year off

[cobalt31]

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im graduating in May. i was in Germany from june - december 2007 doing a chemistry internship, so i missed the application cycle. i figured there was no way id be able to interview while in europe, so i'd just wait for the next application cycle for entrance in fall 09. all that's going fine, except i dont really know what to do for my year off. any suggestions? is it unethical to try and get a job (like a real job with my chem major) if i plan on only staying for a year? are there year-long research positions places that would pay me? should i just get a job at kaplan or something?

what do you all think?

 

[rewJW]

I am taking a year off and will hopefully be finding a laboratory job. I do not plan on telling them I am going to apply to dental school. Maybe it is 'unethical,' but I need to make money to survive! 😀 I have a retail job currently but the pay I get IMHO is just inadequate for a college grad, but it's something to fall back on if I can't get a lab job.

What are others' opinions on this?

 

[dr bojangles]

do something meaningful/worthwhile to you (work, volunteer, travel, etc.). an interviewer might ask what you did in your time off, and saying becoming "king of xbox" isn't the best answer, i'd think.
in my case, i got a job. i felt i had to use the degree i earned over after 4 years of work. its more research, plus now i'm doing a masters (possibly applying dmd/phd).
its not unethical to get a job for a year. just don't commit to any long term jobs. you don't have to tell them you're applying, thats your own personal business. the kaplan sounds nice (congrats, they only take cream of the crop!), but i think it'd be part time.

 

[CMistry]

I work as a dental assistant during my year off and not only do I learn A LOT about dentistry but also the ADCOMs were very impressed with my initiative.

-Cyrus

 

[SHC1984]

I am working at a dental lab right now...it looks good, but the pay sucks! 👎

 

[SHC1984]

retail and dental labs pay about the same (unless you are an experisenced dental tech...) I only make 9 dollars an hour....worst then some retail store...🙄

I am taking a year off and will hopefully be finding a laboratory job. I do not plan on telling them I am going to apply to dental school. Maybe it is 'unethical,' but I need to make money to survive! 😀 I have a retail job currently but the pay I get IMHO is just inadequate for a college grad, but it's something to fall back on if I can't get a lab job.

What are others' opinions on this?

 

[dr bojangles]

yes, its a big sacrifice with dental lab stuff. i got an offer for this lab doing ortho impressions, etc. it was like 8.50/hr......terrible for jobs out of college. i like research more, and did that. note, the pay in research isn't glamorous, but its ~3x more than that dental lab haha.

 

[DGDDS]

You could work for the NIH under a post-bacc intramural research program. I'm about to complete mine in June and head off to dental school and it's been a fun experience (and a great thing to talk about during interviews). It's for students who have just graduated and who plan on going on to dental/medical/pharmacy school. The pay is alright, but they're very flexible about letting you off for interview and such.

Here's a link to the program description: http://www.training.nih.gov/student/Pre-IRTA/irtamanualpostbac.asp

 

[cobalt31]

http://www.training.nih.gov/student/Pre-IRTA/irtamanualpostbac.asp

interesting! for that program, do you still count as a "student?" or would i be kicked off my family's health insurance (where i can stay if i stay a student) and will i have to start paying back student loans, which are deferred until you lose student status?

also, is it hard to get into the program? I dont have much biochemistry or molecular biology experience (a few classes and labs for a bio minor). most of my experience is in organic or physical chemistry.

 

[ChilliCheeseDog]

year's off are awesome...if u can do it, then do it....unless your like 50...then its prob. time to get the ol ball rolling

 

[DGDDS]

interesting! for that program, do you still count as a "student?" or would i be kicked off my family's health insurance (where i can stay if i stay a student) and will i have to start paying back student loans, which are deferred until you lose student status?

also, is it hard to get into the program? I dont have much biochemistry or molecular biology experience (a few classes and labs for a bio minor). most of my experience is in organic or physical chemistry.

The great part about the program is that 1) you get health insurance (and pretty damn good health insurance because its the government paying for it) and 2) you get to defer your student loans for the length of the program since its classified as a "fellowship".

You can apply online from the link I sent, or contact labs that are doing research you're interested in to see if they have IRTA postitions. Most of the 27 institutes are located in Bethesda, MD and one is solely dedicated oral health (The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; NIDCR). Go on the NIH website for more information.

Hope this helps!

 

[cobalt31]

thanks! i'll definitely look into that. sounds like a good deal.