be better. I oversee a lot of medical scribes.

 

[GrapesofRath]

The only reason I am considering the first job is because I'm under the impression that admission boards consider scribing to be more "clinical experience" than being a medical technologist.
Can anyone tell me if my impressions are true or not?

Money is not really my priority right now. I'm focused on making my application as strong as possible. I have a lot of research experience already, have volunteered at hospitals doing non-clinical stuff. No success shadowing a doctor so I need clinical experience badly.

Try volunteering at a hospital doing clinical stuff and seeing patients. The importance of shadowing by and large is overstated on this site; yes it's good to get some but a) the hours you need for it aren't nearly as high as you think b) not having any isn't lethal, particularly if you have strong clinical exposure in other parts of your apps. What is lethal is not having clinical exposure.

Medical technologist might not be as hardcore "clinical" exposure as a scribe, but it's still a great job and while money might not be a factor for you, it's not a bad idea to consider the benefits of having 50k instead of 20-25k. Like I said, supplement this job with some volunteering in a hospital that gives you patient interaction and you're lack of clinical exposure worries are taken care of.

 

[Salt Salt]

I understand where you're coming from. As far as clinical experience goes, scribing is about the best you can get. Still, I'd do the tech job.

 

[nontradalex]

Try volunteering at a hospital doing clinical stuff and seeing patients. The importance of shadowing by and large is overstated on this site; yes it's good to get some but a) the hours you need for it aren't nearly as high as you think b) not having any isn't lethal, particularly if you have strong clinical exposure in other parts of your apps. What is lethal is not having clinical exposure.

Medical technologist might not be as hardcore "clinical" exposure as a scribe, but it's still a great job and while money might not be a factor for you, it's not a bad idea to consider the benefits of having 50k instead of 20-25k. Like I said, supplement this job with some volunteering in a hospital that gives you patient interaction and you're lack of clinical exposure worries are taken care of.

Well I got the offer details today and have decided to do the medical technologist job. Will try to scribe on weekends.

A no brainer decision when the scribe people came at me with a minimum wage offer! I used to make 90k a year :'(
But medical school will be worth it when I graduate.