Research Tech/EKG Tech

[iPodtosis]

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Most likely I'll be taking a 2 year break before getting into med school. I have 2 plans.
#1 is accepting a research tech position that my summer intern PI offered, and his lab is pretty rigorous and very likely I'll get a publication, which I don't have any right now.
#2 is taking EKG Tech courses at local community college for 4 months and then work in the hospital.

Both positions pretty much have the same pay, so money is not my concern here. I kind of want to do research since my PI is really really nice and I love his work, but I imagine that med schools would love to see patient-oriented task accomplished by the applicants.... so I'm kind of struggling here.

Any input/constructive criticism is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Mattabet]

I'd probably go with the position #1. It's more a sure thing. Sure, you'll probably be able to get the EKG tech job, but you'll have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get certified, employed, etc. Job 1 is there waiting for you.

As far as patient contact, just do something in your free time that exposes you to the clinical side a bit, and you should be golden.

 

[schrizto]

do the research!

 

[mic2377]

Do them both. As a doctor, you are going to be a workaholic, so you might as well get used to it.

If you really have 2 years to kill, have you considered EMS? You might enjoy it, but I would encourage to you to try riding in the ambulance a few times before you commit to it.

Good job on finding a research position. They are hard to get now..... especially with the current economy.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Most likely I'll be taking a 2 year break before getting into med school. I have 2 plans.
#1 is accepting a research tech position that my summer intern PI offered, and his lab is pretty rigorous and very likely I'll get a publication, which I don't have any right now.
#2 is taking EKG Tech courses at local community college for 4 months and then work in the hospital.

Both positions pretty much have the same pay, so money is not my concern here. I kind of want to do research since my PI is really really nice and I love his work, but I imagine that med schools would love to see patient-oriented task accomplished by the applicants.... so I'm kind of struggling here.

Any input/constructive criticism is appreciated.
Thanks

Both sound doable to me. I would say that you can do part time as an ekg tech then work in lab. Ask the PI if you can fit your schedule in there first. Otherwise, you may just want to stick with research (publications are the only thing that really count btw). I know some rural hospitals that have weekend schedules (rare, but you can find them).

Call around and see what your options are.

 

[iPodtosis]

Ya I have considered EMS, but I don't really like them.

I really doubt I can do both at the same time.
If I take the research job, I'll have to work full time, and I already check the EKG Tech course schedule. Unfortunately, no weekend/night classes are available 🙁

FutureDoc, what do you mean by publications are the only thing that counts? I mean there is high chance that i'll get a publication, but as always, there's no guarantee.

 

[Omni]

Research positions are hard to come by. I'd highly suggest you take the research job.
As for patient-interaction, you can volunteer wherever you want in a hospital and you'll get that experience. volunteer jobs aren't as hard to get as are research jobs.

Also, 2 years of research without a publication is still acceptable. But if you put your time into it, set up your own goals, and have your own deadlines and pace yourself in research (like set a goal that by the end of the week, you want to finish a certain portion of the task), then you will get your publication.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Research positions are hard to come by. I'd highly suggest you take the research job.
As for patient-interaction, you can volunteer wherever you want in a hospital and you'll get that experience. volunteer jobs aren't as hard to get as are research jobs.

Also, 2 years of research without a publication is still acceptable. But if you put your time into it, set up your own goals, and have your own deadlines and pace yourself in research (like set a goal that by the end of the week, you want to finish a certain portion of the task), then you will get your publication.

This sounds about right. You basically want to have as much justification for why you think you will do well with patients and all the hospital biz. If you have other reasons for wanting to be an EKG (like money and experience) then it would be nice to do so (med school does cost a lot especially now that the economy is in such a crapper).

Ya I have considered EMS, but I don't really like them.

I really doubt I can do both at the same time.
If I take the research job, I'll have to work full time, and I already check the EKG Tech course schedule. Unfortunately, no weekend/night classes are available 🙁

FuturaDocta, what do you mean by publications are the only thing that counts? I mean there is high chance that i'll get a publication, but as always, there's no guarantee.

It really depends. Most adcoms I know think that you need a publication before it actually counts. Of course, if you have like 2 or 3 years under your belt, then dedication can validate all that work.

Some people just have a summer of research and think that is enough to impress. You know what i mean? Publications usually mean that you have made a significant amount of effort.

 

[iPodtosis]

Thanks for all the comments. I know that volunteering can get me some patient contact experiences, but if you have paid position like EKG Tech, wouldn't that impress adcom more?

 

[Kaustikos]

EKG Technician. You're knocking two birds with one stone. People REALLY REALLY REALLLLLLY over emphasis, to a ridiculous degree, whatever importance or implication research has on your medical school application.

 

[dr seuss]

I would rather do research.

If you already have clincal experience and research, I don't think it will matter that much which one you choose.

 

[45408]

which would you rather do? that's what matters most, IMO. if you don't care either way, I'd say do the research, but if it were me, I'd probably be more interested in the EKG tech job.

 

[iPodtosis]

which would you rather do? that's what matters most, IMO. if you don't care either way, I'd say do the research, but if it were me, I'd probably be more interested in the EKG tech job.

I mean I am interested in both options, but right now I'm more sided with EKG Tech because I think it will help me in the long run (my medical career), even though I do agree with the aforementioned complicated licensure exam 🙁

 

[FuturaDocta]

You have to learn a lot what an EKG tech does when you become a doctor.

Pros as EKG tech:
- more experience (performing diagnostic tests/ heart rhythm/ etc.)
- learning essential routines before entering med school (sometimes students don't even know how to draw blood until they reach >MS3.
- get some mula!

Pros for Research:
-fun if you like research
-favored at research heavy schools (prestigious schools mostly)
-If you publish something, then GREAT!

I would personally go with EKG because you get to be in the freakin' hospital (go with rural) 😛

 

[45408]

sometimes students don't even know how to draw blood until they reach >MS3.

Any sooner would be a waste. You'd forget how to do it by the time you needed to do it.

 

[Kaustikos]

You have to learn a lot what an EKG tech does when you become a doctor.

Pros as EKG tech:
- more experience (performing diagnostic tests/ heart rhythm/ etc.)
- learning essential routines before entering med school (sometimes students don't even know how to draw blood until they reach >MS3.
- get some mula!

Pros for Research:
-fun if you like research
-favored at research heavy schools (prestigious schools mostly)
-If you publish something, then GREAT!

I would personally go with EKG because you get to be in the freakin' hospital (go with rural) 😛

Any sooner would be a waste. You'd forget how to do it by the time you needed to do it.

I know how an ekg works and some of the telltale signs of tachy/brady/ afib...etc. But that was from working 2 years in a cardiology office. I can tell you that I couldn't of remembered some of that if I had only worked a year or less.

 

[iPodtosis]

That I couldn't of remembered some of that if I had only worked a year or less.

Taking a class for 4 months, take certification exam, etc. Probably can work for 1.5 years. hope I can learn alot

 

[Rendar5]

You get good at EKG's by practicing constantly and regularly. You either will get good at them during med school/residency or you won't. Having a 3-4 year gap of not really doing any EKGs is not going to help. Do whichever path you like, realizing that both may give you somethign to talk about during your interview, and neither is going to particularly help you long-term (unless you constantly go over all your EKGs with a cardiologist, which i have a feeling is not going to be the case)