I have a student who wants to graduate August 2003 and do the AmeriCorp stint for a year before going to Med. School (matriculation fall 2004). She is planning the April 2003 MCAT and completing AMCAS and applications while she is doing her service.
I am looking for insight on the pro's/con's of her not being "academically" engaged during the year before med. school and more importantly for her, how will this look as she is applying to schools.
Any advice is always greatly appreciated!
Erin Sayer
Academic Adviser
College of Arts & Sciences
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph. 402.472.4190
We love seeing applicants who are doing Americorps service. No problem that she would not be taking any classes.
Katie Horne kthorne@UMICH.EDU
Dear Erin,
I have had many, many students over the years participate in AmeriCorp and similar volunteer projects. I can tell you that in my opinion it greatly strengthens applications and is seen as very positive by admissions committees. The con is that she will have to plan her work schedules very carefully and inform her supervisors that she is going to be away from her place of employment for scheduled interviews. Depending upon the breadth of her applications, this could involve considerable time if she is traveling to interviews in the midwest, the east, and the west. I could not be more positive in my backing of students who wish to take "time off" to be involved in such work, for I have seen over the years students who were somewhat weak academically gain admission to some highly competitive medical schools based I am certain on their experience working with programs such as AmeriCorp, Teacher Corp, Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, etc.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely, Ed Miller edward.miller@YALE.EDU
Re Americorps: While I agree that it strengthens applications, I want to be sure that stus also know that in giving this generous service to their country, they earn the equiv of less than minimum wage as their stipend, and that the small amount of loan repayment they earn, which was $4,750 when my son did it a few years ago, is taxable, and they didnt know that when hired. If he had not been able to live with me, my son could not have rented a place to live while in that program, working in the inner city LA schls as a teacher aide. Cecilia Fox, Occidental College
Cecilia Fox fox@OXY.EDU
I am in complete agreement with the other responses in favor of student participation in AmeriCorp or other service-oriented endeavor. These experiences demonstrate a willingness to work with people under less than ideal situations and give students a perspective on the human nature that they often do not experience within the academic environment.
I know that we require some indication of an applicant's interest in people and medicine besides good grades and their statement on the application that "I want to help people." Saying it is one thing, actually doing it is another.
Linda Allison, MD, MPH Project Director
Physician Assistant Program Chatham College
Woodland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412-365-1412 Allison@CHATHAM.EDU
Thanks to all who responded both privately and to the list regarding my question on AmeriCorp experience while applying to med school. As always, your feedback is outstanding and greatly appreciated!
If anyone would like the postings that were sent to me, personally, I would be happy to share!
Erin Sayer
Academic Adviser
College of Arts & Sciences
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Ph. 402.472.4190