What are some good things (jobs) to do during your glide year

[Tofurkey]

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Hi there,

I will be looking for a full-time job (or two part-time jobs) starting August 1 or so for the next two years while I take some extra classes during the first year and apply to med school (glide year) during the second.

I'm thinking about service or research related opportunities, such as research tech/ assistant, Americorps, or related service positions such as those.

Anyone have any advice about particularly meaningful short-term (i.e. two years or less) jobs?

I have a BA in English and a law degree as my job credentials.

Thanks,

Tofurkey

 

[Grumpy Bear]

Working in clinical research is pretty cool. Most of the people I work with are here for the 1-2 years in between undergrad and whatever they are moving on to (med school, mph, etc.) It's a great opportunity to interact with patients and see how research functions in a clinical setting. It'll get you thinking about ethical issues, cultural competency, etc and provides great fodder for interview discussions.

 

[petersongator]

Work for Kaplan and teach SAT and MCAT classes. Try to qualify for LSAT too if you can.

I work there and it's a great, high-paying, flexible job.

 

[duka]

work as a pre-IRTA as a research fellow at NIH in Washington DC-- a great program.

 

[darkcity998]

travel, apply for Fulbright grants

don't limit yourself to medicine if you already have enough experience.

try something as if you only have these years left in your life..in that case, you won't have any regrets before you begin a challenging and demanding career as a physician.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

For my year off I spent a gazillion hours working but rewarded myself travelling often. I have a feeling I'd eventually make it to the Grand Canyon before I die, but I saw it a lot earlier than I as anticipating.

I also reaquainted myself with my photography hobby, I'm so happy I did (although it was a quick way to drain my bank account). I still have a few rolls of film that need to be developed.

 

[hsouth]

I work in a research lab as a tech. Money's okay, and the job is really interesting, has given me a chance to meet new people, expand my resume, get great LOR's, and is flexbile enough for me to travel a little, etc. I think taking a little time off before applying is great. I'm not so stressed out and have had some great experiences this year. Good luck!

~H

 

[LoneCoyote]

if policy or politics is your thing i am in a really cool program called the capitol fellowship which places fellows in positions in the california state government. there are positions in the legislature, executive and judicial branches. we are interviewing for placements right now, but i am likely going to end up in the dept. of health doing both policy work and research. if you're interested or have questions feel free to pm me.

 

[dstn2bmd]

Enjoy my children and family as much as I can...🙂
Enjoy thinking about the prospects of my future🙂
Finally have time to pick up some old hobbies.

Heb

 

[LaurieB]

Tofurkey,

I'm in my glide year right now and work for a home health care agency based out of Chicago. I love it and think the experience is great. The pay isn't great though. PM me if you want more info.

Laurie

 

[sgilani]

for anyone with a clinical research position, is it paid? what qualifications do you need to land such a job?

 

[Megalofyia]

What qualifications do you need to work for kaplan?

 

[HawkeyeBFP]

What qualifications do you need to work for kaplan?

There's another thread about this somewhere, but basically, you need to show them proof you're above 90th percentile in some aspect of the test you want to teach.

Some locations are even more particular. I hear the one in Cambridge scoffs at MCAT teacher candidates if they didn't have at least a 38. 🙁

You also have to audition.

 

[KatieOConnor]

I work in clinical research. I think you just need to be in the right place at the right time to get these jobs. They seem to be less prevalent than regular research jobs. And, the money's not that great. I'm not saving anything.

But, the upside is that I actually get to deal with patients and doctors, and I play a real role in the diagnosis of some of the patients. One patient we got recently had been looked at by numerous doctors and cytogeneticists. When we got a sample from the patient in our lab, everyone pitched in to try to come up with a diagnosis. I was the one who actually found the correct one. (Comparing symptoms to clinical cases, looking on pubmed) It turned out to be a disease with only about 20 documented cases. Talk about an ego trip!!!

It's really cool to be able to get such hands on experience like this. I urge everyone to try to get into a small clinical diagnostic/ research lab like this.