What to do now?

[deleted483737]

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Hi everyone,

So, after much consideration, I decided to put off applying this year, take the MCAT in September (when I will feel more comfortable - have already been feeling more confident) and apply next year. My question now is what I should do in my gap year between now and applying next year.

Here are my options:

1) Continue taking classes (I have a 3.8 currently for my post-bacc classes); I registered for Microbio and Polyfunctional Organic and am ont he waitlist for Anatomy and Physiology. I lead a seminar in General Chemistry every semester and have been doing this since January of 2011 and would do that again in the fall most likely. I also currently volunteer at a crisis line for domestic violence (since March) and at a hospital (since Feb) and am hoping to add volunteering at a clinic in the South Side of Chicago to gain more experience.

2) Work as a nursing assistant part/full time at a hospital. I have quite a rapport with the people on the floor I work at and have been told to call and talk to the nursing manager. My license expires in August (while my MCAT is in September 🙁 ), so I would have to get a job soon-ish. I would stop volunteering at the hospital (obviously) and continue to volunteer on the crisis line and possibly the clinic.

A little more: I am both a private ACT/Science subject tutor and I tutor a kid for 4 hours a week at the moment. It may not seem like a lot but I am designing an entire curriculum completely based on his needs. I've also been working at a learning center for a year and a half. Not sure if I could continue at the center if I got a FT job at a hospital.

Aaaaand one more thing: I'm turning 26, so I will no longer be under my parent's insurance. Getting a FT/PT job would include insurance, but I'm not sure if it is worth it if that option might possibly compromise my dreams. A doctor told me that med schools like volunteer work better than paid work, so I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks so much for reading and any help anyone can offer!

 

[beBrave]

Hi everyone,

So, after much consideration, I decided to put off applying this year, take the MCAT in September (when I will feel more comfortable - have already been feeling more confident) and apply next year. My question now is what I should do in my gap year between now and applying next year.

Here are my options:

1) Continue taking classes (I have a 3.8 currently for my post-bacc classes); I registered for Microbio and Polyfunctional Organic and am ont he waitlist for Anatomy and Physiology. I lead a seminar in General Chemistry every semester and have been doing this since January of 2011 and would do that again in the fall most likely. I also currently volunteer at a crisis line for domestic violence (since March) and at a hospital (since Feb) and am hoping to add volunteering at a clinic in the South Side of Chicago to gain more experience.

2) Work as a nursing assistant part/full time at a hospital. I have quite a rapport with the people on the floor I work at and have been told to call and talk to the nursing manager. My license expires in August (while my MCAT is in September 🙁 ), so I would have to get a job soon-ish. I would stop volunteering at the hospital (obviously) and continue to volunteer on the crisis line and possibly the clinic.

A little more: I am both a private ACT/Science subject tutor and I tutor a kid for 4 hours a week at the moment. It may not seem like a lot but I am designing an entire curriculum completely based on his needs. I've also been working at a learning center for a year and a half. Not sure if I could continue at the center if I got a FT job at a hospital.

Aaaaand one more thing: I'm turning 26, so I will no longer be under my parent's insurance. Getting a FT/PT job would include insurance, but I'm not sure if it is worth it if that option might possibly compromise my dreams. A doctor told me that med schools like volunteer work better than paid work, so I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks so much for reading and any help anyone can offer!

No it will not compromise your dream. They may like volunteer work better (again that might vary by school) but they also "know you have to survive" (I got that bit of feedback from a Med school program director) and it also shows that you have the much needed experience that they are looking for in the Medical field. I suggest taking to job pronto; a life without Medical insurance is a dangerous one. Medical insurance helps to prevent little things from becoming big things.

If you can get by working PT while tutoring on the side and not experience a significant hardship, then I suggest going that route. You have an excellent GPA, try give yourself a bit of breathing room as well; have some fun, connect with friends (or make new friends). You've worked really hard. Continue pacing yourself as you prepare for the MCAT. You've done an excellent job up until this point, I can't see you not getting accepted by a med school as long as you apply broadly and do reasonably well on the MCAT's.

 

[deleted483737]

I suggest taking to job pronto; a life without Medical insurance is a dangerous one. Medical insurance helps to prevent little things from becoming big things.

If you can get by working PT while tutoring on the side and not experience a significant hardship, then I suggest going that route. You have an excellent GPA, try give yourself a bit of breathing room as well; have some fun, connect with friends (or make new friends). You've worked really hard. Continue pacing yourself as you prepare for the MCAT. You've done an excellent job up until this point, I can't see you not getting accepted by a med school as long as you apply broadly and do reasonably well on the MCAT's.

My only concern is that my ugrad is a 3.3. My MCAT score is slowly but surely improving with VR anywhere b/w a 9-11 (except on diag when it was a 7). Last PS was a crap 8, but I made HUGE gans in BS with a 10. Never taken a real test; these are just practice ones.

I live with my parents, and they are being extremely generous and supporting me in this dream, so I don't pay rent or for food. Health insurance is really my one concern as I take medication on a daily basis and have a really weird eye condition (no one knows what it is).

The other thing is that I would have to start working while studying for the MCAT. I love having the time I need (eg at least 4 hours a day) to study so I would worry about that too.

 

[beBrave]

My only concern is that my ugrad is a 3.3. My MCAT score is slowly but surely improving with VR anywhere b/w a 9-11 (except on diag when it was a 7). Last PS was a crap 8, but I made HUGE gans in BS with a 10. Never taken a real test; these are just practice ones.

I live with my parents, and they are being extremely generous and supporting me in this dream, so I don't pay rent or for food. Health insurance is really my one concern as I take medication on a daily basis and have a really weird eye condition (no one knows what it is).

The other thing is that I would have to start working while studying for the MCAT. I love having the time I need (eg at least 4 hours a day) to study so I would worry about that too.

If you are open to DO schools then realistically, your Post Bach GPA will help a ton. Based on your current MCAT scores it would appear that you're right around the 27 - 28 range which isn't bad as you are clearly grasping the material so you can improve on this. Health insurance is a huge concern, don't underestimate it. Keep taking your med's as advised. If you haven't already tried this, find a good DO or holistic doctor in regards to the weird eye condition. The problem may not be in your eye specifically.

 

[Goro]

#2 makes the most sense. if you get hit by a taxi, and don't have insurance, your medical school career might well be over. ERs aren't good Primary Care doctors.

As long as you have done the right amount of volunteer work, you're fine. Your GPA is stellar. The doc who advised you is probably NOT on an AdCom, is he?

2) Work as a nursing assistant part/full time at a hospital. I have quite a rapport with the people on the floor I work at and have been told to call and talk to the nursing manager. My license expires in August (while my MCAT is in September 🙁 ), so I would have to get a job soon-ish. I would stop volunteering at the hospital (obviously) and continue to volunteer on the crisis line and possibly the clinic.

A little more: I am both a private ACT/Science subject tutor and I tutor a kid for 4 hours a week at the moment. It may not seem like a lot but I am designing an entire curriculum completely based on his needs. I've also been working at a learning center for a year and a half. Not sure if I could continue at the center if I got a FT job at a hospital.

Aaaaand one more thing: I'm turning 26, so I will no longer be under my parent's insurance. Getting a FT/PT job would include insurance, but I'm not sure if it is worth it if that option might possibly compromise my dreams. A doctor told me that med schools like volunteer work better than paid work, so I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks so much for reading and any help anyone can offer![/QUOTE]