Does firefighting count as service orientation volunteering?

[SickPanda]

Hi!

I've been lurking around for a bit as I prepare to apply to med schools next year and have seen a lot about admissions wanting at least 150 hours of "service orientation" activities. I've been volunteering as an EMT and firefighter since I started college, most running calls in underserved parts of town, and I have about 1,000 hours each at the moment.

Firefighting has been my main form of non-clinical volunteering, so I wanted to know if I should get involved in the service orientation activities that are usually recommended, or if this counts. I am a rising junior right now, so I'd def have time to accumulate hours in a different activity if needed, but wanted to hear some thoughts from others here. Thanks!

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[Md1287-03]

I used it as my primary and adcoms loved it, primary talking point in multiple interviews, roughly 3500 hours of fire and EMS service at the time of applying

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi!

I've been lurking around for a bit as I prepare to apply to med schools next year and have seen a lot about admissions wanting at least 150 hours of "service orientation" activities. I've been volunteering as an EMT and firefighter since I started college, most running calls in underserved parts of town, and I have about 1,000 hours each at the moment.

Firefighting has been my main form of non-clinical volunteering, so I wanted to know if I should get involved in the service orientation activities that are usually recommended, or if this counts. I am a rising junior right now, so I'd def have time to accumulate hours in a different activity if needed, but wanted to hear some thoughts from others here. Thanks!

For me, first responders and military members get special credit due to the risky nature of their positions and service to community as part of their jobs.

However, EMT is a common activity among prehealth applicants. I favor community EMT as you have described over event or campus EMT for reasons you have mentioned. If you do both, I can make arguments to adcoms.

 

[SickPanda]

Thanks for the feedback! I really enjoy firefighting, so I'm glad to see it's looked at favorably. Would you still recommend getting involved in other types of service volunteering?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks for the feedback! I really enjoy firefighting, so I'm glad to see it's looked at favorably. Would you still recommend getting involved in other types of service volunteering?

Many fire departments I know do a lot of other community service, such as with smoke/CO alarms (battery give-aways with the Red Cross). I also acknowledge many fire departments are run by strictly volunteers, so do whatever you can.

 

[mistafab]

You are literally putting yourself on the line and saving a community for free for a thousand hours each.

That's good enough brother.

 

[LizzyM]

I used it as my primary and adcoms loved it, primary talking point in multiple interviews, roughly 3500 hours of fire and EMS service at the time of applying

I will just say that you should not confuse what is asked about at an interview with what is most "loved". We often ask about what is unusual just because it is more interesting than just hearing about the same old thing over and over.