Recently accepted to top choice. Must I continue my lab work or no?

[ChicknParmeSean]

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I was recently accepted to one of my top choices for Med School. It was an extremely exciting and humbling moment--one that I have dreamt about for years and one that I will probably never forget--but it lasted for only so long, because as soon as I received my offer it was back to the lab, which is quite literally the only place/activity that could have possibly brought me back down to earth after receiving the news. Lo-and-behold, it did.

Now, I know a lot of people here will think I've got a classic case of the post-acceptance-lazies. "Classic pre-med kid: gets accepted to Med School and suddenly drops all of their responsibilities because, hey, who needs them now that you're accepted?!" No. This place is honestly dreadful. I'm not going to delve into any particulars, but I will just say that coming in every morning takes serious will power and an acknowledgment that the next 8 hours of my life will consist of being overworked, under appreciated, and unpaid. I've been here for almost 5 months now and, truth be told, I can't take it much longer.

SOOOO...my question is: Now that I have been accepted, can I (peacefully and professionally) put in a two week notice to leave the lab without worrying that my acceptance offer will be rescinded? After perusing my acceptance letter, it looks like I need only complete my current degree and pass a CBC in order to matriculate next August, so I don't know what the deal is with dropping an EC. I did say in my AMCAS app that I would dedicate XXX hours to lab work in the upcoming year (June '15 to May '16) and thus far have met ~75% of those hours, so I would obviously meet that quoted number before leaving, but is that still frowned upon? Especially considering I could complete those XXX hours by January instead of May (which I previously stated)?

I'm looking for serious advice here, so please give me honest feedback on what you yourself have done or what you have heard others do. If I need to stick it out I will--the last thing in the world I want to do is jeopardize my future and lose this offer--but I am honestly looking for a professional and respectful way to exit my lab and continue solely with volunteering and other EC's.

Thank you all in advance for your help and good luck in your cycles!

 

[BphysDoc]

Yes. One of my friends got into MD PhD last cycle, and he quit his lab a month later. He is MS1 now.

 

[Me.D.]

I'm sure you will not have your offer rescinded. However, quitting before completing the number of hours you said you would do is a bit disingenuous. My recommendation would be to put that same amount of time into a paying job and start saving 🙂 Congrats on your acceptance!

 

[whatever5]

I don't think ADCOMs care much about future hours you put down, and I also believe that they understand plans change. I put down that I would continue to work at my current job through the year, but once I actually got an acceptance and thought "Come fall I'm going to be working super hard for the rest of my life... Vacation time!". I think it's a common sentiment shared by many so you should be fine.

 

[ChicknParmeSean]

I'm sure you will not have your offer rescinded. However, quitting before completing the number of hours you said you would do is a bit disingenuous. My recommendation would be to put that same amount of time into a paying job and start saving 🙂 Congrats on your acceptance!

Yes I understand that, which is why I had mentioned that I would meet the amount of hours I had promised before discontinuing. Still hoping this isn't a bad thing from an ADCOM POV though! As for your second comment about a paying job, my plan is to do exactly that. These next few years will be costly, so I could seriously use some cash!

I don't think ADCOMs care much about future hours you put down, and I also believe that they understand plans change. I put down that I would continue to work at my current job through the year, but once I actually got an acceptance and thought "Come fall I'm going to be working super hard for the rest of my life... Vacation time!". I think it's a common sentiment shared by many so you should be fine.

Congrats on your acceptance! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like it is time to let loose and enjoy life outside of the lab.

 

[Me.D.]

Yes I understand that, which is why I had mentioned that I would meet the amount of hours I had promised before discontinuing. Still hoping this isn't a bad thing from an ADCOM POV though! As for your second comment about a paying job, my plan is to do exactly that. These next few years will be costly, so I could seriously use some cash!

Congrats on your acceptance! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like it is time to let loose and enjoy life outside of the lab.

Sorry missed that point - good on ya'! haha good luck with everything 🙂

 

[mrowmrow]

I'm not going to delve into any particulars, but I will just say that coming in every morning takes serious will power and an acknowledgment that the next 8 hours of my life will consist of being overworked, under appreciated, and unpaid.

You're working 8 hours/day and not getting paid??

 

[ChicknParmeSean]

You're working 8 hours/day and not getting paid??

Yes--this is an unpaid research position, however my PI has made it clear that she expects me to be here for 8 (sometimes more) hours per day or even come in on weekends. It's nonsense really. I've tried to explain that I have other obligations (volunteering, TA'ing, clubs, etc.) and thus can't always be here that long, but she has made it clear that she finds these things pale in comparison to her lab work.

 

[mrowmrow]

Yes--this is an unpaid research position, however my PI has made it clear that she expects me to be here for 8 (sometimes more) hours per day or even come in on weekends. It's nonsense really. I've tried to explain that I have other obligations (volunteering, TA'ing, clubs, etc.) and thus can't always be here that long, but she has made it clear that she finds these things pale in comparison to her lab work.

I don't think anyone would fault you for leaving. Seriously, if anyone questions you just tell them that you needed to get a paying job so that you could, you know, pay your rent.

 

[clippers50fan]

Unpaid? Unhappy? Leave. Never look back.

 

[Catalystik]

I was recently accepted to one of my top choices for Med School. It was an extremely exciting and humbling moment--one that I have dreamt about for years and one that I will probably never forget--but it lasted for only so long, because as soon as I received my offer it was back to the lab, which is quite literally the only place/activity that could have possibly brought me back down to earth after receiving the news. Lo-and-behold, it did.

Now, I know a lot of people here will think I've got a classic case of the post-acceptance-lazies. "Classic pre-med kid: gets accepted to Med School and suddenly drops all of their responsibilities because, hey, who needs them now that you're accepted?!" No. This place is honestly dreadful. I'm not going to delve into any particulars, but I will just say that coming in every morning takes serious will power and an acknowledgment that the next 8 hours of my life will consist of being overworked, under appreciated, and unpaid. I've been here for almost 5 months now and, truth be told, I can't take it much longer.

SOOOO...my question is: Now that I have been accepted, can I (peacefully and professionally) put in a two week notice to leave the lab without worrying that my acceptance offer will be rescinded? After perusing my acceptance letter, it looks like I need only complete my current degree and pass a CBC in order to matriculate next August, so I don't know what the deal is with dropping an EC. I did say in my AMCAS app that I would dedicate XXX hours to lab work in the upcoming year (June '15 to May '16) and thus far have met ~75% of those hours, so I would obviously meet that quoted number before leaving, but is that still frowned upon? Especially considering I could complete those XXX hours by January instead of May (which I previously stated)?

I'm looking for serious advice here, so please give me honest feedback on what you yourself have done or what you have heard others do. If I need to stick it out I will--the last thing in the world I want to do is jeopardize my future and lose this offer--but I am honestly looking for a professional and respectful way to exit my lab and continue solely with volunteering and other EC's.

Thank you all in advance for your help and good luck in your cycles!

Finish the hours you claimed you would and you're good to go (literally). Give proper notice at least two weeks ahead. Don't tell the PI you're leaving because you got into med school, as that will "poison the well" for future aspirants. Citing financial needs alone might not cut it, as she could offer to pay you and you'd feel stuck. Add that concentrating on your academics is essential to get the grades you expect of yourself, or somesuch.

And, FWIW, expecting a full time student to volunteer their time for eight hours a day + weekends, most particularly during midterms and finals, is ridiculous, as it emperils the educational mission of the institution.

 

[Lucca]

If it's a toxic environment get out. I work in lab for many hours a week, also unpaid but it's a good environment and the lab members and my PI all have good relationships with each other. If they didn't understand I was an undergrad with other responsibilities or treated me like I was simply unpaid labor then I would get out immediately, regardless of holding an acceptance or not, and look for something else to spend my time on. It's not worth it man.

 

[mimelim]

Practically speaking, quitting will not harm your medical school acceptance in any way.

On the other hand, putting down something because it looks more impressive (more hours) and quitting immediately after an acceptance is a ****ty thing to do. You stuck it out this long to look better for an application. That is completed and the purpose is done. Doesn't exactly put you in a great light, but no, it is not going to affect you by stopping now.

 

[ChicknParmeSean]

Practically speaking, quitting will not harm your medical school acceptance in any way.

On the other hand, putting down something because it looks more impressive (more hours) and quitting immediately after an acceptance is a ****ty thing to do. You stuck it out this long to look better for an application. That is completed and the purpose is done. Doesn't exactly put you in a great light, but no, it is not going to affect you by stopping now.

Well that is why I said I would finish with the hours I promised and THEN leave. I'm not trying to paint a false picture of myself or my commitments, so I know that finishing what I started is an absolute must. That being said, I think it would be unnecessary for me to continue in the lab AFTER completing those hours. Whether or not that is "OK" from an ADCOM's perspective is what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[mimelim]

Well that is why I said I would finish with the hours I promised and THEN leave. I'm not trying to paint a false picture of myself or my commitments, so I know that finishing what I started is an absolute must. That being said, I think it would be unnecessary for me to continue in the lab AFTER completing those hours. Whether or not that is "OK" from an ADCOM's perspective is what I'm trying to figure out.

It is perfectly fine to quit after you complete the hours. I sat on an ADCOM and have been involved with research for the last 10+ years. You don't owe the lab or adcoms anything outside of what you claimed on your application. So, in short, absolutely do not worry about it.

If stopping a couple months early in your senior year makes someone salty, there is nothing you can do about it. You will never make everyone happy.

 

[ChicknParmeSean]

It is perfectly fine to quit after you complete the hours. I sat on an ADCOM and have been involved with research for the last 10+ years. You don't owe the lab or adcoms anything outside of what you claimed on your application. So, in short, absolutely do not worry about it.

Thank you for your insight! This was exactly the type of information I was looking for.

 

[rilte4]

Unpaid? Unhappy? Leave. Never look back.

Bye Felicia.

 

[getdown]

You should bounce especially if they're not treating you well or asking too much of you. I'd probably leave even before completing my stated hours.

 

[username456789]

Just as a pretentious point of contention, you weren't "humbled." You were honored. The two are practically antonyms, yet people keep using "humbled" in a completely backwards manner these days.

/rant.

 

[mrowmrow]

Just as a pretentious point of contention, you weren't "humbled." You were honored. The two are practically antonyms, yet people keep using "humbled" in a completely backwards manner these days.

/rant.

Seriously, I feel like getting into med school has been the least humbling thing that has happened to me. I really need to be taken down a peg.

 

[Doug Underhill]

In many cases, these offers have terms. My friend's MD acceptance from Dartmouth came with explicit instructions that the offer would be revoked if she did not complete her Ph.D.

Read the fine print.

 

[phuynh94]

Just as a pretentious point of contention, you weren't "humbled." You were honored. The two are practically antonyms, yet people keep using "humbled" in a completely backwards manner these days.

/rant.

Not scientifically backed whatsoever, but I've seen it used to be well-perceived (myself included):

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/why-oscar-winners-say-they-re-humbled/284148/