Demonstrating underserved interest

[musicalfeet]

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What would constitute as having demonstrated interest? My interest in this population (particularly hispanic community/immigrant community) grew as a result of volunteering at a hospital that happened to be in an underserved area. The hospital was my first exposure to the population (and also, my SO's family falls into that category too..but I don't think that's a good thing to talk about in applications...but they have had a really significant impact in my interest in that population).

Anyway, the hospital had some stringent hour requirements so I took a 3 month break from volunteering, and ended up spending the rest of my time until now (and into the future) at a free clinic. My tasks at this place is VERY different from the hospital though. While I got to do lots of hands-on, CRNA stuff at the hospital, my work at the clinic involves more social interaction. I work with the family resources section, which is a little closer to the social aspect of it (we have a really awesome low-income clinic that includes Dental, Social and Psychiatric work s well as primary care/women's health). I'm not sure if this work counts as clinical volunteering, as I'm more involved in the social work aspect of patient care, as many of our patients have unemployment, drug/alcohol, domestic violence, poverty, etc issues that have to be taken care of as well as standard medical care. I've gotten to know this population of patients (and I do believe most of them are good people at heart and life just happened to suck for them), and it's really grown my interest in eventually working in this area.

I'm hoping to somehow weave all this into my PS, but I don't know if my experiences count as having demonstrated interest. (Honestly, I've been seriously considering the UC PRIME programs as a result). Would you guys count this as having demonstrated interest?

 

[mimelim]

#1 Medical schools like to have students that have altruistic qualities.

#2 Several issues. First, stop using words like "count". Second, stop trying to fit things into neat little boxes. There isn't a "demonstrates interest in helping the underserved" checkbox that adcoms are looking to fill.

#3 Your application is going to be judged on YOUR merits and how YOU can present them. Explain to people a) How your experiences helped others and b) What your experiences meant to YOU. The experience is what it is and doesn't have to fit into some sort of category. It indirectly tells people things about you based on what you accomplish, what you choose to spend your time doing and how you personally develop.

#4 What medical schools don't want are students who are trying to impress them or show them what they want to see. They want people that are going to do what they do regardless of who is watching or judging them.

 

[Goro]

Our own LizzyM stated it the best: "Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients."

What would constitute as having demonstrated interest? My interest in this population (particularly hispanic community/immigrant community) grew as a result of volunteering at a hospital that happened to be in an underserved area. The hospital was my first exposure to the population (and also, my SO's family falls into that category too..but I don't think that's a good thing to talk about in applications...but they have had a really significant impact in my interest in that population).

Anyway, the hospital had some stringent hour requirements so I took a 3 month break from volunteering, and ended up spending the rest of my time until now (and into the future) at a free clinic. My tasks at this place is VERY different from the hospital though. While I got to do lots of hands-on, CRNA stuff at the hospital, my work at the clinic involves more social interaction. I work with the family resources section, which is a little closer to the social aspect of it (we have a really awesome low-income clinic that includes Dental, Social and Psychiatric work s well as primary care/women's health). I'm not sure if this work counts as clinical volunteering, as I'm more involved in the social work aspect of patient care, as many of our patients have unemployment, drug/alcohol, domestic violence, poverty, etc issues that have to be taken care of as well as standard medical care. I've gotten to know this population of patients (and I do believe most of them are good people at heart and life just happened to suck for them), and it's really grown my interest in eventually working in this area.

I'm hoping to somehow weave all this into my PS, but I don't know if my experiences count as having demonstrated interest. (Honestly, I've been seriously considering the UC PRIME programs as a result). Would you guys count this as having demonstrated interest?