POSTPONE Med school entry??

[th3noose]

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Hello, Thanks in advance for reading this.

I am a recent college graduate. Due to personal reasons I decided not to apply in my junior year. I though of “taking a year off.” But as I was making strides to apply last year, there were a few things that prevented me. There were some major family changes.

I am currently working at multiple places (doctor’s office, tutoring, and research) while studying to take the MCAT again. My current research supervisor offered me a full time position, BUT I would have to make 2 year commitment. I am considering declining that offer because I am very anxious to get into med school. I just don’t want to stretch it any longer than I already have, but then again I did not apply yet (I can only anticipate that I will get into a school by Sept 2010).

My question is whether I should take this offer (the PI is a professor at Columbia Physicians and Surgeons College) so that it can open up doors in the future (possibly med school, or residency) or just decline it? Suggestions are always appreciated.


Thanks again.

 

[LizzyM]

Applying with a year of work experience in a lab and havign a job during the application year can only make your application stronger. Many schools *love* non-trads who have been in the work force for awhile and if that work is research at a top tier school, all the better. If your ducks are otherwise in a row (good MCAT, gpa, clinical exposure) the work experience is icing on the cake. If you don't have the other pieces in place, you should focus on tuning up those sections of your application as well.

 

[tiedyeddog]

My question is whether I should take this offer (the PI is a professor at Columbia Physicians and Surgeons College) so that it can open up doors in the future (possibly med school, or residency) or just decline it? Suggestions are always appreciated.
.

Don't do this in hopes of it opening doors. It might, but 2 years is a huge gamble for what could help. If you would enjoy the time (which it sounds you would rather be in medical school...) then do it. However, based on your post, I'd say you need to just turn it down and apply.

 

[th3noose]

Don't do this in hopes of it opening doors. It might, but 2 years is a huge gamble for what could help. If you would enjoy the time (which it sounds you would rather be in medical school...) then do it. However, based on your post, I'd say you need to just turn it down and apply.

Its just that I can establish some connections that I might find valuable in the future, which is something to consider. In addition, I am very interested in getting more involved with the research project.

So the general consensus is just do well in everything else, and everything else should fall together nicely?

 

[AdmiralChz]

I wouldn't do this just for the purpose of "opening doors" - I think you should do it only if that is what you WANT to do (and it sounds like you don't want to be there). If you would much rather start medical school, then the answer here is simple - 2 years is MUCH too long of a commitment for a *possibility* of making connections.

 

[witness23]

Its just that I can establish some connections that I might find valuable in the future, which is something to consider. In addition, I am very interested in getting more involved with the research project.

So the general consensus is just do well in everything else, and everything else should fall together nicely?

yes, it should work out well if you keep it balanced. 2 year commitment in a lab is ideal for PIs and students because a) you are less likely to leave your work unfinished b) gain some independence c) produce (papers/posters whatever). You will find that 2 years will make it much less stressful, especially if you are looking to publish something substantial.

I would work on multiple parts of app - critical for your first year out since this is what will be on your AMCAS. Get that MCAT up, do not take classes (GPA is sick). You probly should be fine then. However, I'd recommend being productive with the clinical experiences as well. You are in NYC so volunteering in the community (esp where P&S is) should be very fun. As far as shadowing, NYC is kind of a tough place to shadow docs (my experience in undergrad) but this is where your "networking" might come in place.

A good idea would be to shadow someone in the related fields of your research, ie basic science research with physiological implications in the heart/circulatory system could be tag teamed with shadowing cards. This might give you a good perspective and something to talk about in your interviews or EC section (maybe not).

Make sure your PI offers you university benefits w/ insurance, reimbursement, gym membership. Doing research can be a financially stressful situation and you do not want to affect your work/regret things. Keep in mind that full time research with a long term commitment is different than part time or summer work. You may get your own project but in the real world, the PI wants to get funding. If you have good hands, you may be used for prelim experimentation that leads to other projects to be performed by postdocs in the future. You get to learn and discover a lot of science here but it can be frustrating if you took on the position assuming independence and responsibility. Nevertheless, you will be credited with whatever and that should help your app at the least.

BTW, it takes a while for everything to fall together nicely once you start working and paying bills (I never thought it would be that hard) but really really try to keep your future goals in mind, and relax. Go out into the community and interact with people. Consider the range of co-workers you will be working with. If you have time throw out some other job apps for the hell of it and see where you would be most excited to spend everyday of your next two years.

Congratulations on graduation and the job offer. Getting to stay in NYC is a great privilege and I miss the city like crazy. With that said, it can be pretty expensive and I wish you good luck!

 

[pietachok]

Well, you really need to get your MCAT up--I think the quality of school you get into will totally depend on your MCAT score.

You enjoy working there and on the project, and that shouldn't be undervalued.

I think the value of going straight to school is totally over-estimated, and the value of taking time off is underestimated.

I went to undergrad for engineering and kind of had an inkling that I wanted to go to med school, but I wouldn't fess up to it while I was in undergrad, so I ended up doing a post-bacc. I was so incredibly irritated that I was "off schedule." And then I didn't get into med school when I applied in 2006. Then I really loved what I was doing, and now I'm not entering med school until Fall of 2009. And ultimately, I loved who I became in those years that passed, and I'm so grateful that the time elapsed. I could have had the foresight to realize who I would become or how I would change and grow, but I am going to be 10 times a better student an new physician because of the past few years. I am so much more comfortable in my skin because of the independence and growing up I have done. There is totally something to be said for having been a real adult, lived on your own, paid your own bills...etc. I don't mean to undermine students who go straight from college to med school, but it's very different. I will be so much more confident during my first clinical experiences b/c I have had professional interactions before. You may not need that, and I didn't necessarily "need" it, but I'm glad I had it.

Also, I'm thrilled that I had that time to become un-burnt out and learn the time-management skills of working full time. Working full-time totally re-vamped my time budgeting from when I had been in college.

The truth is that even if you commit to two years, you reserve the right to quit if you are unhappy...you can quit for reasons other than med school...so you can quit even if you go to med school. Ultimately he doesn't necessarily need to even know. I'm not saying that's the ideal or nicest thing to do. But...if you think that's what you have to do, I don't think you necessarily have a better option. I looked for a research job in NYC for so long without being able to find one that I ended up working at an antique store (and that was well before this econcomy). You could always try applying to schools that allow deferral and pleading for deferral before you quit on him, too.

Good Luck!