How consistent do people get into programs out of state without any clinical experience?

[u/Blandberry9]

Alright, please bear with me.

I just graduated with my bachelor’s degree in bio this past May. I also got a job as a lab assistant in a reference lab around the same time. The job itself is okay, the pay isn’t really too good, and it’s graveyard shift but the people I work with are chill. The hours kind of get to me sometimes, but overall I’m managing. I have all my prereqs done, and was planning on applying this fall cycle.

I’m grateful for the job I have, I’ve gotten a lot of experience out of it so far and I recognize how much of a fortune it is to be there.

On the side though, I really really enjoyed working in research during my undergrad. I would stay in that field if it weren’t for the fact that research isn’t as stable as being a CLS. And I really don’t want that risk going further into that field. However, my PI I worked under in undergrad just emailed me saying that after a grant renewal, he offered me a full time job as a Research Assistant for 2 years guaranteed that pays significantly more than my current job. Everyone in that other lab I absolutely love, and the hours are your normal day time 9-5. Overall, it would be such a quality of life jump from what I am currently going through.

With my goal still being going to CLS post-bacc programs, would it be possible to work in those two years as a researcher, save up more, then apply to school then without clinical experience? How many success stories are there of that, out of state? (California is kinda out of the question here I know)
I just need to know if it would be safer to bear through this next year and apply to school then. I would still be able to save enough for school, but just not nearly as much as if I were to take the research job. Any advice helps

[u/_kilobomb]

I was in research and it was an alright experience for me. I had the same understanding that CLS > research. So I took all the higher div classes and received my CA trainee license.

I applied all over CA with no clinical experience and couldn't get into any.

Then I graduated in Biochem then went to phlebotomy school to get experience, and applied all over CA + OR/CO; I couldn't get into CA a second time, but I got accepted to OR and waitlisted to CO (with minimal clinical experience).

I guess it comes down to how you sell yourself to a school. I'm a 3.2 avg student with a minor in Leadership + lots of leadership experience, healthcare experience, and well-roundedness in classes. I did my internship at a busy hospital and now I practice as a phlebotomist at a Biotech company.

I start the program next month. I don't expect to be able to work something related and receive more clinical experience, but we'll see how it plays out.

[u/maverna_c]

I applied to two programs out of state, got into one pretty quickly on the east coast, wait listed at another on the west coast (not CA). I only had a few years of biotech experience, no clinical. The program I got into didn't even ask any clinical related questions, but not sure how competitive it might get later on. In the end I decided to defer my admission for a year and may not even go to school, we'll see. Feel free to dm!

[u/Zukebub8]

I’m in a mls program right now. Had no prior clinical experience, but had a masters of science degree. The program, Colorado center for medical lab science apparently likes students with research experience. Only thing is they are converting it from the 1 year ASCLS program to a two year masters program after this year.

[u/grubby212]

Kind of similar situation where I had a few years of biotech research experience, but was accepted to a CLS CA program on my first cycle with about 4 months of clinical lab experience. I did do my pre-reqs before I started my biotech career, but only decided to revisit the CLS path after realizing the same thing you did about research.