Which would be a better summer job?

[CeruleanB]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Mind you, I haven't been accepted/gotten either of these jobs

Job 1: research at a public university, not a top school or anything. Pros: pays slightly more, research experience (I have none). Cons: away from home (free food and rent...), not very excited about research, will only just be starting when applying to med schools

Job 2: summer camp counselor. Pros: very enjoyable, get to live for free at home. Cons: doesn't pay as much

What would you do? I don't plan on applying to top research schools, so I'm not really sure if I want to do the research program or not.

 

[CC8897]

It sounds like you'd enjoy the camp counselor job more, so I'd do that

 

[CeruleanB]

I would enjoy it more. I'd have to work more for the same amount of money, but I would be happier. Plus I get to spend the summer with my family, which is always nice since I don't see them much during the school year.
I feel like I have to live up to my pre-med friends who are all going across the country this summer to do research. Maybe the joke is on them...

 

[CC8897]

Could you maybe do a little research before camp starts? I'm working at a camp too this summer, but it doesn't start until late June, so I'm doing some shadowing/clinic work for the first month of summer. It sounds like that would be ideal for you.

 

[Catalystik]

Before deciding it might be a good idea to review the MSAR for the schools you plan to target and see what % of applicants list research. About 60% of all applicants list research. If your schools have 75-85% research involvement, that tells you something about your odds at those schools if you have zero.

 

[0919mmk]

Do what you enjoy. You'll have plenty of time after/during med school to do s**t you don't want to do but have to 🙂 Plus, being engaged in whatever you're doing is probably going to help you in your interviews/PS etc. If they ask you why you loved doing research that summer in 2011 and you give a BS answer, it'll stink up the room pretty fast.

 

[the duck]

I have to agree with the poster above. Look at the schools you are applying to, and see what percent of matriculants have research experience. Decide from there.

 

[kami333]

How do you know you won't enjoy research if you've never done it before?

 

[CeruleanB]

Before deciding it might be a good idea to review the MSAR for the schools you plan to target and see what % of applicants list research. About 60% of all applicants list research. If your schools have 75-85% research involvement, that tells you something about your odds at those schools if you have zero.

Where do I draw the line between schools that look highly upon research, and those that don't consider it heavily? 75%?

I guess if I don't get into the program, it'll be decided for me anyways. I was never too thrilled with research, I would much rather be interacting with other people. But I understand that a lot of undergrads applying to med school will have research, while I have none.

 

[CeruleanB]

Could you maybe do a little research before camp starts? I'm working at a camp too this summer, but it doesn't start until late June, so I'm doing some shadowing/clinic work for the first month of summer. It sounds like that would be ideal for you.

It starts the first day of June, so I'd have maybe 3 weeks to do anything.

I am really not interested in research, I only applied to the program as a backup in case I didn't get another job. If it will really strengthen my application, I'll do it, but I hate doing things that I have no real interest in. I'm sure it would be OK, but I'm just not passionate about research.

 

[ungu]

Could you do research a different summer before med school, or is this your last summer before applying?
Could you be a medical assistant at the camp in addition to a counselor? I've seen some camps that accept people with a nursing assistant license. Then you could get leadership and some basic medical practice (handing out pills, taking vitals, etc.).

 

[CeruleanB]

I have to agree with the poster above. Look at the schools you are applying to, and see what percent of matriculants have research experience. Decide from there.

This is good advice. Some schools I want to apply to have 70%, others are lower(60 or below). I could maybe go with the summer camp job part-time, and cold-email nearby colleges to see if they have openings in their labs for some part-time work.

How do you know you won't enjoy research if you've never done it before?

I have friends who do research, I "shadow" them sometimes and I am just not interested in the projects they are working on. But maybe it's the specific research, and not research in general... 😕

 

[BiopsychStudent]

This is good advice. Some schools I want to apply to have 70%, others are lower(60 or below). I could maybe go with the summer camp job part-time, and cold-email nearby colleges to see if they have openings in their labs for some part-time work.



I have friends who do research, I "shadow" them sometimes and I am just not interested in the projects they are working on. But maybe it's the specific research, and not research in general... 😕

I wouldn't view that as a red flag. Basic science research asks very specific questions which, at a glance, appear boring or insignificant. Once you learn the general ropes of the lab and gain some expertise in the area it becomes a lot more interesting.

 

[Silverfalcon]

I am really not interested in research, I only applied to the program as a backup in case I didn't get another job. If it will really strengthen my application, I'll do it, but I hate doing things that I have no real interest in. I'm sure it would be OK, but I'm just not passionate about research.

Don't do it if you do not want to. Instead, work as a camp counselor and try to get as much volunteering as much possible - both clinical and non-clinical. Get tons of shadowing as well.

If you can't pull all that off, then consider research. Med school app isn't a checklist, but in a way it is.

 

[James Sacket]

Job 2: summer camp counselor. Pros: very enjoyable, get to live for free at home. Cons: doesn't pay as much

This 👍
Since A LOT of applicants have research experience, you want to distinguish yourself from the crowd.
But if money is an important factor to you, then go with the research job.

 

[CeruleanB]

Don't do it if you do not want to. Instead, work as a camp counselor and try to get as much volunteering as much possible - both clinical and non-clinical. Get tons of shadowing as well.

If you can't pull all that off, then consider research. Med school app isn't a checklist, but in a way it is.

That sounds way better than doing research. I could definitely do the camp job and volunteer/shadow at the same time.

This 👍
Since A LOT of applicants have research experience, you want to distinguish yourself from the crowd.
But if money is an important factor to you, then go with the research job.

The money difference isn't huge (per hour, yes, but I would get more hours doing the camp).

Very true about distinguishing, especially when >50% of applicants have research. Not that research is a bad idea at all.

 

[barensadau]

Camp counseling is research. Sociological research on child development...