Taking a corporate office job and its effect on an application

[genericscreenname]

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So I have a year of research experience in undergrad but none since (graduated 2013). I've been trying to get involved in clinical research as an assistant and work my way up to improve that part of my app, but it's been harder than anticipated to land one of those jobs.

I recently obtained a counselor position in the college of nursing at a state university that pays decently well and has benefits, but isn't really patient or physician related. But I need to pay the bills and being a PT tech (and scribe previously) wasn't cutting it.

If I start volunteering on the side (can't afford to take more upper division science classes and my graduating GPA is fine), would it make sense to keep pursuing jobs in clinical research given the fact that the next cycle is 6 months away? Would a job like this have a negative or neutral effect with schools?

 

[LizzyM]

You've tried research and decided that you prefer interacting with patients, hence the job as a PT assistant. Therefore, additional research wouldn't be expected. Serving as a counselor is another "helping" role which is related to medicine in that guiding people toward decisions about their lives is one of the roles of a physician.

 

[HopefulSlav]

I would ask yourself this:

Does this make me a more competitive applicant?

Realistically, I think you're just fine.

 

[genericscreenname]

You've tried research and decided that you prefer interacting with patients, hence the job as a PT assistant. Therefore, additional research wouldn't be expected. Serving as a counselor is another "helping" role which is related to medicine in that guiding people toward decisions about their lives is one of the roles of a physician.

That's a good point I hadn't considered, thank you.

I would ask yourself this:

Does this make me a more competitive applicant?

Realistically, I think you're just fine.

True. Just to update, I may have another interview for a research assistant position. However, it pays several thousands less than the counselor job. Would six months of entry level clinical research make me more competitive enough to justify a pay cut?

 

[HopefulSlav]

Which would you enjoy more? Honestly, I would keep the higher paying job. If the rest of your app is okay, it won't make a difference.

 

[genericscreenname]

Which would you enjoy more? Honestly, I would keep the higher paying job. If the rest of your app is okay, it won't make a difference.

To be honest I'm not sure. Both seem pretty administrative in nature. I'm leaning towards the higher-paying job as well and I think the rest of my app is decent. I guess I'm curious about how much weight clinical research experience is given by school adcoms.