Taking Time for Reapplying for Admission

I am a repeat applicant and I'm happy to inform you that I hold multiple acceptances to allopathic medical schools. Only a year ago I was sulking over waitlists and rejections. I'm hard pressed to solely attribute my success to my interim-year job, but that did play an important part in the change from last year to this.

I am currently working for an orthopedic surgeon at The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, a leading orthopedics and rheumatology facility affiliated with Cornell. The main focus of my research is clinical outcomes. I am working on three projects: a hip prosthesis outcomes study, a periprosthetic fracture post-treatment outcomes study, and a hip arthroscopy questionnaire development study.

There are lulls and downtime in my research, and the attendings are often unavailable to guide me, but the job remains a privilege and an honor. I may not be published in the year that I am here, but I will gain important knowledge and insight, my interest in medicine is at an all-time high, and I am making connections with a great teaching hospital. 

My favorite part of this job is that I have had to scrub in on many surgeries (100—150) over the course of the year. I am doing the sort of work designed for a current third- or fourth-year medical student—minus the long hours, pressure, accountability, and time constraints. My job is not optimal for people who thrive on fruition and immediate results. A job in the field seems an essential primer for prospective medical students: it promotes maturity, med savvy, and connections.

How I got the job: I worked for the orthopedic surgeon who operated on me. It's an interesting relationship and we're great friends. While this job will not get you into medical school, it indicates enthusiasm for medicine and eagerness to learn. I am being replaced by a full-time PA when I leave for medical school. Many docs need enthusiastic workers, so I urge you to call around.