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When one takes a year off, does teaching for a year off look weak in comparison to doing a one year job as a lab tech?
Teaching?
- Thread starter Archimedes
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Archimedes said:
I did have one interviewer who asked me why I was wasting my time teaching (instead of utilizing my engineering degree). But I think this dude was just having a bad day cause he put down everything I did.
But otherwise, I don't think med schools will view teaching as weak. Just be smart about it when you are in interviews.... highlight all the things you have learned from your experience. When I was considering teaching vs. a tech job, sdners told me to do whatever I enjoyed the most and whichever job would pay the most. So I chose teaching. Honestly, I don't think it matters what you do. I had friends who sat on their butts during thier year off and still got into great schools like penn state and hopkins.
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As someone who's been a lab tech AND a teacher, let me tell you what kind of experience you'll get:
Lab tech: Test tubes, learning repetitive lab procedures, interacting with a small number of people who are either obsessed with what they're doing or can't wait to get to their next adventure, presenting a relatively small variety of data to a relatively small group of people
Teacher: Paperwork, interacting with over 100 people everyday - no 2 are alike, learning how to get all of them organized, processing a large amount of information in a short period of time, tailoring practices to the individual needs of each of your students, being a member of a team of professionals (counselors, administrators, custodians, parents, other teachers) to find the best practices for your students, constantly making split second decisions, presenting a wide variety of data to a wide variety of people....
This list doesn't even touch on the medical, social, and mental issues you have to deal with on a regular basis.
Need I go on? You decide which one will give you better experience in being a doctor.
BTW, the root of the word "doctor" is...you guessed it - "teacher"
One more thing - I truly think being a doctor will be an easier job than being a teacher (although that's not why I'm switching careers).
Lab tech: Test tubes, learning repetitive lab procedures, interacting with a small number of people who are either obsessed with what they're doing or can't wait to get to their next adventure, presenting a relatively small variety of data to a relatively small group of people
Teacher: Paperwork, interacting with over 100 people everyday - no 2 are alike, learning how to get all of them organized, processing a large amount of information in a short period of time, tailoring practices to the individual needs of each of your students, being a member of a team of professionals (counselors, administrators, custodians, parents, other teachers) to find the best practices for your students, constantly making split second decisions, presenting a wide variety of data to a wide variety of people....
This list doesn't even touch on the medical, social, and mental issues you have to deal with on a regular basis.
Need I go on? You decide which one will give you better experience in being a doctor.
BTW, the root of the word "doctor" is...you guessed it - "teacher"
One more thing - I truly think being a doctor will be an easier job than being a teacher (although that's not why I'm switching careers).
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After working as a research assistant and spending countless hours here cause lab work is deadly boring and having friends who are teachers who are actually getting something out of their job I'd have to go with teaching. That said though.. teaching is a much harder job.. and I really have had a 4 year vacation working in a lab.
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chanjurban said:
I know it sounds dumb, but I really think so too. And Archimedes, if you do become a teacher, the job is great.... you just have to watch out for parents. Parents make the job hell sometimes.
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In the past 3 years i've taught more than 30 lab sections, and chose to do that instead of work in one of the university labs... it was more my style and the $$ was wayyyy better.
However, in EVERY interview, the kids w/ research got asked ALL about it, and no one has EVER brought up the fact that i've been teaching Gen. Bio labs. I *infer* from that, that they don't really give a hoot that i taught. Or maybe research is just a well of interesting questions.
I'd have gone insane long ago, however, doing what my friends are doing in various labs. Bleh. I say do what you want to do, and spin it in your favor when the time comes.
However, in EVERY interview, the kids w/ research got asked ALL about it, and no one has EVER brought up the fact that i've been teaching Gen. Bio labs. I *infer* from that, that they don't really give a hoot that i taught. Or maybe research is just a well of interesting questions.
I'd have gone insane long ago, however, doing what my friends are doing in various labs. Bleh. I say do what you want to do, and spin it in your favor when the time comes.
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After working as a full-time tutor in a hospital, I have to say that I've learned a ton from my stint as a psuedo-teacher. I'm just so much more comfortable being with people, not just around them. I'm not sure how to elaborate on the difference. I also feel like what I've done this year is infinitely more important than what I would've done as a lab tech. I feel like what I've done is both valuable and valued - that I've actually made a difference in other peoples' lives and other people have definitely made a difference in mine.
I have simultaneously more and less respect for teachers after this experience. More because of how challenging it can be and what an amazing difference they can make in kids' lives when they do it well, and less because of how some teachers waste this opportunity and basically screw kids over when they don't care about what they do.
I have simultaneously more and less respect for teachers after this experience. More because of how challenging it can be and what an amazing difference they can make in kids' lives when they do it well, and less because of how some teachers waste this opportunity and basically screw kids over when they don't care about what they do.
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I had a 32 MCAT score. I worked as a research assistant for six months. I have seven years teaching experience (two middle school and five high school Biology). I applied to 47 medical schools (all private or in-state). I got one interview and waitlisted.
Why? I had a low GPA (3.04 Overall, 3.06 BCPM). I had a 3.8 GPA getting my teaching credential and recently got an "A" in second semester organic chemistry though I hadn't taken first semester in ten years.
I thought my teaching experience would make-up some of the slack for my low GPA. It didn't, it doesn't. Schools want to see the numbers. 👎 I would not worry about whether to do teaching or lab tech, just do one and get a good LOR. Actually, I would try to do as many different volunteering experiences I could serving as many sick, minorities or disadvantaged people as you can. If that MCAT is a bit low it will be hard to get your foot in the door regardless of what you are doing.
Why? I had a low GPA (3.04 Overall, 3.06 BCPM). I had a 3.8 GPA getting my teaching credential and recently got an "A" in second semester organic chemistry though I hadn't taken first semester in ten years.
I thought my teaching experience would make-up some of the slack for my low GPA. It didn't, it doesn't. Schools want to see the numbers. 👎 I would not worry about whether to do teaching or lab tech, just do one and get a good LOR. Actually, I would try to do as many different volunteering experiences I could serving as many sick, minorities or disadvantaged people as you can. If that MCAT is a bit low it will be hard to get your foot in the door regardless of what you are doing.
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I taught a year of HS Bio, & currently TA A&P. I understand several schools ask about teaching experience on secondarys. I don't think teaching looks weak but neither does it seem like any particular plus. Med schools primarily want to see enough clinical exposure to insure that the applicant understands what they're getting themselves into, of course, the demostrated ability to handle the academic rigors of med schools. Teaching really doesn't add to either, but, it is a respected profession that isn't looked down upon.
There are still other intangibles like leadership, comminication ability, and the possiblity of someday bringing research $s & prestige. So don't shy away from teaching but make sure you can show them what they really want to see.
There are still other intangibles like leadership, comminication ability, and the possiblity of someday bringing research $s & prestige. So don't shy away from teaching but make sure you can show them what they really want to see.
