Planning for coming year

[MegaSonic]

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I'm at the point in my application process where I've determined that I may not get in. I'm on the wait list at two schools, still waiting to hear from another, and one more interview left. So I'm planning for what to do if I don't get in. This is the first time I've applied. I completed my undergrad in May 2011 and did a post-bac that finished in May 2012.

I have some research experience but no lab experience which is something I'd like to get. However, I don't qualify for most structured research programs that I've found. I know about the NIH IRTA, but the 2-year point from graduation is coming up quickly for me. I've also gotten permission to apply to a summer program at Wash U even though I don't quite fit their eligibility guidelines. That would be nice since I could still participate even if I'm accepted to med school. I'm still looking for other possible opportunities. I've applied to scribe positions before and I'll probably try again. Although they are supposedly for pre-med students most them turned away as soon as I said I'm applying in this cycle and I would have met their minimum 1-year requirements.

The post-bac was for fixing my grades (well, not fixing, but showing I can do well over the course of time), and I did well there and in the last year of my undergrad. I'll probably take the MCAT again. Last year I was specifically advised by multiple people on ad coms to not take the MCAT again but I sense they only said that because I'm an URM. I know I can do plenty better when I put my head in the books and I should have gone with my own instincts.

I did apply somewhat late with secondaries done in Sep/Oct. Mostly my fault and partially the fault of AMCAS (There were some problems that I had to tell them several times to fix). That won't happen again.

Any ideas?

 

[gmcguitar4]

When you apply to jobs, do not tell them you are applying to med schools, you wont get hired. I had so many good high paying jobs turn me down that I was perfect for because of this factor. I have a job now but I told them I want to goto medical school but work for a while first. It is a little unethical but when you need money, you need money. No job wants someone for less than 2 years usually.

 

[WillburCobb]

When you apply to jobs, do not tell them you are applying to med schools, you wont get hired. I had so many good high paying jobs turn me down that I was perfect for because of this factor. I have a job now but I told them I want to goto medical school but work for a while first. It is a little unethical but when you need money, you need money. No job wants someone for less than 2 years usually.

Exactly what I did. Turned-out to be a good thing too as I'm likely going to have to re-apply. Now while I'm "waiting" around for a year I have a decent paying job that's a good EC builder for med school and allows me to work directly with physicians.

 

[bollywoodlover]

Apply earlier and broader nxt yr and you will get in! October is killer!

 

[MegaSonic]

Thanks for the advice, although not exactly what I was looking for. Sorry if I didn't make my question clear. I will be applying to jobs but I'm also looking for opportunities for people not currently affiliated with schools because most are for undergraduates or graduate/medical students. It's more of a personal interest in research than just trying to improve my credentials. I was on the non-trad forums and told to come here, maybe I should go to the main pre-med forums?

 

[BuddyTheElf]

Thanks for the advice, although not exactly what I was looking for. Sorry if I didn't make my question clear. I will be applying to jobs but I'm also looking for opportunities for people not currently affiliated with schools because most are for undergraduates or graduate/medical students. It's more of a personal interest in research than just trying to improve my credentials. I was on the non-trad forums and told to come here, maybe I should go to the main pre-med forums?

If you're near any major hospitals, some have a summer research program you can get into (it gets your foot in the door, then you can always try to stay on after the summer ends).. or even just a hospital bench research job you could apply for. At the hospital I work at, you can get a job in the oncology research lab or the microbiology research lab doing bench research or collecting biospecimens for our biobank. Looks great on a resume and is an interesting job, in my opinion. And they usually pay well. For my position you just needed a bachelor's degree (master's preferred). Maybe something like that is what you're looking for? Good luck!

 

[MegaSonic]

If you're near any major hospitals, some have a summer research program you can get into (it gets your foot in the door, then you can always try to stay on after the summer ends).. or even just a hospital bench research job you could apply for. At the hospital I work at, you can get a job in the oncology research lab or the microbiology research lab doing bench research or collecting biospecimens for our biobank. Looks great on a resume and is an interesting job, in my opinion. And they usually pay well. For my position you just needed a bachelor's degree (master's preferred). Maybe something like that is what you're looking for? Good luck!

This is more what I'm looking for. Pretty much every job opportunity I've found nearby requires a master's degree and/or experience. Which I don't have lab experience unless my undergrad lab classes count, but frankly those classes were useless and I learned nothing. I'm probably going to contact my undergrad institution to see if they'll make an exception on their undergrad programs for an alumnus. I'm also looking out of area for year-long programs. And I would contact some professors but most of the biology department isn't really related to my interests. They have tons of plant and ecology people.

 

[WillburCobb]

I currently work in the clinical research department at a local hospitial coordinating cardiology, CT surgery, and a few interventional radiology clinical trials. You could look into something like that. It provides lots of patient contact, you get to work with and know a lot of physicians, sit in on procedures, learn about a lot of the newer treatments being developed, plus there are occasional opportunities to do more academic type research with physicians on the side with the possability of being published.