Help a fledgling doctor!

[Jonathan10]

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Cliff notes (but I really encourage you to read the whole thread!): I do not have an medically internship for the summer (missed the deadlines 🙁). I am doing some non-medicine related research (not quite sure how strong of a rec. I will get, as I am currently new to the material), and some shadowing of a PA, but together, it only takes up 3 days out of the week max. What else can I do that would help me for Med School? I need your wisdom! I need suggestions/comments on the best thing for my current situation.

OK, to introduce myself, my name is Jonathan and I am a rising sophomore. GPA is 3.84 (currently) and for the summer I am doing research (not related to medicine/healthcare) and I am going to shadow a PA. Sure, this sounds all well and good but I have a few questions about my current path; I am really stressed out! Questions are as follows:

1. I am doing this research, however, its not medically related and I am worried that I may be wasting my time. When I apply to med school I am not sure how much a non-healthcare related researching project will help me. It is at my local college with a proffessor for the summer.

2. I may be able to work/volunteer in the lab at two or one hospital(s). Do they typically have the students working on MEDICALLY related labs? Is it OK to do this in junction with my college research?

3. So, I missed out on all the fancy internships for this summer (the deadlines passed), I feel like I am lost right now, because I don't have a steady source of experience that I KNOW for a fact will help me get into med school. I have been looking at options like becoming an EMT, volunteering with an ambulance corps, etc. Do these sounds like worthwhile opportunities for the amount of effort you must put in?

4. I have a chance to work at another hosptal (so two hospitals), however, I am not sure if this is such a good idea. The shadowing at the first hospital is only once a week, and its with a PA, not a real doctor. The second hospital told me in order to shadow you need to find a doctor yourself, so an MD, but you have to find one on your own. I was wondering, to fill up my extra time, (research is only once or twice a week, usually the whole day, and shadowing is once a week), if I could volunteer at this second hospital, or should I just commit to one?

I am really stressed right now because I don't have a steady internship that would expose me directly to medicine (missed the deadlines). The hospital gig is only once a week, and its shadowing a PA (not a real doctor!). I feel like I am out of luck, because the research I am doing is not related to medicine, and the shadowing at hospital #1 is only once a week. **I need your help/suggestions on opportunities that will MAXIMIZE my summer to help me get into Med School! I don't want to sit around all day!**

 

[FlowLimited]

You just finished freshman year and you're already this stressed??

 

[TheRealMD]

Take a chill pill dude! I'd hate to be around you when you're applying to med school.

 

[Jonathan10]

You just finished freshman year and you're already this stressed??

I'll be honest, yes. I really just need some good advice at this point for my EC's, my grades I can handle. Everyone in this board has been publishing books, running a hospital singlehandely in Kenya, and winning grants for research, and I don't feel as adequate.

BTW: sorry for coming off as a typical uptight pre-med. I am a really cool guy it's just that I am simply worried that I'll be stuck doing nothing this summer (or stuff that isn't worth my time!).

 

[2008orbust]

Please take a little time to emjoy yourself during your undergrad. You are gonna be one burnt out resident if you have your nose to the grindstone every minute since high school.

Sounds like you are doing just fine. Please have a nice summer. Good luck to ya.

 

[prmdbeach17]

SDN isn't an accurate view of average premeds...most everyone on here is more motivated and knows more about the application cycle than some premed advisors.

I wouldn't worry too much about research being non-medical, I've heard adcoms like to see an interest outside of medicine & will accept other types of research. I don't see a problem with shadowing/volunteering at 2 hospitals & it's not hard to find an MD to shadow yourself..just email them. And don't stress so much, you're only a sophomore and clearly know what you have to do to be ready to apply to med school. It won't help to be so stressed all the time.😎

 

[armybound]

Tired knows what's up.

 

[Jonathan10]

^^ Thanks Tired and rest for the response.

At hospital #1 (Mercy Hospital, Rockville Centre, NY), It looks as if I will be shadowing a PA....I don't know any way to contact the doctors to ask them if I can shadow them (besides the fact that I won't even know them).

The second hospital (Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY) I might be able to shadow an MD, if I can find one that is willing, except I really don't know where to start. I tried calling the departments themselves, (Cardiovascular, Anesthesiology), except its REALLY tough to get a hold of an actual MD.

I heard there are ways to email the doctors from the websites. Any suggestions?

 

[armybound]

Sometimes you can find a doctor's email on the hospital website.

You could just leave a message with his nurse/secretary explaining that you're pre-med and are looking to gain some insight into their daily routine by following the doctor around. The nurse/secretary could pass it on to the docs and if they don't mind they'll call you back to set something up.

 

[Catalystik]

^^ I might be able to shadow an MD, if I can find one that is willing, except I really don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

Ask the PA you are shadowing if the doc they work for might be willing to have you follow them around so you can get a more balanced view of how medicine is practiced. Or this person might have heard of another doc who'd welcome your observation.

 

[Jadyn]

An MD would be good, but honestly, any medical exposure is good and can provide opportunities for deeper understanding of the field. I was a candy striper (teen volunteer that did little more than paperwork, bring in patient trays, wheel discharges out to their families, and make a ton of coffee) for 4 years during high school and got into several medical schools. The summers during college I worked at a day care/ studied Spanish abroad, then did tangentially medical research, then did medical research. Don't discount the PA shadowing if other alternatives don't workout.

 

[trichomoniasis]

just invite the doc over to your place to play gamecube and chill....

 

[Jonathan10]

Anybody have any other suggestions for EC's/research/volunteering for me for this summer? I need something else to fill out my week/weekends if the second hospital doesn't work out

 

[proclivity]

SDN isn't an accurate view of average premeds...most everyone on here is more motivated and knows more about the application cycle than some premed advisors.

The quote above is sad but true. I wish i had learned of this site before my first cycle of applying, i would probably be in medical school in about a month.

A fair number of students don't find out that they want to be doctors until a few years into college. I figured it out my first year of nursing school...luckily i had a chem minor already started.

Good luck to you and keep in mind, with as much time as you have, slow and steady wins the race.

 

[quiltlady]

Why don't you just volunteer to work with people in other situations? YMCA day camp, or a nursing home, or retirement center? That would demonstrate some altruism, and broaden your perspective. As for shadowing, not every doc works in a hospital, try asking at clinics. Maybe there is a free clinic where you will be able to help the indigent. Spend your summer doing fun stuff, learn a foreign language, join a softball team, enjoy it while you can.

 

[BC7106]

I think the feedback thus far as been accurate and very helpful. IMO, any kind of shadowing experience is extremely valuable even if it is with a PA. Working with an MD may be more helpful in getting a letter, but PA's do most of the every day medicine type of stuff that you'll be doing as a resident. The reality of medicine nowadays is that many MD's spend a lot of time just taking phone calls, calling in prescriptions, and other administrative bullcrap. So you may even have a better experience working with a PA. A PA may also be more willing to teach and show you the ropes while an MD may not have the time.

I think doing any kind of research is a good thing for you to experience. Adcoms do like to see that you've tried out some research at least. If it turns out not to be your thing, then just tell them (that's what I did). And I don't think it really matters what you do research in. Until you're a medical student trying to get into a residency program, I don't think it matters. For now, they just want to see interest.

I ended up taking a year off before medical school and worked as a secretary in a hospital unit. One of the best learning experiences I've had ever (and that's including medical school). Inpatient secretaries pretty much run the show in hospitals and it takes a lot to coordinate a whole hospital unit. I think this experience is what ultimately resulted in my admission to medical school.

I think above everything, make sure you keep your grades up and do well on your MCAT's. You seem like a motivated enough individual. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Check out my blog at www.drbyron.blogspot.com if you want to hear about my medical school and residency experiences. It may give you some insight into your application.