work a thing of the past?

[fishtolive]

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I was pondering something. While I have volunteer/research/typical premed stuff under my belt and I know these things are important, what about work experience? No one seemed to say anything about it but if anyone found holding a steady job helpful to their admission, please reply. I have been a lab assistant in Microbiology for as long as I've been an undergrad and have a person woking under me. I have a lot of responsibility and have extensive experience with microbes (culturing, mutating, etc.) but is this going to be overlooked? It seems like no one here said anything about work. But isn't that what we're going to do eventually, work our butts off? Thanx,
sdm

 

[Malftap]

No your work experience will not be overlooked. You'll have a place to put that on your application and the adcomms will look at that as a positive. Plus it seems like you have been entrusted with a lot of responsibilites and that shows leadership which many admissions committees love. Good luck.

 

[lilycat]

Work experience is definitely important. On your AMCAS and on all of your secondaries, you will have a section for it. I still haven't quite figured out how AdComms view it or evaluate it though. Judging from my experience, and that of lots and lots of friends, it seems like if you DON'T have it, it won't keep you out of med school, assuming the rest of the app is solid. However, if you do have some extensive work experience (as in your case) it is a very good plus, and can possibly make up for some other deficiencies in your application. And, if you are taking time off after undergrad before you apply, work experience becomes much more important.

[This message has been edited by lilycat (edited 01-22-2001).]