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No, I don't think it will. I would shadow physicians in other specialties certainly, but I don't think volunteering in a psychiatric hospital will hurt you by any means.
 
Platinumabi said:
I volunteer in a psychiatric hospital and I don’t think I will get the chance to volunteer at a hospital which has different types of medical fields.
1) Will this hurt my chances of getting accepted to medical school,
2) is it a red flag on my application?
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1) No.

2) No.
 
This experience won't hurt you but you must have some other clinical experience on your application: shadowing, volunteering or employment in close proximity to patients with physical injuries or illnesses or who are seeking preventive services in a clinical setting (e.g. well baby clinic).
 
Platinumabi said:
Thank you all for the contribution!
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I have 3000 clinical hours coming from behavioral /psychiatric field , and I think the interviewers LOVED it . I was asked questions about it a lot . I think If other fields of your application are well rounded (research experience , shadowing in other fields , good grades, good Mcat ), it can actually stand out . Psychiatric ward is a tough place , and working there takes a lot of stamina
 
Platinumabi said:
I volunteer in a psychiatric hospital and I don’t think I will get the chance to volunteer at a hospital which has different types of medical fields. Will this hurt my chances of getting accepted to medical school, is it a red flag on my application?
Click to expand...


Absolutely not! They would actually see that as a unique experience and everyone in medicine knows we need more doctors in behavioral health...not saying that you have to go into it, but even a remote interest in it will make you a better candidate imo.

I echo the previous posts advising more somatic medical experience but I dont believe you need very much more.
 
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mojetter said:
Absolutely not! They would actually see that as a unique experience and everyone in medicine knows we need more doctors in behavioral health...not saying that you have to go into it, but even a remote interest in it will make you a better candidate imo.

I echo the previous posts advising more somatic medical experience but I dont believe you need very much more.
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yeah, thats the vibe i got during my interviews as well (see my earlier post)!! plus it is very non-cookie-cutter, and i think that in itself is a good plus.
 
Platinumabi said:
I volunteer in a psychiatric hospital and I don’t think I will get the chance to volunteer at a hospital which has different types of medical fields. Will this hurt my chances of getting accepted to medical school, is it a red flag on my application?
Click to expand...
Why in earth would you think this??
 
Goro said:
Why in earth would you think this??
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Mainly because it makes it seem like I haven’t had exposure to other parts of medicine if I only volunteer in a psychiatric clinic. It has nothing to do with associating mental health problems as a red flag as someone on here guessed.
 
Platinumabi said:
Mainly because it makes it seem like I haven’t had exposure to other parts of medicine if I only volunteer in a psychiatric clinic. It has nothing to do with associating mental health problems as a red flag as someone on here guessed.
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Just shadow a primary care doc
 
mmaslyanko said:
I have 3000 clinical hours coming from behavioral /psychiatric field , and I think the interviewers LOVED it . I was asked questions about it a lot . I think If other fields of your application are well rounded (research experience , shadowing in other fields , good grades, good Mcat ), it can actually stand out . Psychiatric ward is a tough place , and working there takes a lot of stamina
Click to expand...
Yeah, my work with psychiatric patients came up at every interview. Make sure to talk about seeing the less glamorous side of medicine. Show that you don't think medicine is just about "fixing people"
 
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