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Does having medical work experience help with admissions into medical school If so are there ones more preferable than others like doing phlebotomy or emt??
I want to do something that will be productive over the summer as a pre-med student but I am kind of lost since I wasn't able to secure research during the school year so I want to at least try working in the medical field as an intern, volunteer, or get certified.
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Nicholas !
There certainly are things to do in the summer and I would suggest that you call Phlebotomy and EMT schools to see how long you'd need to take the classes and if it would interfere with your Fall semester. Phlebotomy could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 8 months depending on the school you go to. EMT training takes anywhere from 6 months to a year. If you can fit either in with your Fall semester schedule, than decide which one you prefer and go for it. Your college courses will be equally important and you'll need time for classwork, writing papers, studying and projects or labs at college.
There would be wonderful volunteer opportunities for you this summer in New York City. I left a link below for you to read about volunteering at Mount Sinai's Junior Medical Program, New York Presbyterians' Healthcare volunteering for college students, The American Red Cross, and The Mentoring Partnership of New York which will match you up with a mentor or opportunity in your field of study. You can also consider becoming certified in CPR and/or First Aid. Check with your local hospital about the training schedule and where to take the training. Some CPR courses include teaching how to use a defibrillator.
Another certification that would be awesome would be to do the Medication Management Training for Unlicensed People certification. I have left a link below for you of a course you can consider. I also think that you should try to choose certifications that are short in duration, so another one would be for Behavioral Technician Specialist. It's a 40 hour training in which you will be trained to work with the developmentally disabled while they are receiving medical care.
Since you live in New York City, opportunities abound to fill your summer with and gain experience and possible certifications. ! I wish you the best !
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN NYC https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dycd/syep/VOMP.html
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR UNLICENSED PEOPLE CERTIFICATION https://allianceforcamphealth.org/courses/medication-management-training/
There certainly are things to do in the summer and I would suggest that you call Phlebotomy and EMT schools to see how long you'd need to take the classes and if it would interfere with your Fall semester. Phlebotomy could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 8 months depending on the school you go to. EMT training takes anywhere from 6 months to a year. If you can fit either in with your Fall semester schedule, than decide which one you prefer and go for it. Your college courses will be equally important and you'll need time for classwork, writing papers, studying and projects or labs at college.
There would be wonderful volunteer opportunities for you this summer in New York City. I left a link below for you to read about volunteering at Mount Sinai's Junior Medical Program, New York Presbyterians' Healthcare volunteering for college students, The American Red Cross, and The Mentoring Partnership of New York which will match you up with a mentor or opportunity in your field of study. You can also consider becoming certified in CPR and/or First Aid. Check with your local hospital about the training schedule and where to take the training. Some CPR courses include teaching how to use a defibrillator.
Another certification that would be awesome would be to do the Medication Management Training for Unlicensed People certification. I have left a link below for you of a course you can consider. I also think that you should try to choose certifications that are short in duration, so another one would be for Behavioral Technician Specialist. It's a 40 hour training in which you will be trained to work with the developmentally disabled while they are receiving medical care.
Since you live in New York City, opportunities abound to fill your summer with and gain experience and possible certifications. ! I wish you the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Michael J’s Answer
Sure thing! The marks you get, your performance in standard tests, and the research you do are really important. It's great if you're truly excited about studying medicine. Your work experience might not make a huge difference, but it's still a good thing to have.
Thanks for the advice!
Nicholas
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Alyssa’s Answer
Nicholas, you are correct in thinking that work or volunteer work in the medical field is likely to help during medical school admissions. Admissions committees like it because it shows that you have explored being around a medical environment...some people like the idea of being a doctor but might not actually like working as a doctor. I think getting certified as an EMT or phlebotomist might take too much time and by the time you get certified there might not be a lot of time left to actually "work", and/or it might interfere with your college studies. Agree w/the above 1st comment above...try to do something that is volunteer work and/or that doesn't require so much time to get a certification. Ask your university's premedical advisor and/or "career services" office to help you (if your university has one). They might have some leads on local volunteer work. Also, don't get discouraged if this is something you want to do- you'll get there!. It can be hard to get a foot in the door and get "experience" if one of your parents is not a doctor or nurse, etc. (this is something I experienced, even years ago). These days, hospitals and medical practices are very bureaucratic with many rules around who is allowed to be around patients (not like the old days where a doctor could just invite a student to shadow or work, without running into a lot of paperwork and requirements, etc.). So if you experience any rejections along the way, don't let it get under your skin.
Thank you so much for your advice! That was really helpful!
Nicholas
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Mark’s Answer
Hi Nicholas. Yes, having medical work experience can help with med school admissions. It shows interest in medicine and shows that you have investigated what medical practice is all about. There are many options. Working in phlebotomy or as an EMT would be good. You could work as a scribe for a medical practice/hospital- you would help the doctor take notes when they see their patients making writing clinical notes much easier for the doctor. Veterans Administration hospitals also have many different opportunities for pre-med students though I think most of these are volunteer positions. Also, take some time before applying to shadow doctors in their practices to get an idea as to how medicine is practiced. This will also help you get to know one or two doctors and they may be able to write a letter of recommendation for you. Michelle's suggestions are also good, especially hospital volunteer programs.
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Rita’s Answer
I recommend anyone interested in medicine to work as a scribe. You basically type for the doctors while they see patients. The pay is not great but that's not important. What is important is that you see what the doctors are doing everyday and figure if this is what you want to do. You can interact with doctors and ask questions if they have time. Most importantly, this will help you during medical school The students that rotated with me that worked as scribes were so much sharper. I don't know if they were necessarily smarter but because they had the experience, it helped them out immensely.
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Gina’s Answer
Having medical work experience can be beneficial for admissions into medical school as it demonstrates your commitment to the field and provides valuable insights into the healthcare system. While there isn't a specific preference for certain roles, it's important to choose experiences that align with your interests and goals. Here are a few options to consider:
1. Clinical experience: Working as a phlebotomist, medical scribe, medical assistant, or EMT can provide direct patient care experience and exposure to various medical settings. These roles allow you to interact with patients, observe healthcare professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare system.
2. Volunteer work: Volunteering at hospitals, clinics, or community health organizations can also provide valuable experience. You can assist with patient support, administrative tasks, health education programs, or community outreach initiatives. This demonstrates your commitment to serving others and can provide insights into healthcare disparities and community health needs.
3. Research experience: While you mentioned not being able to secure research during the school year, summer research internships or programs may be available. Research experience can demonstrate your ability to critically analyze information, contribute to scientific knowledge, and work in a team. It's worth exploring research opportunities at universities, medical schools, or research institutions.
4. Shadowing: Shadowing physicians allows you to observe their day-to-day work and gain insight into different medical specialties. This experience can help you understand the realities of medical practice and confirm your interest in pursuing a career in medicine.
Ultimately, the key is to choose experiences that align with your interests, provide meaningful learning opportunities, and allow you to reflect on your experiences in your medical school applications. Admissions committees value diverse experiences, so focus on finding opportunities that allow you to grow, learn, and contribute to the healthcare field.
1. Clinical experience: Working as a phlebotomist, medical scribe, medical assistant, or EMT can provide direct patient care experience and exposure to various medical settings. These roles allow you to interact with patients, observe healthcare professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare system.
2. Volunteer work: Volunteering at hospitals, clinics, or community health organizations can also provide valuable experience. You can assist with patient support, administrative tasks, health education programs, or community outreach initiatives. This demonstrates your commitment to serving others and can provide insights into healthcare disparities and community health needs.
3. Research experience: While you mentioned not being able to secure research during the school year, summer research internships or programs may be available. Research experience can demonstrate your ability to critically analyze information, contribute to scientific knowledge, and work in a team. It's worth exploring research opportunities at universities, medical schools, or research institutions.
4. Shadowing: Shadowing physicians allows you to observe their day-to-day work and gain insight into different medical specialties. This experience can help you understand the realities of medical practice and confirm your interest in pursuing a career in medicine.
Ultimately, the key is to choose experiences that align with your interests, provide meaningful learning opportunities, and allow you to reflect on your experiences in your medical school applications. Admissions committees value diverse experiences, so focus on finding opportunities that allow you to grow, learn, and contribute to the healthcare field.