hokiemon said:
How did you go about getting research/volunteer positions and were you able to get letters of recommendation? I know that most formal postbac programs have a comittee that will write a letter for you but being that you were not enrolled in the formal program, what type of letter(s) were you able to obtain?
The letters of recommendation are easy. If you will take additional courses for your post-bacc (which I assume you will), then you can get recommendations from the professors in those courses. Also, since you will need a premed committee to send a composite letter, I would suggest going to your post-bacc institutions premedical advisor. Alternatively, you can have your new recommendations sent to your undergraduate institutions premedical advisor. I took my courses at UConn-Storrs and had no problems getting good recommendations.
Dr. Joseph Crivello is the undergraduate premedical advisor at UConn-Storrs. If you end up taking your post-baccalaureate coursework at UConn, I would suggest seeing him to make sure he starts a file on you. But remember, he deals with a lot of freshman who are premeds, most will probably drop the idea after a semester or two, so you have to go in there knowing what you want and what you need from him. First, figure out what courses you think you want to take, and then tell him this is your plan. He will let you know if there are other courses which he thinks are beneficial, but dont expect him to put together a great program for you. Also, when it comes for getting the composite recommendation letter out, give him your school list as soon as you can, preferably over the summer because he probably has more time to deal with it then during the semester.
Volunteer positions are pretty simple to obtain. Just go to any local hospital and ask for the volunteer office (if hospital volunteering is what you want). They should be able to set you up with something. Although I volunteered at a hospital, I dont know how crucial this was for my application. I think every premed has it, and its just a token - no one will think you saved anyone in the ER. I volunteered in the ER just to see the environment, and to test whether I truly want to work in medicine. If you want something to stand out on your application, I would suggest being more creative: organize fundraisers, read to sick children, or translate if you know a second language. Do something thats both interesting and truly beneficial.
A good research position is a little harder to come by. I applied to all sorts of research fellowships with no success, until an acquaintance mentioned that shes leaving her research job and that the lab is looking for a replacement. I got lucky: a great lab, interesting research, and I actually contributed to a publication. But once again, research is not mandatory for application to med school. You should try it if youre interested, but dont drive yourself insane if you cant find anything. If youre really desperate to work in a lab, and dont care if you get paid then mass email your CV and a letter of intent to every researcher at a major university. Then talk to your science professors, they may be able to help.
I had my interview on May 20th, and was told that I would know something by the 15th of June. I am applying to the regular B program, not minority. Has anyone heard anything?
