Do med schools care about undergraduate teaching experience?

[tastybeef]

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I have been the TA (UGSI) of a general biology class since last semester and I had planned to do it for 2 years. However, I'm starting to find the material rather boring and want to branch out to other subjects. As such, I might stop TAing the class after this semester and go on to something else. Oh yes, I don't just grade papers and pass back handouts; I actually teach the material and lead some discussions with a graduate TA.

I'm wondering how much med schools care about undergraduate teaching experience.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I don't think my TA experience made a huge difference, but a couple schools mentioned that teaching experience helps with your "patient care skills" if that makes sense. So it was positive when interviews brought it up, but only a couple did for me.

 

[tennisball80]

I have been the TA (UGSI) of a general biology class since last semester and I had planned to do it for 2 years. However, I'm starting to find the material rather boring and want to branch out to other subjects. As such, I might stop TAing the class after this semester and go on to something else. Oh yes, I don't just grade papers and pass back handouts; I actually teach the material and lead some discussions with a graduate TA.

I'm wondering how much med schools care about undergraduate teaching experience.

I don't think my TA experience made a huge difference, but a couple schools mentioned that teaching experience helps with your "patient care skills" if that makes sense. So it was positive when interviews brought it up, but only a couple did for me.

How do you guys think of tutoring experiences for college freshman and high school students ?

 

[tastybeef]

How do you guys think of tutoring experiences for college freshman and high school students ?

On a similar note, I'm also tutoring and mentoring high school students from underserved areas in the Bay Area through a volunteer program. Is that viewed in the same light as TA'ing?

 

[DOquestions]

I don't think my TA experience made a huge difference, but a couple schools mentioned that teaching experience helps with your "patient care skills" if that makes sense. So it was positive when interviews brought it up, but only a couple did for me.

I was a tutor for two years and a teaching assistant for a semester.

 

[tennisball80]

On a similar note, I'm also tutoring and mentoring high school students from underserved areas in the Bay Area through a volunteer program. Is that viewed in the same light as TA'ing?

I was a tutor for two years and a teaching assistant for a semester.

Yeah, how do med schools view them ?

 

[gatoradedrinker]

i think medical schools claim to care about a lot of stuff which in actuality, doesn't make a whole lot of difference.

 

[tastybeef]

So what exactly makes a difference besides research and volunteering?

 

[BozoSparky]

I have been the TA (UGSI) of a general biology class since last semester and I had planned to do it for 2 years. However, I'm starting to find the material rather boring and want to branch out to other subjects. As such, I might stop TAing the class after this semester and go on to something else. Oh yes, I don't just grade papers and pass back handouts; I actually teach the material and lead some discussions with a graduate TA.

I'm wondering how much med schools care about undergraduate teaching experience.

teaching is important.

your experience could be a great way for you to discuss your future in an interview, which will include teaching if you are going to stay in academics...

...or if you are not so sure about that route, you could spin it in such a way that you will enjoy teaching your patients, their families, etc.

 

[Naijaba]

Hi tastybeef,

In my opinion extensive teaching experience (i.e. 2+ years) significantly develops you as a personable and well-spoken individual. Albeit I'm very biased because I teach high school chemistry, but I have found that I am much more able to communicate words and ideas in front of an audience because I do it on a daily basis. I can say that without having been a tutor for 3 years and a teacher for 1, I would not be an excellent orator or interviewee.

 

[tastybeef]

Hi tastybeef,

In my opinion extensive teaching experience (i.e. 2+ years) significantly develops you as a personable and well-spoken individual. Albeit I'm very biased because I teach high school chemistry, but I have found that I am much more able to communicate words and ideas in front of an audience because I do it on a daily basis. I can say that without having been a tutor for 3 years and a teacher for 1, I would not be an excellent orator or interviewee.

I see. So, besides improving communication effectiveness, teaching EC's stand out very little?

 

[qmcat]

I see. So, besides improving communication effectiveness, teaching EC's stand out very little?

Teaching is a good thing to have on your app, but the fact that a large number of pre-meds do it makes it a less unique EC.

 

[silverhorse84]

I taught supplemental workshops for general chemistry, which means I had two classes a quarter of about 30 people each. I did all the worksheets, practice exams, etc, and handed out grades at the end. (just wanted to give you an idea of what I mean when I say I have teaching experience)

In my experience, interviewers didn't bring it up, but they seemed interested when I did. Usually it came up when they asked "why medicine" or "what led you to medicine." I told them how the experience taught me that I don't want to teach for a living because I don't like writing exams and grading, but that it did teach me that I like the actual act of teaching which I believe encompasses part of what a physician should do when meeting with patients. Most of the time patients need to be educated about their condition/illness and how to take/use their medication (and what it will do).

Just my experience though.

 

[BoneMachine]

Teaching experience certainly can't hurt! It conveys a sense of responsibilty and maturity.

 

[MUBiomed]

I taught non-major biology labs for 1 year and despite highlighting that in my application (I was the only undergraduate TA in the biology department) no one seemed to pay too much attention to it. It was mentioned in passing only once during an interview. As previous posters have said, it won't hurt, but in my personal experience it was not that much of a benefit either.

 

[nycneighbor]

i'm beginning to get a sense that being a teaching assistant at the undergraduate level isn't a big help on applications. what about teaching at the middle school or elementary school level, perhaps as a passion or interest in education/development/edpsych?

 

[MUBiomed]

It's probably highly dependent upon your interviewer. On one end of the spectrum someone may be extremely impressed by the maturity it shows and on the other end, they won't even notice. Don't take our word for fact as I think everyone's experience in terms of EC's and interviewers is unique to an extent.