What to Do???

[MDwannabe09]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm trying to plan out what to do this summer and I'm having trouble deciding between two options. I applied for a paid summer research internship and got accepted, but I also had some new opportunities arise this week.

Option 1: Go to summer research internship and that's it. It's paid and would be a great experience some place different from my current university.

Option 2: Stay at my current university and continue doing the research I'm doing now, (unpaid). Also, volunteer at the university hospital in the E.R., take a summer class, and either work in another research lab, (paid) or find a job.

I'm torn because I really want to do the summer internship that I went out of my way to apply and ask for letters of rec. for, but then I also want more clinical experience, (which I won't get at that internship). I'm applying to med schools in June as well.

Any words of advice?

 

[Propylene]

Well, what do you think would benefit your application more? Do you have any clinical experience already? Are there opportunities for you to publish or any other project going at your school that you can work on?

If I understand your timetable right you'll be applying in a few months so these activities will only show up to medical schools as updates if you plan on filing your AMCAS in June. It will be hard to get a meaningful letter sent off if you're just starting in the summer (~May?). I would choose whichever activities would best compliment your application and go from there. Just my 2 cents!

 

[darkjedi]

You should have spare time doing research. You can always pick up clinical experience volunteering at the local hospital.

 

[Aerus]

I'm trying to plan out what to do this summer and I'm having trouble deciding between two options. I applied for a paid summer research internship and got accepted, but I also had some new opportunities arise this week.

Option 1: Go to summer research internship and that's it. It's paid and would be a great experience some place different from my current university.

Option 2: Stay at my current university and continue doing the research I'm doing now, (unpaid). Also, volunteer at the university hospital in the E.R., take a summer class, and either work in another research lab, (paid) or find a job.

I'm torn because I really want to do the summer internship that I went out of my way to apply and ask for letters of rec. for, but then I also want more clinical experience, (which I won't get at that internship). I'm applying to med schools in June as well.

Any words of advice?

I would stay. Putting more time into one activity makes it more meaningful and you can be more productive in the lab, which might lead to conferences/pubs.

Extra clinical experience couldn't hurt either, especially if you're lacking in that department now.

 

[MDwannabe09]

I'm currently lacking in the clinical area, (I only have 50hrs) and I'm going to be published by fall of this year doing the research I'm already doing now.

I think I'll probably end up staying, but it just feels weird applying for this internship, getting accepted, and then rejecting it. Oh well. I think both my application and I would benefit more from additional clinical experience.

 

[lobo.solo]

Option 2 sounds a lot more productive IMO