Will healthcare consulting strengthen my app or should I move on?

[stayingpositive2014]

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I'm currently a healthcare management consultant (1 year so far), but I'm wondering if I could be doing different work that would help strengthen my app more. I love the healthcare management aspect of my job, but dislike my very $$ oriented and cut-throat co-workers, oppressive corporate environment, etc… I know jobs in consulting are hard to come by and could possibly be looked at positively by med schools (?), so I'm a bit reluctant to leave. Should I move on to a different job? Perhaps clinical research? Any suggestions?

Here's how my app currently looks below if that might help.
Research:
- Research assistant for 3 semesters (20 hrs/wk during semester) and 1 summer full-time in undergrad
- NIH Research Internship senior year of HS
Clinical Experience:
- 200+ hours of shadowing
- 60+ hrs volunteer scribe at free clinic
Extracurricular:
- President of honor society
- Head of Service Committee in Service Frat
- Many tutoring/mentoring programs throughout college
- Spent a month being a Resident Assistant and Teaching Assistant for outreach summer science programs through college
- Science policy internship, submitted policy paper for publication
-Volunteer Coordinator at free clinic
- 190+ non-clinical community service hours through activities organized through Service fraternity, animal shelter work, etc.

 

[argle_bargle]

What is a volunteer scribe?

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

I would stay in the job for another year (as you seem to be enjoying it), while volunteering on the side. With that, and a strong MCAT and GPA, you should stand a solid chance.

Also, I don't think they care about research done in high school.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

I'm currently a healthcare management consultant (1 year so far), but I'm wondering if I could be doing different work that would help strengthen my app more. I love the healthcare management aspect of my job, but dislike my very $$ oriented and cut-throat co-workers, oppressive corporate environment, etc… I know jobs in consulting are hard to come by and could possibly be looked at positively by med schools (?), so I'm a bit reluctant to leave. Should I move on to a different job? Perhaps clinical research? Any suggestions?

Here's how my app currently looks below if that might help.
Research:
- Research assistant for 3 semesters (20 hrs/wk during semester) and 1 summer full-time in undergrad
- NIH Research Internship senior year of HS
Clinical Experience:
- 200+ hours of shadowing
- 60+ hrs volunteer scribe at free clinic
Extracurricular:
- President of honor society
- Head of Service Committee in Service Frat
- Many tutoring/mentoring programs throughout college
- Spent a month being a Resident Assistant and Teaching Assistant for outreach summer science programs through college
- Science policy internship, submitted policy paper for publication
-Volunteer Coordinator at free clinic
- 190+ non-clinical community service hours through activities organized through Service fraternity, animal shelter work, etc.

I think it will be a bit different, you are coming at healthcare from a business perspective. Different will make you stand out from the crowd. If you can apply your business perspective to clinical practice in your PS, you will be golden.

 

[stayingpositive2014]

I'm applying with a cGPA of 3.43, sGPA of 3.58, and 32 MCAT, if that makes any difference.
Business&Clinical perspective in PS, will definitely keep in mind!

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

GPA is a bit on the low side, so you might want to add in some DO schools to the mix, in addition to the MD you are presumably already applying to.

 

[caffeinemia]

I love the healthcare management aspect of my job, but dislike my very $$ oriented and cut-throat co-workers, oppressive corporate environment, etc… I know jobs in consulting are hard to come by and could possibly be looked at positively by med schools (?), so I'm a bit reluctant to leave.

HOLD UP - you think money and cut-throat co-workers and oppressive work environment are just unique to consulting? LOL. I hope you never consider private practice subspecialty surgery....

 

[stayingpositive2014]

I hope I don't consider going into that either.
I'm going to apply MD this cycle and plan to add DO into the mix if I need to reapply..
Do you think an SMP is needed to remedy my low cGPA? I have a strong upward trend (fr 2.5, soph 3.55, jr 3.8, sr 3.88) if that makes a difference

 

[caffeinemia]

I seriously didn't know that a GPA of 3.4 was that horrible - you sound like more of a non-traditional student to me than anything. I think you'd be surprised with what you could get interviews at...but at the end of the day it's all a crapshoot. I've no doubt you'll get in, just a matter of where. Seems like you're cool with MD or DO, so why both with the 50k or whatever it costs to do SMP.

Also, I dunno what happened in freshman year, but I hope it was fun!

 

[JimmyB123]

I hope I don't consider going into that either.
I'm going to apply MD this cycle and plan to add DO into the mix if I need to reapply..
Do you think an SMP is needed to remedy my low cGPA? I have a strong upward trend (fr 2.5, soph 3.55, jr 3.8, sr 3.88) if that makes a difference

I highly recommend applying DO this cycle as well. I had better stats than you and was unable to secure an MD spot. I'm very thankful I applied DO as well. Things are getting competitive now and unless you're a 3.7/32+ , I really advocate adding a DO application to the mix. You will save a year and be glad.

 

[ConsultantMD]

As my name suggests, I'm in a similar boat as you. My gpa was lower than yours but I did a diy post bacc at my state school and did well there, and also did really well on the MCAT.

You are fighting an uphill battle and there are more consultants out there than you'd think applying to med school. I would say really focus on the process of how you decided to leave your current job and pursue medicine and why you are different. Maybe explain why your grades weren't the best too but don't rant. Many schools will overlook you pretty quickly since the gpa below many schools' 10th percentile. But there are several that can appreciate a comeback. Apply broadly and I think you will be able to secure a spot in an MD program. It's really unpredictable... For example, 25% of my interviews were at top ten schools. I was hoping for one! I'm still waiting to hear back from everywhere but I have several acceptances and am really excited about my options.

Work hard on your PS and secondaries and apply early! And be ready for a ride! Feel free to PM me for further advice and good luck!

 

[justadream]

As my name suggests, I'm in a similar boat as you. My gpa was lower than yours but I did a diy post bacc at my state school and did well there, and also did really well on the MCAT.

You are fighting an uphill battle and there are more consultants out there than you'd think applying to med school. I would say really focus on the process of how you decided to leave your current job and pursue medicine and why you are different. Maybe explain why your grades weren't the best too but don't rant. Many schools will overlook you pretty quickly since the gpa below many schools' 10th percentile. But there are several that can appreciate a comeback. Apply broadly and I think you will be able to secure a spot in an MD program. It's really unpredictable... For example, 25% of my interviews were at top ten schools. I was hoping for one! I'm still waiting to hear back from everywhere but I have several acceptances and am really excited about my options.

Work hard on your PS and secondaries and apply early! And be ready for a ride! Feel free to PM me for further advice and good luck!

If you don't mind my asking, did you come from MBB (and if so, do you think that helped you get those top 10 interviews or not)?

 

[ConsultantMD]

If you don't mind my asking, did you come from MBB (and if so, do you think that helped you get those top 10 interviews or not)?

Not sure what an MBB is but I just had an unusual undergraduate study, unique activities, research and background which is why I think I got some interest there. Pretty much all the schools I thought I had a chance at were rejections/silence at this point.