Enough Clinical Exp?

[conebone69]

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Hi,

I'm a rising junior who's planning to apply next year for MD programs. I have good background in research and leadership (student government, TAing etc), but I'm worried about my clinical experience.

Do med schools these days expect students to do more than just volunteer in hospitals and shadow doctors? I plan to have around 80 of each by the time I apply (plus a trip to help out the needy in Honduras for 5 weeks), but then I realized a lot of ppl these days to stuff outside (EMT, CNA etc).

Would it be worth it to go for those things and do it for a year during my junior year, or would it be better to just stick with research and other volunteering stuff that I have going on already? Thanks! 🙂

 

[mvenus929]

If you can actually point out why you want to be a doctor and can in some way shown that you know what being a doctor entails, then you shouldn't need more clinical experience. Many people go for the CNA/EMT/Phlebotomy thing because they can get a certification quick and get into the hospital, and they can get paid for it. Killing two birds with one stone and all.

 

[NickNaylor]

You will never have enough clinical experience. There will always be someone more than you. As the above poster said, the point of gaining clinical experience is for you to understand what you're getting yourself into. If you can portray that you understand the good and the bad of being a physician - and maybe have a few little stories to tell - you'll be fine.

 

[Catalystik]

Having 80 hours of US-physician shadowing on an application is terrific, and above average. Having only 80 hours of US clinical experience would be on the skimpy side compared to your competition. About 150 hours seems more average. I suggest you plan to continue some form of clinical exposure through the next year, even if you only have time for 2 hours a week. This need not be in a hospital if you want a change of pace. Nursing homes, rehab centers, hospice, low-income, VA, family-planning, or private clinics are all places you could ask for volunteer or job opportunities.

 

[deleted202457]

You could look into Hospice if you want to try and get more hours. I think it take like 4 days to get certified and then you could start going there for maybe and few hours a week to get some hours. That's something you could easily start this summer.

B/c as the others have said, you can never have enough. And who knows? maybe you'll see or experience something there that will give you something to talk about. Hospice is a very humbling experience.

 

[conebone69]

thanks! Yea, I plan on continuing to volunteer at the hospital, but I wanted to know whether just volunteering at the hospital is sufficient (rather than doing stuff outside). I remember talking to a person from UNC med and she said they specifically look for ppl with more than just hospital volunteering (EMT etc).

 

[conebone69]

and volunteering at a hospice sounds like a good idea.

 

[Littlesushiboy]

I volunteered before and I had a great experience, but dislike the fact that I can do soooooooooo little !! So I did EMS, phlebotomy, EKG, etc. Like everyone else said, There is never too much of clinical experience. Med school will see how much commitment and dedication you have in the field with the amt of efforts and hrs you put in. The more you can do, the more responsibilities you have, and the more exciting this field is. Your application will expand in so many ways.

 

[nisarg2010]

80 Clinical hours are definitely low. You should work on that.