I'm looking for advice, so anything is appreciated!
I am a current TFA Corps member - I went into it with an honest interest in education though I am very much interested in ultimately attending medical school. I was an idealist when I entered TFA and admit that I knew very little about what I was getting into. I am admittedly not very happy with my TFA experience so far and I have come to believe that I am (along with many of my fellow TFA corps members) not truly a source of change or a solution to the opportunity gap. I recognize the personal growth I stand to gain through the program (i.e. maturity, value of hard work, exposure to other backgrounds), but feel tremendous guilt that while I may benefit from TFA, my students may not benefit from me as their teacher. With that said, I am keeping up with my work for my teaching job and I am working relentlessly to improve if at all possible.
I am looking for advice as to how people think TFA will influence my medical school application ultimately. To be clear, I have every intention of sticking with the program as I fear quitting now is the worst thing I could do (for me, my school, and my students). I mainly want advice to visualize how my future might look post-TFA (i.e. can I hope to be getting into med school...)
More background on me:
- CA resident
- 3.49 cGPA (sGPA is about the same) (GPA took a tumble in the middle of college after a parent passed away, but I fully know that my GPA is what it is)
- Biology B.S.
- 34P MCAT
- 3+ years working as a scribe in family medicine during undergrad
- 2.5 years of independent research experience in genetics
- awarded a research grant (fairly prestigious) and completed/presented the work on my own, but no papers with my name on them
- started a health/hygiene multi-week volunteer trip that went to west Africa (led the trip a few times)
- other volunteer trips abroad
- mentoring programs through undergrad school
- TFA (obviously...as a science teacher)
- Decent LOR's I think
Anyway, thanks for any advice! I feel a little lost now and need something to keep me going/get me thinking about where I want to go.
I am a current TFA Corps member - I went into it with an honest interest in education though I am very much interested in ultimately attending medical school. I was an idealist when I entered TFA and admit that I knew very little about what I was getting into. I am admittedly not very happy with my TFA experience so far and I have come to believe that I am (along with many of my fellow TFA corps members) not truly a source of change or a solution to the opportunity gap. I recognize the personal growth I stand to gain through the program (i.e. maturity, value of hard work, exposure to other backgrounds), but feel tremendous guilt that while I may benefit from TFA, my students may not benefit from me as their teacher. With that said, I am keeping up with my work for my teaching job and I am working relentlessly to improve if at all possible.
I am looking for advice as to how people think TFA will influence my medical school application ultimately. To be clear, I have every intention of sticking with the program as I fear quitting now is the worst thing I could do (for me, my school, and my students). I mainly want advice to visualize how my future might look post-TFA (i.e. can I hope to be getting into med school...)
More background on me:
- CA resident
- 3.49 cGPA (sGPA is about the same) (GPA took a tumble in the middle of college after a parent passed away, but I fully know that my GPA is what it is)
- Biology B.S.
- 34P MCAT
- 3+ years working as a scribe in family medicine during undergrad
- 2.5 years of independent research experience in genetics
- awarded a research grant (fairly prestigious) and completed/presented the work on my own, but no papers with my name on them
- started a health/hygiene multi-week volunteer trip that went to west Africa (led the trip a few times)
- other volunteer trips abroad
- mentoring programs through undergrad school
- TFA (obviously...as a science teacher)
- Decent LOR's I think
Anyway, thanks for any advice! I feel a little lost now and need something to keep me going/get me thinking about where I want to go.