Part 4: Postbac Programs/ Research Jobs

[Admin]

If your GPA or MCAT is low as an undergraduate, it is recommended that you do a postbac program to prove that you can do well in medical school. There are certificate programs that last 1 year and masters programs that last 2 years. Some programs help you with your MCAT. For more information on postbac programs check out "The Official Guide to Special Masters Programs": http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=346106
List of Post-bac programs: http://services.aamc.org/postbac/getprogs.cfm

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If you plan to take few years off from school to make money or get some research exposure before applying to medical school, there are research assistant positions that you can take part of:
1) http://www.lifesciences.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k5526&pageid=icb.page411858
2) http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/research/participate/opportunities.html
3) You can also google temporary research assistant jobs for ones in your area...

[Adaeze A]

My big worked as a research assistant at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (http://mskcc.hodesiq.com/careers/job-search.asp), and she gets paid $30,000 a year. Working in research centers is a great way to meet doctors who would write recommendations for you and meet people who are like you studying for their MCATs. My big told me that she was glad she did this type of job because it prepares you for what you would see in medical school. While she was doing this research job, she did an online postbac program at Harvard (http://www.extension.harvard.edu/degrees-certificates/health-careers). So it is possible to have a job and do a postbac, but make sure you make time to study for your MCATs!

Here is a 1 year program called Academic Associate Program at North Shore University Hospital that you can take part of as well: http://nsuhed.com/academic-associates-programs.html