TA for one semester vs. two

[deleted647690]

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Would med schools care if I stopped TAing for my last semester to save time for mcat studying? I only started this semester.

 

[efle]

I really doubt this will matter at all, unless maybe you were trying to sell yourself as interested in the teaching aspect of many (academic) medical careers

 

[Catalystik]

Would med schools care if I stopped TAing for my last semester to save time for mcat studying? I only started this semester.

How many other activities will you list will have lasted at least an academic year, or more? Have you already demonstrated longevity and/or commitment in other endeavors?

 

[deleted647690]

How many other activities will you list will have lasted at least an academic year, or more? Have you already demonstrated longevity and/or commitment in other endeavors?

I'm a little worried about my activities:

So I have one student government thing that I only did my first year

Sports head board position for 3 years
Helping student athletes with time management skills through an on campus program
Research in an engineering lab for one summer
Summer research
Volunteering in a nursing home
Volunteering in a different hospital since junior year of high school until summer after sophomore year


Shadowing:
Minor shadowing with ENT
Minor shadowing with surgeon

 

[Catalystik]

To answer the original question: You have enough activities with decent longevity that you can cut your current TAing short if you like. Besides, you already have another Teaching gig to mention.

Research and Leadership are good to go. Shadowing is on the sparse side and doesn't include a primary care doc. Insufficient detail to comment on active clinical experience (which might include the VA job, depending on role). Also not clear if your service organization assists those in need, but might be nonmedical community service?

Do you have other specific worries about ECs?

 

[deleted647690]

To answer the original question: You have enough activities with decent longevity that you can cut your current TAing short if you like. Besides, you already have another Teaching gig to mention.

Research and Leadership are good to go. Shadowing is on the sparse side and doesn't include a primary care doc. Insufficient detail to comment on active clinical experience (which might include the VA job, depending on role). Also not clear if your service organization assists those in need, but might be nonmedical community service?

Do you have other specific worries about ECs?

Thanks! Yes, the service is nonmedical. So I won't have that much experience with it before I graduate. I probably need more clinical experience

The other job was not really an official gig, I was more of an amateur in training at a veterans hospital that just helped around when needed.

I'm going to shadow in primary care.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks! Yes, the service is nonmedical. I don't really know about the teaching gig, because again, it is this organization that I just joined this semester, and they only meet about twice a month. So I won't have that much experience with it before I graduate. I probably need more clinical experience because I haven't been in a hospital for over a year.

1) The veterinary job was not really an official licensed vet assistant gig, I was more of an amateur in training that just helped around when needed.

2) I'm going to shadow in primary care.

1) Oops, I though you meant a veterans hospital. Animal medicine definitely wouldn't qualify.

2) 👍

 

[814965]

Doing two semesters will add more depth to your LoR should you get one from the professor you TA'd for.