Summer before medical

[Lsegura83]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I will begin medical school in August. Previous to my acceptance I had been accepted to a Mayo Clinic summer internship in Anesthesiology research. First of I am poor, so I want to do this to get some money because I am 29 years old and have a family and bills. Second, I want to use the opportunity to network with the faculty out there, hopefully do some audition rotations in my later years of med school, etc etc. Will this be a good experience? I have been reading many previous forums that state the summer before medical should be complete rest and or fun. What are some possible implications and or benefits if I choose to go or not? I dont want to do research during medical school years and I dont think my school has many opportunities yet because I am in an inaugural class. Also I have a previous work in summer research @ UTHSCSA in 2011 and Mayo (2012).

 

[NeuroLAX]

It appears as though you already have this down to a "now or never" sort of deal. Do you have any publications from your previous research experiences? Is there a chance that this Mayo gig will give you any publications?

Even if there isn't a high likelihood of getting published, you said you need the money and that it would provide a great opportunity to make connections with Mayo. If your goal is to do an audition rotation there, then I don't see how this summer position could hurt. Seems like a good idea to me, but I enjoy research so I'm a little biased.

 

[cliquesh]

I would do the research. You'll be glad you did it when you apply for residency, which is a very stressful time.

 

[Lsegura83]

It appears as though you already have this down to a "now or never" sort of deal. Do you have any publications from your previous research experiences? Is there a chance that this Mayo gig will give you any publications?

Even if there isn't a high likelihood of getting published, you said you need the money and that it would provide a great opportunity to make connections with Mayo. If your goal is to do an audition rotation there, then I don't see how this summer position could hurt. Seems like a good idea to me, but I enjoy research so I'm a little biased.

No pub from cancer research at UTHSCSA and one article under review at the Journal of Hospital Medicine for ICU work in E.O.L care with a nephrologist at Mayo.
My new mentor at Mayo is pretty influential from what I have read and also heard.
Prospects for a pub seem good.

Down side is that I have never spent a summer with my 3 year old since he was born. Nevertheless, my wife and son will be joining me after she is done with her final nursing semester (mid October) during my first semester.

 

[CRCprofessional]

I would do the research. I would love to take off the summer before, but money doesn't allow me to do that. If I sat around all day and didn't work, I wouldn't even have enough money to do anything fun. Money + research experience will be good all around.

 

[wooki]

i would take the gig to network and start research. even if you don't get a pub or presentation out of it now, you can come back the summer after your first year. while people are busy cold-calling/e-mailing for research opportunities, you will already have your foot in the door. it's a good gig.

having fun before medical school is a repeated advice around here. but being a non-trad applicant like yourself, i plan to work up to when i have to move. i don't think it's a bad deal at all.

 

[dietitiantodoc]

am I the only one who thinks he should spend the time with the family?

based on what I've heard, medical school is going to be very intense, and your kids are only young once. That coupled with the fact that you won't get to see him from, what, June to October? 3 years old is still such a cute young age, I would spend the time with your family, you can always do research later, but you can't get your kids' youth back. Plus you've already made it into medical school, that's a big accomplishment there to celebrate!

 

[hallowmann]

am I the only one who thinks he should spend the time with the family?

based on what I've heard, medical school is going to be very intense, and your kids are only young once. That coupled with the fact that you won't get to see him from, what, June to October? 3 years old is still such a cute young age, I would spend the time with your family, you can always do research later, but you can't get your kids' youth back. Plus you've already made it into medical school, that's a big accomplishment there to celebrate!

You aren't the only one, but I think the rest of us think its really up to him. If I were him and it was guaranteed that I wouldn't see my family from June-October, I would definitely spend the time with them.

That being said, if he doesn't have the money to support them for that short period of time, its more or less an issue of necessity. Its not so much the research, because he could get that some other time (like a summer internship/job between 1st and 2nd year), but the money could be a decision changer.

Anyways, ultimately its a decision OP will have to make and live with. Tough decision for sure.