Am I taking too long?

[BurghStudent]

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I do want to do clinical volunteering so I get exposed to the actual hospital setting. I do want to do community volunteering so I can appreciate what it means to sacrifice.

However, I have not yet done any of these!

I am a sophomore right now. I know it seems early to worry about this, but is it? Technically, I will apply to med school next year, as a junior.

The biggest things I have done is research and being an editor for my school paper.

Shouldn't I get on the ball right now?

This struck me because my school's Habitat for Humanity elections are soon. I planned on joining last term but it didn't happen. I just feel I should have joined things, like volunteer organizations earlier.

Not to mention when I see endless lists of ECs on MDapps

What do you think?

 

[Catalystik]

It's definitely time to get these things going if you're planning to apply in 16 more months. Last minute experience and community service won't be greeted with much enthusiasm by adcomms. It seems to me that applicants tend to average about 1.5 years of clinical experience and community service and I think you'd be at a disadvantage with less than a year's worth.

Of course, you don't want to sacrifice your GPA. There's nothing sacred about applying after junior year. You can wait the extra year (or more) if adding activities right now would challenge your time mangement skills too much.

 

[Sammich117]

The sooner the better

Though that is a good point about making sure it won't tank your gpa.

 

[BlueElmo]

Yeah, as long as you maintain your grades, start cracking on those volunteering gigs. I like your avatar, OP, by the way.

 

[roseglass6370]

Definitely not too early. Many people start with the volunteering their freshman year. (I started sophomore year too, though.)

It's important to note, however, that not only should you WANT to volunteer in the hospital for the clinical experience, you NEED to get clinical experience. If you have a way to get clinical experience without volunteering, then do the community service and get clinical experience some other way. If you DON'T have any other way to get clinical experience then you should probably volunteer at a hospital or clinic.

Whatever you do though, as other people have said, make sure to protect your GPA. It's what's most important.

Hope that helps! =)

 

[roseglass6370]

I do want to do community volunteering so I can appreciate what it means to sacrifice.

(Side note: There is a lot of sacrifice involved in working in the medical field too. 🙂 )

 

[BurghStudent]

Thanks for the replies guys

A few weeks ago I got an interview to volunteer at a cancer center. Everything was going well until a form asked if I had an illness, and the day before I was told I had mono. Haven't heard back from them since.

I guess I am just frustrated with myself for not doing this sooner.

Thanks, BlueElmo

 

[Sammich117]

As long as the mono doesn't have you bedridden, it shouldn't be an issue. It seems like you're pretty healthy.. I'd call and talk to them about it

 

[amberkas11309]

I have a stupid question...but what EXACTLY constitutes as clinical experience? Thanks

 

[298609]

fyi, if you're talking about hillman cancer center, they can take a while to get back to you about stuff like that...but if it's been more than 2 wks, call and check in! don't mention the illness unless they bring it up.

upmc has great volunteering opportunities...and they are all so close! i would recommend getting started on a few hrs a wk until school ends and then maybe bump it up a bit in the summer (if you're staying in the area). a friend of mine did it this way and ended up getting asked to apply for a position and getting a legit job from it.

good luck!


ps isn't the weather BEAUUUTIFUL!?

 

[Catalystik]

I have a stupid question...but what EXACTLY constitutes as clinical experience?

Clinical experience is interacting with sick people. As LizzyM, one of SDN's adcomm posters says, "If your're close enough to smell a patient, it's a clinical experience."

You can get clinical experience with sick people through the workplace, for class credit, data gathering for a clinical trial, or via volunteerism. It can be gained at a free, family-planning, or private clinic, hospice, hospital, VA, residential home, rehabilitation facility, nursing home, as a first responder, among others.

Clinical patient experience is not always gained in a clinical environment, eg EMT, battle field medic, home hospice care, physical therapy aide, special camp environments. In such a case, you also should acquire some experience in a clinical milieu where doctors work, like a hospital, surgicenter, clinic, nursing home.

The advantage of gaining clinical exposure through volunteerism, is that it also is looked on as community service, another unwritten requirement for your application.

 

[schrizto]

.

 

[amberkas11309]

The one thing i just dont understand is that I have got a better experience and gained a better understand of the field of medicine by shadowing rather than volunteering...i guess i just have to find a new place to volunteer. I just find it shocking that shadowing isn't THAT important...I got a lot out of my shadowing experiences

 

[hewmanoid]

I do want to do clinical volunteering so I get exposed to the actual hospital setting. I do want to do community volunteering so I can appreciate what it means to sacrifice.

However, I have not yet done any of these!

I am a sophomore right now. I know it seems early to worry about this, but is it? Technically, I will apply to med school next year, as a junior.

The biggest things I have done is research and being an editor for my school paper.

Shouldn't I get on the ball right now?

This struck me because my school's Habitat for Humanity elections are soon. I planned on joining last term but it didn't happen. I just feel I should have joined things, like volunteer organizations earlier.

Not to mention when I see endless lists of ECs on MDapps

What do you think?

Start ASAP! It's no such thing as too early when it comes to clinical experiences. Also, remember your goal is not only to get exposed to clinical settings but also to experience what it's like being a physician. I've seen too many poor pre-meds end up just running errands for hospital staff, which is really not the best way to spend your precious time. Rather, find a physician who's willing to let you shadow him/her. Or better yet, there are some clinical research opportunities through which you can do research/publish and shadow at the same time (esp your school has its own medical school). Talk about killing two birds with one stone!