Question about EC opportunity

[johnnyscans]

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So I may have the opportunity to work as a teaching fellow during the 2012-2013 school year. It's for an MCAT class with a professor who I have a great rapport with. It seems like it's a no brainer (I need money, physicians need to be good teachers, and it's a strong EC) but there's a flip side.

If I take the opportunity, I'll probably have to scale back to 2 classes instead of three. The rest of my time is spent volunteering (both clinical and non-clinical) and working in my lab (25-30 hours a week + weekends). I'm on a low GPA repair plan, in which more As = better. I currently have 30 credits of post-bacc work at a 3.9, and will apply with either 52 credits if I take the TF position or 60 if I do not. My science GPA will be above a 3.5 on either plan, and my cGPA will be between a 3.25 and 3.3 (if I continue to succeed). I also think that teaching an MCAT class will help me immensely when test time rolls around.

Am I right in thinking that the TF position is a much stronger asset than an additional class? How favorably is TF/TA-ing looked upon by adcoms? What's more important, an additional class, or a great EC opportunity?

Your opinions are greatly appreciated!

 

[johnnyscans]

No thoughts?

 

[thlaxer]

What would your final cGPA and sGPA be under both plans? And how much time commitment would teaching this class take (equiv to taking one class)?

In general though, I would lean towards teaching the MCAT class if the GPA difference is not significant (especially so, if you have no prior teaching experience). Adcoms really seemed to look favorably at teaching/tutoring experiences.

 

[Caprica6]

I agree. Without actually doing the math, I don't think 3 credits is going to have a huge impact on your GPA. And since this will basically be a free prep course, the small impact it does have could be negated by a higher MCAT score. The TA position benefits you in three ways: as an extra credit, MCAT prep, and income.

 

[johnnyscans]

I was unclear in my original post, so I apologize. It's a teaching position in a university physics class (which is tested on the MCAT), not an MCAT prep class.

What would your final cGPA and sGPA be under both plans? And how much time commitment would teaching this class take (equiv to taking one class)?

In general though, I would lean towards teaching the MCAT class if the GPA difference is not significant (especially so, if you have no prior teaching experience). Adcoms really seemed to look favorably at teaching/tutoring experiences.

Both cGPA and sGPA would be in the same range. At this point I've taken 150-160 credits. The sGPA would increase by .01 and the cGPA by .02 if I took another class. I find out the commitment today. If it matters, I live 5 minutes from my university, so there's no real commute or anything like that.

I do not have any formal teaching experience. I've run a youth program where we taught them a skill, but it was not classroom based.

I agree. Without actually doing the math, I don't think 3 credits is going to have a huge impact on your GPA. And since this will basically be a free prep course, the small impact it does have could be negated by a higher MCAT score. The TA position benefits you in three ways: as an extra credit, MCAT prep, and income.

This is what I'm thinking. .01 and .02 to my GPA, or a strong EC, preparation for the physics portion of the MCAT and income. Both my GPA and sGPA would stay in the same range.

I just know this is a huge numbers game. I just don't know how huge.

 

[thlaxer]

Applying to medical school is a huge numbers game, but I doubt a 0.01/0.02 increase is going to make any major difference. Teaching/TAing a university-level physics class is more impressive than being an MCAT instructor too in my opinion (teaching people new material vs. reviewing). I would go with the teaching opportunity if it won't interfere with your other studies.

 

[johnnyscans]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I was offered the position and accepted.

 

[qwerty2012]

30 credits with 3.9 is enough in the eyes of most adcoms. I had done around that credit in my master with similar gpa. But I am planning to take more because I am interested in learning more science knowledge in a structured setting.
Are you interested in science or just want to boost your resume? If latter then I think you have enough.

I think you have a good plan. Do TA and committee yourself to more health-related activities. Courses only show you are capable + are interested in science but it is only one part of application.

P.S. Not a lot of students get to teach. Grab any unique opportunities you can to distinguish yourself.

 

[MedPR]

Am I misunderstanding the OP? You have an opportunity to teach an MCAT class, but you haven't taken the MCAT yet?

 

[johnnyscans]

Am I misunderstanding the OP? You have an opportunity to teach an MCAT class, but you haven't taken the MCAT yet?

I was confusing in my post. Its a physics class, which Is (obviosly) tested on the MCAT.

 

[MedPR]

I was confusing in my post. Its a physics class, which Is (obviosly) tested on the MCAT.

Oh, well yes I certainly agree then. Teaching stuff to people really helped me. My PS score was as high as I realistically could've hoped for.

 

[johnnyscans]

30 credits with 3.9 is enough in the eyes of most adcoms. I had done around that credit in my master with similar gpa. But I am planning to take more because I am interested in learning more science knowledge in a structured setting.
Are you interested in science or just want to boost your resume? If latter then I think you have enough.

I think you have a good plan. Do TA and committee yourself to more health-related activities. Courses only show you are capable + are interested in science but it is only one part of application.

P.S. Not a lot of students get to teach. Grab any unique opportunities you can to distinguish yourself.

Yea. I'll have 56, as opposed to 60, credits of PB work come application time with the teaching position.