Clinical experiences during MCAT studying

[Silverfalcon]

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Hi,

I am thinking of volunteering at the local hospital while studying for the MCAT this summer. I so far have NO clinical experience and NO shadowing. I volunteered at EMS when I was in high school, but since college, I have been too busy working during the summer and not volunteering at all - whether it be medical or non-medical.

I'm going to start studying MCAT in a couple of days and I will head back home next week. I'm currently a sophomore (so I'll be junior this fall) and I have finished all my prerequisites. I'm just afraid that because this is my first MCAT and most people take it on junior year (or later for non-trads), I feel like I may risk my score if I volunteer... The hours that the hospital asked are 3-4 hours/week, but I'm not sure if this was in a single straight shift or divided into separate days.

Sorry if this type of question appeared a lot. It's just that as much as I see the value of clinical experience, I am not completely sure how important it is relative to MCAT score. Thank you.

 

[jm192]

Hi,

I am thinking of volunteering at the local hospital while studying for the MCAT this summer. I so far have NO clinical experience and NO shadowing. I volunteered at EMS when I was in high school, but since college, I have been too busy working during the summer and not volunteering at all - whether it be medical or non-medical.

I'm going to start studying MCAT in a couple of days and I will head back home next week. I'm currently a sophomore (so I'll be junior this fall) and I have finished all my prerequisites. I'm just afraid that because this is my first MCAT and most people take it on junior year (or later for non-trads), I feel like I may risk my score if I volunteer... The hours that the hospital asked are 3-4 hours/week, but I'm not sure if this was in a single straight shift or divided into separate days.

Sorry if this type of question appeared a lot. It's just that as much as I see the value of clinical experience, I am not completely sure how important it is relative to MCAT score. Thank you.

You're a Sophomore? Do one now, and the other later. Study for the MCAT. MCAT, MCAT, MCAT. Extracurriculars (EC's) are important, and I'm not saying you're going to waltz in with no EC's if you have a great MCAT. But MCAT>EC's.

Kill it, get a great score, and volunteer your heart out right after you take it.

If you don't, you're just making poor use of your time.

 

[Silverfalcon]

Thank you.

So, it's OK to not have any volunteering done until after your junior year? You used the term "ECs" and I wasn't sure volunteering in clinical setting counts as an EC.

Thank you again - SDN is like a bible for nervous pre-meds!

 

[jm192]

Thank you.

So, it's OK to not have any volunteering done until after your junior year? You used the term "ECs" and I wasn't sure volunteering in clinical setting counts as an EC.

Thank you again - SDN is like a bible for nervous pre-meds!

If you had asked this same question when you were a freshman, everyone would have told you to start as soon as possible. But, with the current situation it's really your best bet to wait until after the MCAT. Do it SOON after the MCAT. The longer time period, the better. But good MCAT, good GPA, and get some solid activities, and you should be just fine.

I think EC's count as anything that isn't tied to a class. That may not always be the case though.

 

[peripherin]

If you're set on studying for the MCAT, then ONLY study for the MCAT. As jm192 said, a good MCAT score is more important than any EC you could possibly do. This is all assuming that you are taking the MCAT in the next 3 months.

I waited until the summer before senior year to do research and volunteer at hospitals. However, I took two gap years to do Teach For America, so I had a calendar year of volunteering in before I applied. I was not asked about my lack of commitment to medicine due to sparse volunteering experience. If you volunteering starting fall junior year, you should have a year of volunteering in as well.

 

[silverhorse84]

You don't have to do them together since you've got time. You could do one now and one later.

However, having something outside of sitting at a desk with your head in a book is a good idea. It doesn't have to be EC stuff, but if you wanted to you could volunteer at a hospital for a few hours a week. If you find you like it, it'll give you something to look forward to when you're studying - sort of like a reward system. Or, if there are no low-hour ECs that you find interesting right now, at least have some sort of hobby that has nothing to do with studying. It'll keep you sane 😉

 

[Silverfalcon]

Thank you so much everyone for the feedbacks. I'll focus on MCAT now, and shadow physicians occasionally when I get a chance (there's a doctor who said that I can shadow once and maybe see a surgery this summer). Thank you again!

 

[allie1361]

I don't think it's a completely BAD idea to do 3-4 hours a week of volunteering while studying for MCAT if that's all you're doing (no working, summer classes). You'll want a break from MCAT, so that will be a good way to get one. Trust me, after a few weeks you will start to resent your MCAT books if that's ALL you're doing.