What to do during gap year

[akaYoungSkrilla]

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So basically here's the dilemma: I'm a solid 4.0 double major in Biochemistry and Math who came full circle back to wanting to go into medicine. The problem is, I started off my EC's too late to be competitive at top 10 schools, so I'm planning on either taking a year or two off to work after undergrad or do a 5th year masters program in either Molecular Biology or Biochemistry here. Before people start calling me a prestige junkie, let me clarify. I want to go to a top 10 med school for two reasons: access to world class research facilities and access to top business schools. So, if you were in my shoes, would you graduate in 4 years and hope to get a job, or apply to med school during a 5th year masters?

If I could choose the ideal situation, I'd probably go with moving to LA and working for a year or two, but I'm just worried that I'll struggle to get a decent job with my education and how feasible the application process would be while working full time.

Input is greatly appreciated!

 

[iceman132]

So basically here's the dilemma: I'm a solid 4.0 double major in Biochemistry and Math who came full circle back to wanting to go into medicine. The problem is, I started off my EC's too late to be competitive at top 10 schools, so I'm planning on either taking a year or two off to work after undergrad or do a 5th year masters program in either Molecular Biology or Biochemistry here. Before people start calling me a prestige junkie, let me clarify. I want to go to a top 10 med school for two reasons: access to world class research facilities and access to top business schools. So, if you were in my shoes, would you graduate in 4 years and hope to get a job, or apply to med school during a 5th year masters?

If I could choose the ideal situation, I'd probably go with moving to LA and working for a year or two, but I'm just worried that I'll struggle to get a decent job with my education and how feasible the application process would be while working full time.

Input is greatly appreciated!

How about doing some EC if that's the problem. Get a job or do a masters but make sure to do the ECs
.

 

[kpcrew]

You don't need to go to a top 10 school for that. Take NYU for example, it's a very good school with great research facilities and one of the best business schools in the world, but it's not a top 10 school.

The job market sucks now and if you do get a job, you will have to find someone who will accomodate your need for time off to do interviews. Maybe apply to labs and get some research experience while volunteering or something like that during your year(s) off ¯\_(&#12484😉_/¯ The application process just takes a long time to go through, it's not overwhelming unless you schedule 4 interviews in a week or something like that.

 

[CodeBlu]

OP check your inbox

 

[aSagacious]

Before I move this to the 'what are my chances' forum I'll give my two cents.

A) You don't really sound like you have your mind made up. You want to go into medicine, yet also research and attend business school on the side? Well, have you had experience with any of those fields before you commit yourself to them?

B) Going along with the last part of A, have you acquired any clinical experience? If not, what made you decide to pursue medicine?

 

[bucks2010]

graduate & get a job. if you get one that is flexible, applying while working won't be difficult.

 

[akaYoungSkrilla]

I am. I went from no EC's my first two years (except I had a job and have been in a fraternity). I started research and hospital volunteering and shadowing right when I decided I wanted to go to med school at the end of last school year, and I'm going to keep both going until I graduate. I've also taken a position as an Ambassador for my department, I'm working on founding and directing a physician shadowing program, and I'll be taking on some leadership roles in my fraternity my senior year and working on an Honors thesis.

So when I graduate, my resume will be solid but it wouldn't be particularly competitive if I applied next cycle. I also just want to wait to start med school since the process will take me another 10 years.

 

[akaYoungSkrilla]

I didn't really intend for this to be a "chances" thread, I'm just looking for some advice on what to do in my situation. I'm pretty realistic about my chances.

As far as your questions:
A) I have made up my mind. I know that I want to be a physician, and many med students do research. I want access to business schools because I'm interested in leadership in medicine down the road, so I want to have the option to pursue an MD/MBA.

B) I've wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid. When I started college I was going through some growing pains and couldn't make up my mind. After two years, I made it full circle back to medicine because I've honestly never been able to picture myself doing anything else, but I gave engineering a shot at the urging of one of my professors who thought I should pursue engineering in grad school, but I wasn't a fan. As far as clinical experience, I shadow a well-known oncologist, and I volunteer weekly in the emergency department here.

Before I move this to the 'what are my chances' forum I'll give my two cents.

A) You don't really sound like you have your mind made up. You want to go into medicine, yet also research and attend business school on the side? Well, have you had experience with any of those fields before you commit yourself to them?

B) Going along with the last part of A, have you acquired any clinical experience? If not, what made you decide to pursue medicine?