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I was wondering what you guys thought would be more worthwhile for me to do this summer before applying next year.
Situation: I don't have a lot of volunteer experience or extra-curriculars, and only some pharmacy experience (job shadow & some light volunteering). I have no real leadership positions in the clubs I am in, which I greatly regret since it's too late to fix. My GPA is relatively high, 3.86, unfortunately, at the expense of little extracurriculars. I have most of my pre-reqs done. I haven't taken the PCAT yet, so I still have to prepare for that.
Options:
1. Research fellowship in pharmaceutical sciences department.
Pros: +I get a large stipend. +It's related to healthfield/science. +Possibility to get a strong academic reference (most likely stronger than any other of my current science professors who know me more as a student; and the fact that two years in a row I pick the chemistry teachers that go on sabbatical the following semester, so all my science teachers only knew for one semester 😱 ).
Cons: -Warned that it will take a lot of my time, and I can't have another part-time job, or take any classes. -Not entirely the same as pharmacy. -I might not be able to study as much for the PCAT, and can probably only do one or two things from my volunteer list.
2. Volunteer full-time; Consisting of:
a. In & Out-patient pharmacy (variables hours, 15-20 hours a week)
b. Project for a local pharmacist association (20-30 hours to complete, 3 hours a week to maintain)
c. Project for the United Way (150-200 hours to complete)
d. Project for the local food pantry (30-40 hours to complete)
e. Homeless shelter (3 hours a day)
f. Teach a class at the Boys & Girls club (6 hours a week)
Pros: +Good variety and number to fill out my lacking extracurricular section. +Two are related directly to pharmacy. +Less stress ...you can't mess up at volunteering... I think... 😀 +Time is more flexible, and can take some summer classes, study for exams.
Cons: -I don't get paid. -Not prestigious as research? -No possibilities for academic references.
I am really pulling toward option 2 now that I am writing this post. I bet I can do the research, and just 2a & 2b, but that still leaves a large hole in my application. I am getting conflicting reports on how useful research is for an application. The other thing is that the "Projects" I am thinking about were fully planned and proposed by me, so maybe that can add some more weight. Any opinions? Does research and a stronger academic reference outweigh a lot of community service and stronger non-academic reference (maybe from a Pharmacist)?
Situation: I don't have a lot of volunteer experience or extra-curriculars, and only some pharmacy experience (job shadow & some light volunteering). I have no real leadership positions in the clubs I am in, which I greatly regret since it's too late to fix. My GPA is relatively high, 3.86, unfortunately, at the expense of little extracurriculars. I have most of my pre-reqs done. I haven't taken the PCAT yet, so I still have to prepare for that.
Options:
1. Research fellowship in pharmaceutical sciences department.
Pros: +I get a large stipend. +It's related to healthfield/science. +Possibility to get a strong academic reference (most likely stronger than any other of my current science professors who know me more as a student; and the fact that two years in a row I pick the chemistry teachers that go on sabbatical the following semester, so all my science teachers only knew for one semester 😱 ).
Cons: -Warned that it will take a lot of my time, and I can't have another part-time job, or take any classes. -Not entirely the same as pharmacy. -I might not be able to study as much for the PCAT, and can probably only do one or two things from my volunteer list.
2. Volunteer full-time; Consisting of:
a. In & Out-patient pharmacy (variables hours, 15-20 hours a week)
b. Project for a local pharmacist association (20-30 hours to complete, 3 hours a week to maintain)
c. Project for the United Way (150-200 hours to complete)
d. Project for the local food pantry (30-40 hours to complete)
e. Homeless shelter (3 hours a day)
f. Teach a class at the Boys & Girls club (6 hours a week)
Pros: +Good variety and number to fill out my lacking extracurricular section. +Two are related directly to pharmacy. +Less stress ...you can't mess up at volunteering... I think... 😀 +Time is more flexible, and can take some summer classes, study for exams.
Cons: -I don't get paid. -Not prestigious as research? -No possibilities for academic references.
I am really pulling toward option 2 now that I am writing this post. I bet I can do the research, and just 2a & 2b, but that still leaves a large hole in my application. I am getting conflicting reports on how useful research is for an application. The other thing is that the "Projects" I am thinking about were fully planned and proposed by me, so maybe that can add some more weight. Any opinions? Does research and a stronger academic reference outweigh a lot of community service and stronger non-academic reference (maybe from a Pharmacist)?
