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[deleted947805]

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[teenyfish]

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.

 

[Catalystik]

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?

1) No.

2) No.

 

[LizzyM]

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).

 

[deleted947805]

Thank you all for the contribution!

 

[M&L]

Thank you all for the contribution!

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

 

[mojetter]

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?

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.

 

[M&L]

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.

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.

 

[Goro]

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?

Why in earth would you think this??

 

[Dr. Spoodermen ND]

Why in earth would you think this??

Probably has to do with the fact that many people on SDN automatically associate anything related to mental health with a "red flag" without any context.

 

[dr_kateb]

OP’s threads also have a tendency to be overly anxious, even for premed standards.

Probably has to do with the fact that many people on SDN automatically associate anything related to mental health with a "red flag" without any context.

 

[deleted947805]

OP’s threads also have a tendency to be overly anxious, even for premed standards.

Yeah, I’m that neurotic premed. Lol

 

[deleted947805]

Why in earth would you think this??

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.

 

[M&L]

Yeah, I’m that neurotic premed. Lol

Oh , absolute majority of premeds are . Me too . I did have a lot of bad things in my application though , such as multiple Mcats . So I had a reason to be worried . I don’t think you do though .

 

[puahate]

?

 

[LukaDoncicLuk]

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.

Just shadow a primary care doc

 

[deleted889094]

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

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"