Clinical Hours Question

[Panacea Pills]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here, and I’d appreciate your insights on my plan. I am primary worried about my plan for clinical experience so please provide insight on that, thank you! I have listed my questions after my four year plan, as I believe the context is required.

My (very rough and condensed) Four-Year Plan:​

1. First Year (Full time student - I have completed this year, the rest of my 4 year plan I am yet to complete since I am a second year)
   
   • I have already completed this year. (gen chem, calc, English, psych)
   • Summer: Continued my research and did some planning for the future while gaining some light clinical hours and 60 shadowing hours (could have been more productive lol)
2. Second Year (Full time student)
   • Finish up ochem and bio
   • Summer: Take a CNA certification course (certification lasts 2 years, hold off on getting a job until 4th year due to MCAT during 3rd year), Gain clinical hours here and there (aim for 50-100), begin comprehensive MCAT planning for next year. Quit research by end of summer and transition to GPA maintenance and MCAT prep.
3. Third Year (Full time student)
   • Begin preparations for the MCAT by reviewing content (with Milesdown/Kaplan/Anki) over the school year and taking practice exams (Uworld, AAMC, etc.) over the summer, take MCAT by the end of summer, right before 4th year. (I have a very comprehensive plan for the MCAT, but the TLDR is I want to dedicate my 3rd year to GPA and MCAT)
   • Finish Biochem and Physics series and take sociology and bio-stats course
   • Summer: Take MCAT by the very end of summer
4. Fourth Year (Part-time student - only major-specific courses left)
   • Hard transition to clinical experiences. Obtain a CNA job and attempt to get a LOR from a doctor (If I can not get one here, I know others I can ask, but they won't be as good because they are mostly friends and I have not really worked with them, however they can speak to my passion and drive).
   • Write primaries throughout the school year and submit in May.
5. After undergrad
   
   • Continue CNA work and keep applying to medical schools.

My Questions:​

1. Does this seem like a realistic and effective plan?
2. Would becoming a CNA be the best option for gaining clinical experience (through my assisted living and shadowing experience, I realized I want to pursue something service-oriented and in direct proximity with patients, but is CNA too devoid of medicine/doctors to be useful? Would I be better off pursuing something else like EMT or scribing)?
3. Is it realistic to hold onto my certification for one year without using it to focus on the MCAT and finally pursue work during my fourth year as a part-time student?

My Current Experience:​

• Shadowing: 60 hours.
• Research: ~1,500 hours.
• Clinical Experience: ~200 hours (150 at an assisted living facility as a caregiver; 50 at a community clinic as a scribe/hygienist, with ongoing work).
• Service & Leadership: Event Coordinator/Vice President of a nonprofit club (~500 hours within undergrad so far, projected to be much more by the end of four years). Helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for a cause I deeply care about (much more before college when I volunteered for the main chapter). I can write endlessly about this, and while our university is a small chapter of the non-profit, the larger organization raises tens of millions a year, and I can comfortably get a LOR from the president of the organization as I have been a part of this organization since I was nine giving speeches at large banquets since 13 and made genuine improvements/founded a subbranch.
• Academics: cGPA: 3.96 | sGPA: 3.95. I have only done one year, so this might not represent the future.
• LOR (so far): Three, two from my lab supervisors and one from my PI. They are probably pretty good, but they definitely won't be awe-inspiring. I aim to get two stem professors by the end of my third year and one non-stem professor (which I expect to be pretty good as the professor really likes me) by the end of this year. I hope to get one from a doctor through my clinical experience.

I want to build on my service-oriented background while gaining valuable clinical experience. However, I’m concerned about not using the certification for a year before starting clinical work in my senior year. I am also concerned about how valuable being a CNA would be, as while I am sure I will find the work fulfilling, it is a nurse-oriented role. Any suggestions, given my timeline? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much SDN!

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[AJS59]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here, and I’d appreciate your insights on my plan. I am primary worried about my plan for clinical experience so please provide insight on that, thank you! I have listed my questions after my four year plan, as I believe the context is required.

My (very rough and condensed) Four-Year Plan:​

1. First Year (Full time student - I have completed this year, the rest of my 4 year plan I am yet to complete since I am a second year)
   
   • I have already completed this year. (gen chem, calc, English, psych)
   • Summer: Continued my research and did some planning for the future while gaining some light clinical hours and 60 shadowing hours (could have been more productive lol)
2. Second Year(Full time student)
   • Finish up ochem and bio
   • Summer: Take a CNA certification course (certification lasts 2 years, hold off on getting a job until 4th year due to MCAT during 3rd year), Gain clinical hours here and there (aim for 50-100), begin comprehensive MCAT planning for next year. Quit research by end of summer and transition to GPA maintenance and MCAT prep.
3. Third Year(Full time student)
   • Begin preparations for the MCAT by reviewing content (with Milesdown/Kaplan/Anki) over the school year and taking practice exams (Uworld, AAMC, etc.) over the summer, take MCAT by the end of summer, right before 4th year. (I have a very comprehensive plan for the MCAT, but the TLDR is I want to dedicate my 3rd year to GPA and MCAT)
   • Finish Biochem and Physics series and take sociology and bio-stats course
   • Summer: Take MCAT by the very end of summer
4. Fourth Year(Part-time student - only major-specific courses left)
   • Hard transition to clinical experiences. Obtain a CNA job and attempt to get a LOR from a doctor (If I can not get one here, I know others I can ask, but they won't be as good because they are mostly friends and I have not really worked with them, however they can speak to my passion and drive).
   • Write primaries throughout the school year and submit in May.
5. After undergrad
   
   • Continue CNA work and keep applying to medical schools.

My Questions:​

1. Does this seem like a realistic and effective plan?
2. Would becoming a CNA be the best option for gaining clinical experience (through my assisted living and shadowing experience, I realized I want to pursue something service-oriented and in direct proximity with patients, but is CNA too devoid of medicine/doctors to be useful? Would I be better off pursuing something else like EMT or scribing)?
3. Is it realistic to hold onto my certification for one year without using it to focus on the MCAT and finally pursue work during my fourth year as a part-time student?

My Current Experience:​

• Shadowing: 60 hours.
• Research: ~1,500 hours.
• Clinical Experience: ~200 hours (150 at an assisted living facility as a caregiver; 50 at a community clinic as a scribe/hygienist, with ongoing work).
• Service & Leadership: Event Coordinator/Vice President of a nonprofit club (~500 hours within undergrad so far, projected to be much more by the end of four years). Helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for a cause I deeply care about (much more before college when I volunteered for the main chapter). I can write endlessly about this, and while our university is a small chapter of the non-profit, the larger organization raises tens of millions a year, and I can comfortably get a LOR from the president of the organization as I have been a part of this organization since I was nine giving speeches at large banquets since 13 and made genuine improvements/founded a subbranch.
• Academics: cGPA: 3.96 | sGPA: 3.95. I have only done one year, so this might not represent the future.
• LOR (so far): Three, two from my lab supervisors and one from my PI. They are probably pretty good, but they definitely won't be awe-inspiring. I aim to get two stem professors by the end of my third year and one non-stem professor (which I expect to be pretty good as the professor really likes me) by the end of this year. I hope to get one from a doctor through my clinical experience.

I want to build on my service-oriented background while gaining valuable clinical experience. However, I’m concerned about not using the certification for a year before starting clinical work in my senior year. I am also concerned about how valuable being a CNA would be, as while I am sure I will find the work fulfilling, it is a nurse-oriented role. Any suggestions, given my timeline? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much SDN!

Good on you for the planning!

To answer your questions:
1. Realistic? Sure. Effective? It could work, but I'd argue you'd benefit more from establishing a more longitudinal degree of clinical work. It doesn't even need to be job stuff, just volunteering in a hospital setting would do fine.
2. CNA is fine, as is EMT/Scribing. As long as you're with patients that's all you really need.
3. I was never a CNA so I can't really answer this.

Some other suggestions:
1. Don't do any more shadowing, 60 hours is fine (caveat being if you haven't done anything with primary care...then go to primary care)
2. Idk what this non-profit club you're doing does, but if your role is just fundraising I would suggest you look into more direct non-clinical service work focused on communities different from your. Examples would include: Food distribution/soup kitchen, shelter work, tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. These types of activities demonstrate to med schools your willingness to work with vulnerable populations, a key feature of what schools are looking for.
3. You don't NEED a physician LOR, unless it's a physician that's overseeing you in a job capacity. An LOR from shadowing is likely useless.
4. Most importantly: Don't lose yourself completely in this process or plan. Give yourself flexibility as circumstances change. And don't forget to enjoy the undergrad experience a bit while you're here...you only come this way in life once.

 

[Panacea Pills]

Good on you for the planning!

To answer your questions:
1. Realistic? Sure. Effective? It could work, but I'd argue you'd benefit more from establishing a more longitudinal degree of clinical work. It doesn't even need to be job stuff, just volunteering in a hospital setting would do fine.
2. CNA is fine, as is EMT/Scribing. As long as you're with patients that's all you really need.
3. I was never a CNA so I can't really answer this.

Some other suggestions:
1. Don't do any more shadowing, 60 hours is fine (caveat being if you haven't done anything with primary care...then go to primary care)
2. Idk what this non-profit club you're doing does, but if your role is just fundraising I would suggest you look into more direct non-clinical service work focused on communities different from your. Examples would include: Food distribution/soup kitchen, shelter work, tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. These types of activities demonstrate to med schools your willingness to work with vulnerable populations, a key feature of what schools are looking for.
3. You don't NEED a physician LOR, unless it's a physician that's overseeing you in a job capacity. An LOR from shadowing is likely useless.
4. Most importantly: Don't lose yourself completely in this process or plan. Give yourself flexibility as circumstances change. And don't forget to enjoy the undergrad experience a bit while you're here...you only come this way in life once.

Thanks for the response!

I do have another clinic volunteering activity I have recently begun to pick up with very flexible timings that I will continue, but I am glad to hear that CNA is also a good option.

Also on your points.
1) I definitely do not want to shadow again, it was very passive and despite being very educational (I shadowed an anesthesiologists and got to talk to many surgeons and various other specialties), I definitely want to take a more hands on role. It did solidify my conviction of wanting to go down this route however.
2) I do not want to talk too much about the non-profit I am with as to not dox myself since I am heavily associated with them, but we work primarily with very underserved/very (very) impoverished communities abroad. My role is not really fundraising as much as it is event coordinating and outreach. I have traveled abroad for this organization, organized events, and gave many speeches/updates at fundraiser banquets. I think that would classify as service related volunteering, its just funds are a good way to put my contributions into perspective as I have directly been responsible for many initiatives that have gained a lot of money for the organization.
3) True, I definitely do not want to force a LOR, but to apply broadly I also wanted to apply DO to reduce the chances of having to be a reapplicant. I probably will not get a LOR from the doctor I shadowed, however I did want a LOR from a doctor for DO applications alongside my MD applications.
4) Believe me I am enjoying the hell out of this journey, I could not imagine doing anything else right now and I love school. I am pretty open to change and despite occasional neuroticism about sticking to the plan I am pretty flexible!

Thanks again for your response!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

2) I do not want to talk too much about the non-profit I am with as to not dox myself since I am heavily associated with them, but we work primarily with very underserved/very (very) impoverished communities abroad. My role is not really fundraising as much as it is event coordinating and outreach. I have traveled abroad for this organization, organized events, and gave many speeches/updates at fundraiser banquets. I think that would classify as service related volunteering, its just funds are a good way to put my contributions into perspective as I have directly been responsible for many initiatives that have gained a lot of money for the organization.

Read

How to Assess Your Pre-Professional Competencies - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

From this description, you are executing tasks in your leadership role. Traveling abroad and giving speeches is not the same as being face-to-face with serving the people your NGO works with. Again, we don't have more details so we can keep your anonymity, but you should keep these impressions in mind.

 

[Panacea Pills]

Read

How to Assess Your Pre-Professional Competencies - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

From this description, you are executing tasks in your leadership role. Traveling abroad and giving speeches is not the same as being face-to-face with serving the people your NGO works with. Again, we don't have more details so we can keep your anonymity, but you should keep these impressions in mind.

Thanks for your response; after reading it, you are definitely correct; thank you for clearing up my misconception. I will definitely look to diversify with more service-oriented roles in the future. I'm glad I came to SDN. That would've been a bad thing to be wrong about, thanks!