EMT or Research?

[anotherPlacebo]

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Hey fellow SDNers,

I have only one summer left and I was wondering what I should do with it. This choice would be much simpler if I did what I wanted (which is to get EMT certified during the summer and work my senior year). On the other hand, I am worrying about what medical schools like to see better: Research or EMT certification and experience. With either of these jobs, I would start working during the summer and continue throughout the year.

I know I should do things I enjoy and really have passion for, but if research experience will help me get into medical school, then that's more important than me enjoying my work for the time being, since becoming a doctor is first and foremost in my thoughts.

Also, if anyone has any information on what it takes and how long it takes to get EMT certified, I would greatly appreciate the help. I'm already looking into it, but any additional info would be very helpful!

Also, is this something I should e-mail a Dean of Admissions about?

Good luck to all of you'll; the struggle is well-worth it.

The Best to you,
Jon

 

[Agent Splat]

If you're more interested in EMS work, do that. Research is not required. Whatever you'll get MORE out and clearly enjoy/grow from/gain something that makes you a better person/etc of is what will look better on your application.

That being said, do EMS. It's more fun than microscopes. In my opinion.

EMT certification varies. I did it in a 2 month course that was 8 hours a day 2 days a week during teh summer. Other places have it for a semester, others even longer or shorter. Also, if you get hooked up with a good volunteer or maybe even private service, you should not have to pay for the class out of pocket. Volunteer generally >>> private service, unless you're in a private service contracted by a larger city to do 911. Volunteers rarely do the granny taxi thing. On the other hand, I have learned just as much from some interhospital transports as I have on 911 calls. Not as fun, but they're great for working on patient interaction.

Good luck, have fun, stay out of jail. And always stop at red lights, even when you're running sirens.

 

[45408]

EMS is a blast, but you might not even be able to get a job, so check that out first.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

EMS is a blast, but you might not even be able to get a job, so check that out first.

Do the EMT thing 👍 A) It sounds like this is what you want to do. B) Any dork with a microscope can do research. Not everyone can hack/ is willing to hack EMS. C) You might make some money D) It might give you some experiences that will help you answer those tricky "Have you ever been in a situation where you've had to make an ethical decision"-type interview questions. E) Research takes a while. You will see/learn a lot more in one year of EMS than one year of research

Only downsides will be if you plan on attending schools/programs with a really heavy emphasis on research or if you've already had tons of exposure to clinical stuff, or if you despereately need a letter of rec (as Larry, the burnt-out paramedic, will not likely be a very good source)

I wouldn't worry too much about finding a job, unless you have to make a certain amt of money...then it might get tricky depending on where you live. You might end up just doing transfers as the others said, but this isn't as bad as most people make it sound.

Of course, you could do both research and EMS, as all the really cool people do 😉

 

[45408]

Well, I do hate doing interfacility transfers. 😳 But I work at a company that has a steady stream of 911 calls, so I'm all good. I usually don't do more than one transfer in a 12 hour period, but it depends on the time of day. During daylight hours, we do more transfers. After 6pm, they're pretty rare, and they never happen between midnight and 7am.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Yeah, my big complaint is with IFT's you have to deal with twice as many nurses





....don't get me wrong... I love nurses. Just not the ones that are trying to get someone who's about to die out of their hands and to do so lie about their vitals, etc.

 

[thirdclius]

I agree with what people are saying, do what you're interested in. But my advice is if you can do research, do it. They ask it in almost every secondary applications and they also ask it in interviews. EMT may count on clinical hours, but you can also gain clinical hours by volunteering. Also, it is better to do research in undergrad over working as a lab assistant after undergrad because hopefully your prof will know you more and hence write you a stronger letter of recommendation over someone who just went to class. IMHO, Research may be more heavily weighted by the schools towards admissions over EMT work. Also, physicians and EMT jobs are different. EMT job may give you the atmosphere of working in a health-related setting, but in all, they are different. In conclusion, do the activity that will impress the admissions committee for the schools you're interested in, and I believe that they are mostly impressed by research. Just my .02. Note: I am not a member of admissions committee nor have served in one. I am just giving my honest and truthful opinion on the matter. PM me if you want.

 

[g3pro]

do something that's meaningful to you.

 

[Reimat]

But my advice is if you can do research, do it. They ask it in almost every secondary applications and they also ask it in interviews.

Agreed. I'm an EMT and I've done a lot of research - if next year will be your senior year, the EMT experience will have been too short to count for much. It'll take you the summer to get certified, and by the time you start interviewing, you'll only be able to say you've done it for a few months. It'll be a pretty useless experience for you (you wont be really able to say how it helped you decide to pursue a medical career since you'll have already started apps...)

I say all this because being an EMT has been a good experience, but your scope of practice is very limited - and you'll probably be practicing at a similar scope early in med school. Research, however, will give you a competitive edge that you'll be able to talk about, it may give you a source for an LOR, and it very well may be the last time you will ever get to do research.

Those are just my experiences in the process. Also, FYI, EMT's tend to glorify the experience - and it's enjoyable, but particular for top-tier schools, it's research that will give you an edge. So, unless you have zero clinical experience to date (in which case you should go work at a hospital) do research. Unless you want to have no life and take an evening certification course in addition to research 😀

 

[g3pro]

if next year will be your senior year, the EMT experience will have been too short to count for much. It'll take you the summer to get certified, and by the time you start interviewing, you'll only be able to say you've done it for a few months. It'll be a pretty useless experience for you (you wont be really able to say how it helped you decide to pursue a medical career since you'll have already started apps...)

Wow, you're not a gunner.....

 

[manleyb]

Hey OP-

I have taken a year off after undergrad and applied this year to med school. I obtained my EMT before my jr. year in college but sat on it until I graduated. I currently do full time research during the week and work as an EMT volunteer and a MA at a local clinic in the evenings and on weekends.

Personally I found that having a few hours outside of the research was the perfect way to balance my time and continue my love for medicine (it doesn’t look too bad to Ad coms either). When I get frustrated with my lab work it is nice to have an outlet like working hands on as an EMT. I get a better sense that I am helping others this way sometimes. It’s usually easy to find a volunteer position as a EMT. Also despite what a previous person said I think having only a few months as an EMT can make a HUGE difference in you application. All it takes if one intense experience and you will forever have a great reason to tell people why you want to be a doctor.

Take in to account which schools you looking at to (use the MSAR) to figure out an appropriate balance of clinical work and research.

Good Luck… 🙂

 

[willow18]

EMT certification means nothing if you don't use it. If you're not gonna work as a tech for at least half a year, just do the research, and try shadowing etc for some clinical experience.

 

[arkroyal]

i honestly think that my EMT work got me into medical school because the way i look at it, most science related majors have some sort of research and volunteer esque work for clinicals. EMT is unique in that you're actually given serious responsibilites in terms of patient care.

 

[anotherPlacebo]

Thanks for all the advice =)

Well, I've reached some sort of compromise: I'll do research while taking courses to get my EMT-B certification, as some of you'll have suggested or done.

If I'm lucky I'll find something I'm really interested in for research. As for EMT, it already appeals to me as I like the fact that I will have hands-on duties and more contact with patients. I would also like to see patient care from an EMS standpoint.

Thanks again for all your help; I really do appreciate it!

Good luck to everyone on their endeavors (if they're well-intentioned, that is! 😉 )