Do Observerships count as "Work" or "Volunteer" Experience?

[Blitz2006]

Just wondering?

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[NotAProgDirector]

I don't think it matters much. I've seen it both ways. More people put it as work experience.

Please note that this refers only to IMG's. US grads should not list away rotations and the like as "work experiences".

 

[lemontea88]

For an IMG who did clinical electives as a medical student in the US, where should we state this information?

 

[Sheldor]

I don't think it matters much. I've seen it both ways. More people put it as work experience.

Please note that this refers only to IMG's. US grads should not list away rotations and the like as "work experiences".

Thanks for all the contributions you make on this forum aProgDirector!

At the top of the experiences section in ERAS it says, "Include Clinical and Teaching experience as work experiences..." What are they referring to as clinical experience then?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

If that's what it says, then list them at work experiences.

US grads shouldn't list away rotations at all -- neither as work nor volunteer experiences. They will be listed on your transcript, and included in your dean's letter, and you'll probably have an LOR. There's no need to list it separately.

 

[Sheldor]

If that's what it says, then list them at work experiences.

US grads shouldn't list away rotations at all -- neither as work nor volunteer experiences. They will be listed on your transcript, and included in your dean's letter, and you'll probably have an LOR. There's no need to list it separately.

At my US school, only completed away rotations show up on the transcript and the deans letter doesn't cover fourth year. In this case, I need to put it somewhere and in the experiences section seemed like a good place. Would you recommend somewhere else?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

No, in that case I'd list it as a work experience

 

[septoplasty]

If that's what it says, then list them at work experiences.

US grads shouldn't list away rotations at all -- neither as work nor volunteer experiences. They will be listed on your transcript, and included in your dean's letter, and you'll probably have an LOR. There's no need to list it separately.

What about the international student?

List cores only as work experience? Or all rotations done so far (pretty much electives), as work experience?

 

[shan564]

What about the international student?

List cores only as work experience? Or all rotations done so far (pretty much electives), as work experience?

I think that might seem like padding. And it would obscure all of your actual work experience.

 

[drellis8]

US allopathic student here,

do we list paid observerships in work experience? Did 2 observerships (not aways, here at my home program in 2 different departments) between M1 and M2 year, basically a preview of clinical years but got paid to be a medical student.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

US allopathic student here,

do we list paid observerships in work experience? Did 2 observerships (not aways, here at my home program in 2 different departments) between M1 and M2 year, basically a preview of clinical years but got paid to be a medical student.

Thanks in advance.

Since you got paid, it's definitely a work experience. Sounds crazy, though. Why would anyone pay you to observe? (Rhetorical question)

 

[drellis8]

Since you got paid, it's definitely a work experience. Sounds crazy, though. Why would anyone pay you to observe? (Rhetorical question)

Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose it was generate interest in different departments. I feel guilty for entering it into ERAS. Don't even know how to really describe it

 

[gutonc]

Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose it was generate interest in different departments. I feel guilty for entering it into ERAS. Don't even know how to really describe it

So don't enter it. It's almost totally irrelevant.

I suppose if it was instrumental in helping you decide what kind of physician you want to be, and you're planning to put it in your PS, then it's worth putting on your app. Otherwise it's just padding.