We have put together some video clips with tips on various parts of the admissions process. The videos in this thread deal with the non-academic aspects of your application including extracurricular activities, research and hospital experience. Let us know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRbDHltZDQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BmifAsocOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iiRyM9QOBU

Thank you for these. I was just wondering exactly how and what kind of work can a pre-medical student volunteer do in the hospital? There are many nurses, interns and other people in the hospital shadowing doctors already and dealing with patients. How do I "convince" the person in charge to let me volunteer in the hospital, especially when they might think it's too early for me or that I'll be disturbing the patients? :confused:

I have seen some very progressive programs organized by premed groups on campuses from coast to coast. Some groups are associated with the AMSA, Alpha Epsilon Delta and there are many other on campus premed organizations.

Some premed advisors have connections to programs at specific hospitals. And finally, many hospitals have organized volunteer programs which expose volunteers to one on one experiences with patients. Hospitals have Human Resources departments which will direct you to their volunteer programs. However, ideally you would check first with an on campus premed organization.

We don't have premed groups or organizations on campus. I didn't know that hospitals had a department for interested volunteers. Thank you. I'll ask the hospitals myself. :)

Very informative, thank you. I will be attending college in the fall, as an undergraduate, I have a few question if I may. What year would you recommend I start doing research? I plan on volunteering in local hospitals, my freshman year, in Riverside, since I will be going to UCR. Do you think this is a good idea to start freshman year, sorry for my lack of knowledge on this subject, hope you can clear some things for me. I will probably be asking more questions along the road :)

And keep updated us with videos! They are great!

thanks for the input on the videos.
this has helped alot.
:D

Very informative, thank you. I will be attending college in the fall, as an undergraduate, I have a few question if I may. What year would you recommend I start doing research? I plan on volunteering in local hospitals, my freshman year, in Riverside, since I will be going to UCR. Do you think this is a good idea to start freshman year, sorry for my lack of knowledge on this subject, hope you can clear some things for me. I will probably be asking more questions along the road :)

And keep updated us with videos! They are great!

I think it's important to experience volunteering or research for multiple years or at least semesters. I started in a research lab by getting a job washing glassware. Then I did introductory research where I learned the techniques used in this particular lab and learned the theories behind the current experiments. Then I did independent research in that same lab so I already had knowledge and experience built up in that lab. See where I'm going? Same thing with volunteering. At the hospitals around me, they let returning volunteers (after a semester) choose their unit/department. So if you get placed in a less interesting unit for your first volunteering semester, you might be able to get into the ER for the second semester, etc. Hope this helps!