Working for one's top choice school

[evansh]

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Through very fortunate circumstance I've been given an opportunity to perform gap year research with my top choice medical college. Is this something that could help my application?

Also I understand the updates are typically reserved for academic performance and significant EC achievements, but would it be appropriate to formally update to the school? Particularly if research experience is one of my weakest areas, so a year long full-time job in research potentially helps my app a lot.

Thanks in advance.

 

[starlite911]

I don't know if it will necessarily help your chances any more than a research job at a different school would.
If you are going to update schools, I would wait until you've actually worked at the job for a month or two so you can talk about what you do versus saying "Hey guess what I was hired." Also make sure the school(s) is/are receptive to updates. Some will only accept updates after you've been invited to interview or have completed your interview.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

I don't know if it will necessarily help your chances any more than a research job at a different school would.
If you are going to update schools, I would wait until you've actually worked at the job for a month or two so you can talk about what you do versus saying "Hey guess what I was hired." Also make sure the school(s) is/are receptive to updates. Some will only accept updates after you've been invited to interview or have completed your interview.

At the very least it's something you can talk about in all your interviews (if prompted of course).

 

[GrapesofRath]

Through very fortunate circumstance I've been given an opportunity to perform gap year research with my top choice medical college. Is this something that could help my application?

Also I understand the updates are typically reserved for academic performance and significant EC achievements, but would it be appropriate to formally update to the school? Particularly if research experience is one of my weakest areas, so a year long full-time job in research potentially helps my app a lot.

Thanks in advance.

1) Performing research at a particular school will not help your chances at that particular school.
2) Way too early to be sending updates even if it was over something far more meaningful
3) Just starting a research job while applying will do nothing for your application for that cycle. There is literally nothing you've done at that lab to talk about.

 

[mrspecialist]

Do it, don't live a life of regret. If it is a "top" choice for you, do it for the experience.

 

[efle]

1) Performing research at a particular school will not help your chances at that particular school.
2) Way too early to be sending updates even if it was over something far more meaningful
3) Just starting a research job while applying will do nothing for your application for that cycle. There is literally nothing you've done at that lab to talk about.

If one were to work the research position full time all summer, wouldn't they have something to talk about come interviews in Autumn? And especially if they get late interviews into end of winter

 

[getdown]

Through very fortunate circumstance I've been given an opportunity to perform gap year research with my top choice medical college. Is this something that could help my application?

Also I understand the updates are typically reserved for academic performance and significant EC achievements, but would it be appropriate to formally update to the school? Particularly if research experience is one of my weakest areas, so a year long full-time job in research potentially helps my app a lot.

Thanks in advance.

Also remember now that you worked in that school should you be offered an interview there you should be able to come up with a solid reason as to why you want to go there. Every school's character is different so being able to talk about that and how that speaks to you is a plus. Nothing worse than the generic answers to "why do you want to come here" question.