Gap Year Jobs to Bolster Resume/CV

[msmith1381]

I fear rejection is imminent at this point 

I have received an interview from one school, and they haven't contacted me since the interview, which was about 4-5 weeks ago

I did email them to check in and they have been out because of snow and then the entire committee came down with the flu, so they haven't made any decisions yet. 

But I am trying to think ahead, since the other 3 schools haven't said anything. 

I applied to NYU, Weill Cornell, Rockefeller, Icahn, Albert Einstein, and NYMC

I've been rejected from Rockefeller and Icahn. 

I've been interviewed by NYMC

I've heard nothing from the others. 

I just don't feel so hopeful about it. 

 

 

So what types of jobs did you take during the year to bolster your research/ grad work experience and make the most of the time you have?

*until the next cycle of applications*

 

I have over 5 years experience of lab work. 

3 years in a university lab with the same PI

2 years in high school with a local university

I also have 1 and 1/2 year of experience in hospital lab work, chemotherapy training and pharmacy compounding. 

I am interested in pursuing a PhD in Microbiology 

I was going to pharmacy school until my senior year of college and then I became a high school biology teacher for a year and almost killed myself because our education system IS AWFUL and that's a different story. 

I'm 24. Ready to start my PhD, but also ready to figure out how to make myself more competitive and figure out what type of jobs to pursue until a school accepts me. 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[microbenerd2018]

Do you have any full-time experience in a microbiology lab? Or really any biomedical sciences lab? I know you said you worked in a lab in undergrad I'm assuming, but full-time research in an academic lab is probably your best bet. It shows you know what you're getting yourself into, because being in the lab 50+ hours a week is definitely different than 10-15. Good luck!! Fingers crossed for you.

[Neuro15]

Working as a tech in a lab (preferably a micro lab) is arguably the best thing you can do. It shows you know what you’re getting yourself into, and experience within the field you intend on going to grad school for is always a plus. 

[strugglebus2k17]

It looks like you're interested in nyc area schools, which are generally pretty competitive programs with Rockefeller, NYU, and Weill especially so. I would look into joining an academic microbiology lab full time with the goal of publishing/co-authoring a paper, some significant oral or poster presentations, or traveling to a national conference. In general graduate programs will be looking mainly into significant research experience and really strong recommendation letters. By joining a lab you'll get additional research experience and hopefully a solid letter out of the PI.

You could also consider joining a public health laboratory. The New York Department of Health Wadsworth Center would be a great place to look for full time jobs. I know this center has a lot of academic opportunities as well so you could potentially publish while working their.

During your gap year if you 1) enhance your research experience in microbiology 2) get a solid recommendation letter from a PI 3)refine your personal/research statements.

I'm also in my gap year and I'm currently working at the Department of Health in an Arbovirus-entomology lab. It's been a great experience so far. I got a strong rec letter out of it, some solid technical skills with molecular virology assays, and with the potential to publish.

Good luck!! rooting for you!