Kimberelli;
As sad as it may seem your best hope to achieve your desired goals is to actually choose a private company in the vicinity you desire to work (aka wherever the best traumas are) and sign up as a PAID worker simply working part time for them. This is sad because many areas treat their volunteers as sub-emt's. (Before I get blasted with fan mail what this really means is that...) As an employee you get preferences regarding shift's, partners, rig usage, equipment, events, locations, and yes even calls if your area is large enough. As a volunteer they will appreciate your hard work, but you get pushed to the bottom of the ladder when issues need resolving. The most important thing is to have this work around your education. EMS can quickly consume your energy, time, and desires. Many companies that I have dealt with are extremely flexible to part time students. This is especially true if they are furthering their education, and even more so in the event when EMS is a springboard into the more complex medical arenas. I have worked in the Midwest (multiple companies and multiple cities, as well as on the east coast, city and the Catskill Mountains, as well as overseas) and have seen this to be true in almost all the areas; although New York City is a breed onto their own.
Most companies will also view you as a more stable individual and your letters of recommendation will be written from a different perspective. Having a history as an employee, instead of the status as a volunteer, within EMS may seem on the surface as being less indicative of the epitome of what med schools desire. Yet, I feel that they both have their qualities as long as you can truthfully relate in your essays, or in an interview, what you gained from that relationship. For that is at the core of what they are looking for. How are you going to lead a better life for yourself, your school, your environment, and your patients with the experiences you gained while being an active EMT regardless of your compensation?
Good luck
