Hi All,
2020 graduate here currently working full-time as a Research Coordinator (and Research Assistant beforehand) for almost 2.5 years. I'm wondering, should I quit my current job and work as an entry level Medical Assistant?
I really like the staff of my current job, and it has provided a lot of research and leadership experience, in which I was able to be a co-author on 5 pubs, present a poster abstract at a national conference, and coordinate an educational program for a geriatrics fellowship program. However, I did apply this cycle, and did get one II from my state school in December, which I haven't heard back from yet, but am otherwise assuming I won't be receiving further interviews this cycle. I've listed my stats at the bottom of this post, but I understand my outcome is likely attributed to the low clinical hours.
If I do take a job as a medical assistant, I would plan to move back in with my family as I would be taking a $10,000 salary cut by making the switch, but given that I already visit them every other weekend (moved an hour away for this job), I might have more free time to volunteer as well.
Am I approaching this reasonably? Am I being too drastic at this stage, or is there an option I haven't considered?
Stats + Background Info:
2020 graduate here currently working full-time as a Research Coordinator (and Research Assistant beforehand) for almost 2.5 years. I'm wondering, should I quit my current job and work as an entry level Medical Assistant?
I really like the staff of my current job, and it has provided a lot of research and leadership experience, in which I was able to be a co-author on 5 pubs, present a poster abstract at a national conference, and coordinate an educational program for a geriatrics fellowship program. However, I did apply this cycle, and did get one II from my state school in December, which I haven't heard back from yet, but am otherwise assuming I won't be receiving further interviews this cycle. I've listed my stats at the bottom of this post, but I understand my outcome is likely attributed to the low clinical hours.
If I do take a job as a medical assistant, I would plan to move back in with my family as I would be taking a $10,000 salary cut by making the switch, but given that I already visit them every other weekend (moved an hour away for this job), I might have more free time to volunteer as well.
Am I approaching this reasonably? Am I being too drastic at this stage, or is there an option I haven't considered?
Stats + Background Info:
- 3.7 cGPA, 3.62 sGPA
- Took MCAT 2x (504 in May 2021 --> 512 in April 2022)
- 29 MD apps (1 II / 14 Rs / 1 Deferral / 13 pending)
- MA resident
- Middle Eastern & LGBTQ+
- Graduated from UMass Amherst
- 5,000 Research hours from my current job related to Health Systems Science
- 5 co-author pubs, 1st author on a poster abstract at a national conference & mid-author on abstract presented at an international conference
- 100 hours of clinical volunteering at a VA hospital
- 100 hours of non-clinical volunteering (red-cross blood drives + soup kitchen)
- 800 hours in Res-life (reinforces my interest in diversity)
- 700 hours of leadership from student clubs + supervision responsibilities at my job
- Due to my personal background (coming from a lower-income immigrant family and struggling with understanding a complex healthcare system), I have an interest in primary care because I want to become a physician who is able to provide quality care to a diverse population while also being cognizant of the challenges that come from navigating the healthcare system.
