-

[sumptinclaus]

---

Members don't see this ad.

deleted

 

[mimelim]

Step 1: Search SDN to answer your initial questions.
Step 2: Make follow up threads if you can't find the answers to things.


If you truly have no idea where to start, you need to READ first. Nobody on here can fully answer general questions about everything about the medical admissions process. Also, starting points are going to be determined based on where you are. There isn't a single road map that everyone follows.

 

[Goro]

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities.

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients.

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

I am a first year at a great undergraduate university. I am doing well in school and am pretty certain on my class choices and what I have to do to keep this up. However, I don't know where to begin with volunteering, shadowing (how much you need), extracurriculars, etc. I'm creating this post in the hopes that you incredible people wouldn't mind sharing some of the things that made you successful. What are some good summer programs? What are some good ideas to do during the school year alongside classwork? What is necessary for physician shadowing/how do you find opportunities? This thread is intended to be a catch-all for brainstorming things that you can do outside the classroom that will help your medical career.

 

[LChristmas]

For volunteering, find something you care about and stick with it. It is important to show that you can commit to something long term. The suggestions listed above are great places to start.

For shadowing, I'd say 50 hours would be a good minimum to set your sights on. Either work with only one doctor in hopes of getting a LOR, or work with a few to get a more broad perpective of the profession. Keep in mind that shadowing is supposed to help YOU decide if the day-to-day life of a physician is something you can do for 30-40 years.