<p>I'm a college freshman at Georgetown University. As I look to this summer, I have two jobs lined up, and must choose between the two. One involves working in a hospital foundation office with great pay and flexible hours. The other involves an impressive research job, which is less pay with no flexibility with hours. I hope to eventually enter grad school for research or health policy.</p>
<p>While I want to build up my resume, I also want to enjoy my summers before I enter the career world. Should I wait until next summer for a lab job, or seize the opportunity as early as this summer before my sophomore year?</p>
<p>it depends on the type of grad school you are applying to im sure…business schools definitely look favorably upon a few solid internships or actual work experience before applying. </p>
<p>to the OP: it really depends exactly when you want to go to grad school, right after your undergrad? if so then it might be good to get as much work experience as possible beforehand, but if you dont plan to go right away you can get that additional experience after your undergrad</p>
<p>Research is very different than health policy if you are talking basic science research. I say go with the flexible hours and good pay, unless you are researching something you are passionate about. They will not look that qualitatively different on a resume.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar position as you are. I want to attend medical school and have a job lined up with great pay as a health policy intern and another as a research intern at an impressive place with no pay. Although I value the research job more, I am most likely taking the job with great pay because I have to pay for rent and other things.</p>
<p>If you want to enter a graduate program in basic science, it will be to your advantage to get a laboratory research position as early as possible. Research is probably the singular most important factor in a graduate school application in the basic sciences.</p>
<p>Of course, if you’re also interested in possibly pursuing health policy, the hospital job is a viable option too, and you should choose the job you want to take. Just be aware that you could be hurting yourself a little bit for graduate school applications if you choose the basic science route.</p>
<p>During the school year, you should be getting to know your professors and creating a reputation for yourself as an insightful, creative scientist. Letters of recommendation are another absolutely crucial part of a graduate school application in the sciences.</p>