the "what are you doing now" interview q

[wendywellesley]

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if there's already a thread about this, then feel free to whip my sad ass. but i'll ask anyway.

next year while i'm applying i really just want to bum around. i've been super-student all my life and i would really like this time to work at a cafe or bookstore, knit sweaters and take as much yoga classes as possible. but i'm afraid of that "what are you doing now?" question at the interview. i'm also afraid i'll need to send in a letter to med schools that might give me the silent treatment, it would be nice to say that i'm doing something productive and medically related.
is anyone in applying this cycle (who isn't in college) just doing whatever and nothing medically related?
thanks!!
wendy

 

[Mistress S]

I'm not exactly in your shoes, since I work in a clinic and am doing that full-time while I apply. However, I don't think you have to do medical work or research while you apply, but you do want to have something to talk about when asked what you are doing in interviews or, as you mentioned, to tell schools about in update letters. I would look into some kind of volunteer work that you're interested in, it doesn't have to be medically related but just something you enjoy, or maybe take a class or two in your year off (I'm assuming from your description of your plans that you will have the year you're applying off). They don't have to be science classes, although that is always good, maybe take some language classes or something along those lines. I recently started volunteering as a tutor with homeless children, it's a lot of fun and gives me something else to talk/write about besides my work. As long as you are doing one or two "productive" things, I don't think med schools will care if you work in a bookstore and spend your free time contorting yourself into weird positions. 😉

 

[wendywellesley]

I'm not exactly in your shoes, since I work in a clinic and am doing that full-time while I apply. However, I don't think you have to do medical work or research while you apply, but you do want to have something to talk about when asked what you are doing in interviews or, as you mentioned, to tell schools about in update letters. I would look into some kind of volunteer work that you're interested in, it doesn't have to be medically related but just something you enjoy, or maybe take a class or two in your year off (I'm assuming from your description of your plans that you will have the year you're applying off). They don't have to be science classes, although that is always good, maybe take some language classes or something along those lines. I recently started volunteering as a tutor with homeless children, it's a lot of fun and gives me something else to talk/write about besides my work. As long as you are doing one or two "productive" things, I don't think med schools will care if you work in a bookstore and spend your free time contorting yourself into weird positions. 😉

good advice mistress! thanks 🙂 best of luck to you.