Community Service vs. Clinical Volunteering

[boxasaurus]

As of right now I am going to be a third year who has put 120+ hours into community service. The community service ranges from visiting senior care centers, going to medical outreaches, and providing food and necessities to the needy. I plan to apply for medical school in this upcoming cycle.

However, I don't have any clinical volunteering experience. I'm going to be working in a research lab and preparing for my mcat exams during the summer, so I wanted to know if it is absolutely necessary to volunteer at a hospital, since I would barely have the time during this summer to volunteer.

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[LizzyM]

you need to have done something, shadowing, volunteering or working, that demonstrates that you have some clue about what physicians do and the environments in which they work. Basically, the adcom will be asking, "how have you tested your interest in a career in medicine?"

Do you have a response to that question? If so, you are fine. If not, you need to do that before you apply.

 

[boxasaurus]

you need to have done something, shadowing, volunteering or working, that demonstrates that you have some clue about what physicians do and the environments in which they work. Basically, the adcom will be asking, "how have you tested your interest in a career in medicine?"

Do you have a response to that question? If so, you are fine. If not, you need to do that before you apply.

so... since I can technically smell patients at the medical outreach programs and the senior care centers, do you think it would be a gray area that comes down to how well I can sell it?

 

[LizzyM]

You need to convince an adcom that you know what a career in medicine is all about and that you are on-board with that.

 

[MadRadLad]

Not to hijack, but would a procedural method during research be considered clinical exposure (i.e. setting up EEG in a psych lab).

 

[LizzyM]

Not to hijack, but would a procedural method during research be considered clinical exposure (i.e. setting up EEG in a psych lab).

Look at this post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=14094562#post14094562

What you are doing in research might be an experience that will add to your dossier but then again, it may just be research, particularly if you are working with healthy subjects.

 

[MadRadLad]

Look at this post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=14094562#post14094562

What you are doing in research might be an experience that will add to your dossier but then again, it may just be research, particularly if you are working with healthy subjects.

It is healthy college students, but it certainly did help me get more comfortable with an up-close and personal procedure interaction. Either way, can't hurt. Thanks for the answer!