Working full-time + applying to med school - ECs

[Corvid]

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Hey everyone,

I just want to get an opinion on something I've been thinking about. I work full-time and am applying for a second time. Up until I snagged my job, I had been volunteering and doing clinical research on a volunteer basis. However, since I started working full-time the end of last year I had stopped all of those activities (they were all on weekdays).

Is this a problem? Although I liked these experiences and learned a lot from them, I really want to enjoy my life as much as I can (by focusing on developing my hobbies an exploring the world around me in my free time) during this process. My job is fairly related to medicine, so I would still be maintaining my interest to attend medical school. I'm a lab tech that researches lung cancer at a hospital. I work with physician-scientists and get to attend conferences about applications of our research to medicine and will even get to shadow in the future.

So, thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[lobo.solo]

can you do non-clinical volunteering? This don't take that much time anyways...maybe a couple of hours per week. I think is always good to have new things to update school later on in your cycle. But if you have already solid ECs (and stats) then enjoy it.

 

[Corvid]

can you do non-clinical volunteering? This don't take that much time anyways...maybe a couple of hours per week. I think is always good to have new things to update school later on in your cycle. But if you have already solid ECs (and stats) then enjoy it.

I'm sure I'll figure out something down the line, it may not be non-clinical volunteering, but it'll be something...

 

[Catalystik]

I think is always good to have new things to update school later on in your cycle.

I agree with this.

OP, as you should be well aware since this is your second round, one should always live one's application year as if they might need to reapply. A common Secondary question is: What have you done since you last applied," and if the answer is "enjoy my life as much as I can (by focusing on developing my hobbies an exploring the world around me in my free time)" and "working full-time," it won't reflect well. Your description of your job is terrific (including the potential shadowing), but please give priority to putting in a few hours of nonmedical community service in each week as well.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

I work full time, volunteer in the ER one day a week, and do volunteer clinical work and research 2 days a week. I am a reapplicant and thankfully I spent the past year as if I were going to be a reapplicant. I will spend this year with the same mindset.

 

[nemo123]

You should try to get some type of volunteering position (of course if you're interested in it). Even if you're working full time, you should still have some time to volunteer 2-3 hours a week.

 

[Corvid]

Alright, seems like the general consensus is to pick up some non-clinical volunteering. Since my job is research and in a medically related area, it makes sense to do something outside of the clinical field. I'll explore my options and devote a few hours on a weekend for this. Thanks guys.

Edit: The good thing is that I'm moving closer to a larger city where there will definitely be more opportunities to get involved in the community.