Clinical experience

[john_danko]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys I'm interested to hear about some of your clinical exposure...what have you done, how long have you done it for etc... I know schools value this but I was curious, does a very strong clincal background improve your chances with about average GPA/MCAT scores? I myself have 4 total years experience: 3 on a hematology/oncology floor, (but we also saw our fair share of medical overflow patients as well) and so far, and presently, 1 year in the OR. Both were done at level 1 trauma centers, so I've seen some crazy stuff.

 

[mj1878]

As long as your experience was direct patient care, then you should be fine. As a side note, make sure that your volunteer experience shows selflessness and service.

I was a CNA for 3 years on a telemetry unit, and currently work as a phlebotomist, a job I've been doing for three years. I also volunteered in an ER for two, and:

-Did two missions trips to a 3rd world country
-PUSH club, raising awareness for students with disabilities
-Read textbooks on tape for blind university students
-Arts and Sciences student government legislator
-Diversity committee
-Academic inquiry commission
-Was a student wellness counselor with the University clinic
-Worked with at-risk youth at a juvenile delinquent youth center
-Worked with people with disabilities at a group home
-Studied abroad in Mexico for a semester
-Taught ESL in Mexico to education students
-Other smaller stuff

Good luck!

 

[G. Willie]

Four years as an ER tech/phleb, 2 years community, 2 years trauma.

 

[Jamers]

Hey guys I'm interested to hear about some of your clinical exposure...what have you done, how long have you done it for etc... I know schools value this but I was curious, does a very strong clincal background improve your chances with about average GPA/MCAT scores? I myself have 4 total years experience: 3 on a hematology/oncology floor, (but we also saw our fair share of medical overflow patients as well) and so far, and presently, 1 year in the OR. Both were done at level 1 trauma centers, so I've seen some crazy stuff.

Three years C.N.A., EMT-B, 500+ hours of hospital shadowing and other stuff I forget...check out my mdprofile if you want to know haha.

Clinical experience looks good, but so does volunteer work, research and overall community/school involvment.

 

[shminger]

And don't forget shadowing a DO 😀

 

[Zooey Glass]

i have 9 years critical care (icu, ccu, ed, rapid response team, acls instructor) nursing experience, got total 26 on my mcats (11 verbal, 6 phy, 9 bio and Q) and a 3.5 undergrad gpa (bsn from george mason university). I applied to pcom (both campuses), une and western. i also applied to as many allopathic schools but they were all state universities as an out of state applicant (i live in ma i got interviewd at une and western (never got any notification from pcom) and recieved acceptance to western u and waited at une. i'll be attending western u in the fall.
i think i have as good clinical experience as anyone and my scores were ok but the down fall was the 6 on my physical science section of the mcat.....i think schools would rather you have an overall lower score and have the scores closer together like pcom's average is 24-25 and i got a 26 but they probably tossed my application due to the phy score.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hey guys I'm interested to hear about some of your clinical exposure...what have you done, how long have you done it for etc... I know schools value this but I was curious, does a very strong clincal background improve your chances with about average GPA/MCAT scores? I myself have 4 total years experience: 3 on a hematology/oncology floor, (but we also saw our fair share of medical overflow patients as well) and so far, and presently, 1 year in the OR. Both were done at level 1 trauma centers, so I've seen some crazy stuff.

Yes.

I was a paramedic.

 

[Hoberto]

I had no clinical experience and even made a point to bring it up in interviews since I know it's a weak spot. Nearly all of my interviewers didn't care or said something along the lines of, "Why would you have clinical experience? You're not a doctor or nurse?"

So, not all schools are looking for or demanding clinical experience. I do have volunteering and research experience. I think you just need to show a commitment to the field and humanity. Having the experience is a feather in your cap and I think it will certainly help your application and give you plenty to talk about in interviews.


Good luck!

 

[nvshelat]

None except shadowing and currently, some clinical research on the maternity ward that isn't very clinical.

 

[MedSchoolFool]

I have 1 year of hospice volunteer experience. I would totally recommend that pre-meds do this. It gives you exposure to a totally different side of medicine that will really enhance you as a physician caring for people.

Besides hospice, I also have ~350 hours of EMT-B work experience since getting my national registration early this year. This has provided some very much in the trenches/ on the front-lines sort of medical experience. I volunteered in an ER for a while, but found it very non-stimulating just filing papers and feeling like I was in everyone's way all the time. I don't even plan on mentioning my ER hours (about 100) during my application or interviews.

 

[rgerwin]

I have 4 years of research (clinical and bench), plus Ibriefly shadowed a DO and MD, and I'm starting a surgical liaison program, and another hospital patient care volunteer program in 2-3 weeks.