What would you do?

[tjday]

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Hey guys,

I'm looking for some input for a decision that I am trying to make. Here it goes.....I started the fall semester as a junior at a UNC school and I'm a Division I athlete on a Cross Country and track team; I was also recently hired to a job opening at a local hospital working as an ER scribe. The time that it takes between the school, running, and work is pretty rigorous and I'm thinking that siding between either the running or the job to keep up my grades. What would you guys choose keeping in mind my possible entry into med school would be 2015? In the long run, which would make me a more competitive applicant?

Thanks for the input!

 

[kduck]

My personal opinion is that if you really need to sacrifice something, I would keep the job... unless you depend on being an athlete to fund your education. I think that clinical experience is key for med school applications, so you definitely don't want to give that up. If you can find a way to keep on running though, they also like to see that you have hobbies outside of medicine/academics! Maybe you can join a club or another running group that is less intense?

 

[causalinference]

Clinical experience will make you more competitive for medical school.

 

[Musclemass]

If you need the money, that's a deciding factor.

Too many think that to be a successful applicant means conforming explicitly to some mysterious secret checklist of ECs. Many pursue this mechanically and accumulate boring, me-too activities. Those who do are obvious and impress no one.

ER scribes are a dime a dozen, that's a common activity. Two-sport D1 athletes are much more unique. If you love competitive running and can make it work, I'd do so.

 

[sha15]

If you need the money, that's a deciding factor.

Too many think that to be a successful applicant means conforming explicitly to some mysterious secret checklist of ECs. Many pursue this mechanically and accumulate boring, me-too activities. Those who do are obvious and impress no one.

ER scribes are a dime a dozen, that's a common activity. Two-sport D1 athletes are much more unique. If you love competitive running and can make it work, I'd do so.

I agree. Easy choice bro, keep running. Being a D1 athlete gives you a very distinct and attractive extracurricular activity that will give you a significant advantage over other applicants considering you have decent numbers and at least some clinical experience.

 

[FoxyMD30]

^ I totally agree with this. D1 athletics= focus, determination, teamwork, and that + great scholastics= time management skills, etc.

You can easily get clinical experiences later or that take up less time now. Meaningful, quality experiences that you can reference in your PS or secondaries are going to get you farther than sheer quantity.

I see a lot of posters complaining now because they haven't gotten interviews or acceptances and they think they are entitled because they're following the "SDN guidelines". Schools want people who are a bit outside the box. Do what makes you, you, and don't conform to the jaded opinions of a bunch of people on the Internet.

Oh yeah, and apply EARLY, do your secondaries quickly, and don't wind up one of the people asking in November why they've gotten no love since they were complete in October.

Sorry for the rant. 😉 best of luck to you!

~the jaded opinion of a girl on the Internet

 

[gettheleadout]

+1 for keeping the D1 sport involvement if possible. As Musclemass said though, if you absolutely need the money that's different. If it comes to that, maybe try talking to the athletic department about getting some financial assistance? They obviously thought you would be a valuable enough asset to put you on the team, and if you tell them that you absolutely cannot on the team because you need to work to afford to live and pay for school, they may be willing to oblige.

 

[arfc6]

+1 on the running. I played a sport throughout college and it came up at just about every interview (in a good way).

 

[causalinference]

I agree. Easy choice bro, keep running. Being a D1 athlete gives you a very distinct and attractive extracurricular activity that will give you a significant advantage over other applicants considering you have decent numbers and at least some clinical experience.

Key phrase: "some clinical experience."

Being a D1 athlete is useless if an applicant has little or no clinical experience.

Since he's a junior he has probably been doing athletics for a while. He can include it on his application and it will look good.

But it will only help if he has the clinical experience to back it up. Now is the time to make sure that everything is in place.

 

[tjday]

Thanks for the replies,

Part of why I was considering giving up the running was I will only have my senior year left to run. I do however see that being an athlete is a much more diverse activity. At least I would have a year -ish to get some clinicals while I'm prepping for the mcat and such.