Summer Plan for a junior!!! Cannot decide... HELP :/

[waytogo1]

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Hi everyone! I seriously and desperately need you advice on my summer plan options! I've talked to the premed advisor at our school, and he told me to "follow my heart," and yes, while that's true, I really like both options so that didn't really help.
Any advice would be great!

So, I'm trying to decide between whether to do:

1. Shadow doctors (last two weeks of May); independent project in Kenya at an NGO while doing internship (month of June); Do research at NIH/NCI/NEI + start MCAT studying (July and August). For NIH, I'll probably be searching for research in HIV/AIDS. For NCI, I'll probably be doing something in the area of infection and immunoepidemiology at the DCEG (Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics). I'm also interested in NEI because I'm interested in ophthalmology. Continue my current research on HIV/AIDS during the semester (as academic credit).

2. independent project in Kenya at an NGO while doing internship (early June-late July); continue my current research on HIV/AIDS +MCAT studying+shadow doctors (month of August); Continue my current research on HIV/AIDS during the semester (as academic credit).

**previous ECs I've done: internship at an NGO in Rwanda for one month; research on HIV/AIDS (started over a year ago, still continuing, probably will develop into senior thesis, in public health sector);
**what I have not done: science/lab research; shadow doctor.
**Have not applied to NCI/NIH/NEI yet; so I'm trying to decide whether to apply for these or whether to apply for 8 week fellowship opportunity for funding for the project in Kenya...
HELP please... 😍

 

[waytogo1]

bump???

 

[ToldYouSo]

1-2 months of studying for the MCAT isn't enough. Spend a good 3 months studying for it full time using Sn2's schedule.

 

[waytogo1]

I was going to began studying at the end of summer and then continue studying in first semester, then do hardcore schedule doing sample problems over winter break, then take the exam in January (after winter break...)

 

[ToldYouSo]

It's not a good idea to study for the mcat if you have other obligations like school or work. It can't be helped for nontrad students and those with a family, but if you have the option of having a completely clear summer I would devote that solely to mcat prep. Sn2 goes over this pretty thoroughly on his study plan thread. I also wouldn't fragment your studying between the end of the summer and January. That's too long and you'll most likely forget the details of what you're learning.

 

[waytogo1]

I'll keep that in mind... but my main question was not on MCATs... it was on deciding which EC to do over the summer... Thanks for your advice though. I'm definitely taking note of that.

 

[ToldYouSo]

Both options are almost the same thing except choice 1 has the NCI/NIH/NEI project? Sort of hard to follow. I'd go with 1 then

 

[waytogo1]

yeah, so in option 1, I would be doing two things (in terms of EC): Kenya project and NIH/NCI/NEI
and for option 2, it's just Kenya project (but doing it for a longer period of time)

 

[Lady Netter]

I don't think you'll get very much out of doing a research project for only 2 months (NIH/etc). It usually takes 2 months just to get used to the lab itself. Research is slow - 2 monts isn't very much time. If you're going to go to Kenya regardless, you might as well stay there longer than cut it short and try to do something else. Remember, quality, not quantity.