Extracurriculars

[richard01]

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I wanted to know if working at a Doctor's Office counts as an extracurricular activity. I have worked there for about 9months for about 10-15 hours a week. I basically did secretarial and administrative errands for the doctor. Would this count as a good EC? Although I didn't get any patient contact besides at the front desk, I did see how a medical office is run and what the profession is like. Also, would this make for a good LOR? I'm not sure if it would be a strong LOR because I had never shadowed her in the examination rooms. I'm hoping to begin volunteering at a hospital in a couple weeks also, hoping to gain more exposure. I only plan to do about 3 hours a week for about 6 months. Would this be enough, or is that too small of an amount of hours? Ideally I would do more hours per week, but I have a heavy courseload this summer and Fall, in addition I am planning to prepare for the MCAT in April '07. Thanks everyone.

 

[noshie]

I think this experience should be listed as work experience. A good letter does not have to come from shadowing a Dr. I think it is actually a better letter when it comes from your boss. First of all the time you put in for work is much more than if you were to shadow, also someone is actually paying you to do a good job, which means that they want you there, you are not just working for free. It will be a much more personal letter I think. I got one from my old Dr. office job and another one from a shadow I did, and I know that the job one was a much much better letter. The shadow letter was really cut and dry because I shadowed everyday for only a month, but I worked closely with the other doctor for over a year.

 

[strawberryfield]

I wanted to know if working at a Doctor's Office counts as an extracurricular activity. I have worked there for about 9months for about 10-15 hours a week. I basically did secretarial and administrative errands for the doctor. Would this count as a good EC? Although I didn't get any patient contact besides at the front desk, I did see how a medical office is run and what the profession is like. Also, would this make for a good LOR? I'm not sure if it would be a strong LOR because I had never shadowed her in the examination rooms. I'm hoping to begin volunteering at a hospital in a couple weeks also, hoping to gain more exposure. I only plan to do about 3 hours a week for about 6 months. Would this be enough, or is that too small of an amount of hours? Ideally I would do more hours per week, but I have a heavy courseload this summer and Fall, in addition I am planning to prepare for the MCAT in April '07. Thanks everyone.

I have worked at a doctor's office for 6 years. I started out doing what you're doing and moved up to having a lot of patient contact, express interest to your employer and see what they say. Mine was willing to offer me a lot of training because I was smart and eager. It is worth a try. I listed mine as a job (obviously) The letter from your employer I'm sure also would be a better letter.

 

[chopstick1]

I wanted to know if working at a Doctor's Office counts as an extracurricular activity. I have worked there for about 9months for about 10-15 hours a week. I basically did secretarial and administrative errands for the doctor. Would this count as a good EC? Although I didn't get any patient contact besides at the front desk, I did see how a medical office is run and what the profession is like. Also, would this make for a good LOR? I'm not sure if it would be a strong LOR because I had never shadowed her in the examination rooms. I'm hoping to begin volunteering at a hospital in a couple weeks also, hoping to gain more exposure. I only plan to do about 3 hours a week for about 6 months. Would this be enough, or is that too small of an amount of hours? Ideally I would do more hours per week, but I have a heavy courseload this summer and Fall, in addition I am planning to prepare for the MCAT in April '07. Thanks everyone.

don't sacrifice your grades for volunteer hours..you can always start those after the mcat! maxing the mcat is key!! I'd put your job as your work exp but if volunteer doing a project for work (ex making a poster about diabetes awareness, writing a flyer, do a charity run/bike)...that's always good for the EC area and boost your LOR from work