EMT-B or Research

[twocentnews]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys,

So I have the opportunity to take an EMT-B course that would get paid through my employer, but I don't know if it is worth it to have. I have relatively average patient contact experience, so I think the EMT-B would give me a lot more hands-on experience. On the other hand, I am currently doing a research assistant job at a very highly regarded hospital, so I don't know if I would want to give that up to pursue something in EMT for a little while.

This is also dependent on whether I get into med school or not for the upcoming year. Any thoughts?

 

[Tekar]

The EMT-B class and clinical experience will help with the clinical side of medical school... the research experience will serve you in the biochem side of medical school.

I don't have any research experience and it hurt pretty bad on a black exam where others were able to coast on their prior knowledge

We haven't gotten very clinical yet, so my skills have not really come into full use.

Don't bother thinking one is more important than the other for the application stuff, that's going to be a crap shoot as to who interviews you and what their educational background is

 

[blinkboy1156]

Do both if you can. That's a great deal you have with you're employer: most emt-b classes are a 1000 bucks. As an EMT, I volunteer 2-3 shifts per month and do 15-20 hours, which is not a huge commitment. It's a great experience working with many different kinds of people.

 

[blueflower]

yea could you do both? you said that your employer (research?) will pay for the emt course? so wouldn't research condone you doing both?

otherwise, choose what you think will enhance your life experiences 🙂

 

[Kuba]

If you're personally very interested in research, then do the research. If not, becoming an EMT will help a bunch.

 

[Rollo]

The EMT-B class and clinical experience will help with the clinical side of medical school... the research experience will serve you in the biochem side of medical school.

I don't have any research experience and it hurt pretty bad on a black exam where others were able to coast on their prior knowledge

We haven't gotten very clinical yet, so my skills have not really come into full use.

Don't bother thinking one is more important than the other for the application stuff, that's going to be a crap shoot as to who interviews you and what their educational background is

I'm not sure what you mean when you say research helps with learning biochemistry. Don't you think biochemistry specific research might help but not ALL type of research?

Anyway OP, you should do what you want. Both are considered "productive" from an admissions point of view.

Personally I did EMT because I wanted some practical hands-on experience rather than sit in a lab pipetting mindlessly. But that was me.

 

[Dr.Ray]

Well, like the other members have said, it really depends on where your interest is. I had similar options for my gap year and I decided to do research in field of my interest.

But as an future applicant, you might also want to consider which side of your application you want to strengthen more: clinical experience vs. scientific research.

If you end up with research and if you work hard and fortunate enough to publish, I heard it might help with your residency match few years down the road. So you might want to consider that as well. 🙂

But either way, they are both productive and hence rather "classic" way of spending your gap year, so you really can't make a wrong choice.

Good Luck!

 

[twocentnews]

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

The research has been very enriching. I was actually very lucky to come in when I did, because at this moment, I'm on two projects and can expect to be second author on both at their completion.

I don't know if both will be possible. My employer provides tuition reimbursement (that's what I meant when I said they would pay), but research is a full-time and more hours job. Do you know if EMT can be used as a smaller role, or would that be full-time/15-20 hours part-time only?

...if only there were more hours in a day!

 

[Rollo]

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

The research has been very enriching. I was actually very lucky to come in when I did, because at this moment, I'm on two projects and can expect to be second author on both at their completion.

I don't know if both will be possible. My employer provides tuition reimbursement (that's what I meant when I said they would pay), but research is a full-time and more hours job. Do you know if EMT can be used as a smaller role, or would that be full-time/15-20 hours part-time only?

...if only there were more hours in a day!

You can always volunteer as EMT so your hours will be pretty flexible.

 

[Gibtone]

This last summer I was actually in a similar situation as you are in currently where I took an EMT-B class for free because of a scholarship that enabled me to have my tuition waived. Although it largley depends on what state you are from, I've found it extremely difficult to find a job as an EMT-B...I completed the course in August and was both nationally and state registered by early September.. I applied to over 12 different companies and haven't heard back from a single company and it's now late November. If your able to get a job lined up early I would def. recommend the EMT because the hands on experience will be great for you, but unless you have your Fire and EMT or your planning on becoming a paramedic it may be pretty hard to get that first job with no prior EMT experience, just my two cents.

 

[Rollo]

This last summer I was actually in a similar situation as you are in currently where I took an EMT-B class for free because of a scholarship that enabled me to have my tuition waived. Although it largley depends on what state you are from, I've found it extremely difficult to find a job as an EMT-B...I completed the course in August and was both nationally and state registered by early September.. I applied to over 12 different companies and haven't heard back from a single company and it's now late November. If your able to get a job lined up early I would def. recommend the EMT because the hands on experience will be great for you, but unless you have your Fire and EMT or your planning on becoming a paramedic it may be pretty hard to get that first job with no prior EMT experience, just my two cents.

Volunteering as an EMT, however, is much easier and may be the smartest thing to do before trying to find a job as as EMT. Most places looking to hire EMTs are looking for people with considerable experience...not somebody who has just graduated from the class.