Session 35 In this episode, Ryan answers a question from a poster concerned about what kind of jobs can be done during gap years to help get them into medical school. Ryan makes two important points on the show today which you shouldn’t miss out on. The questions shared on this podcast are taken out of the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: Poster graduated in 2013 with a degree in BS Biological Sciences and Chemistry with one year of research before graduating; decided to become a physician that year and thought of taking a year off to volunteer and study for the MCAT and get a paid research assistant position while applying to medical school. It didn't turn out this way as poster took the pre-2015 MCAT on the last day the exam was offered and ended up with an average score; GPA 3.1. Poster is applying to an academic enhancer postbac program this Fall/Spring while preparing to take the MCAT after the program ends. Writing the personal statement is a challenge with only 6 months volunteer experience at a clinic and 4-month work experience as a medical assistant. Poster wants to know what other medical jobs or opportunities exist that will help a lot for medical school admission; something that utilizes her biology and chemistry knowledge. What sort of jobs can you do with a bachelor's degree before going into medical school that will help you get into medical school? Here are the insights from Ryan: Scores are scores. The 3.1 is below average. The data for medical schools that they provide is an average, a statistical number derived from adding together all of the classes' MCAT scores and GPAs and dividing by the total number of students. So the 3.5 number that you're looking at for a school includes 3's and 3.1's and 3.2's and 3.3's. Don't kill your chances of medical school and not apply just because you don't think you're good enough. Let the medical schools tell you that you're not good enough. Not applying to medical school because thinking you won't get in is definitely not appropriate. On looking for jobs... Don't look for a job that you think will help you get into medical school. Don't do any in your life that you think will help you get into medical school. There are no check boxes to get into medical school. You have to do what you are passionate about. It's hard to find research positions at a university as a non-student so keep on trying. You need to go out and find those relationships with people that will help you get your foot in the door into possible research opportunities. Research is great if that's where your heart is at. It may help you with medical school applications if you're looking to apply to a research-heavy institution. Consider being a scribe: It's an amazing job for gaining the experience of what like if like as a physician and seeing the dynamics of patient care. Being a scribe is one of the best clinical experiences you can get which increases your chances of getting into medical school. Major takeaways from this episode: Don't think about it as what job will help you get into medical school. Think about what you're interested in doing because that will show the most during your medical school interviews. Whether you're passionate about something or not will always come through. Don't just not apply because you're scores are not good enough. Score and stats are just one part of the application. Links and Other Resources: www.mededmedia.com www.medicalschoolhq.net/ems