Help With Clinical Experience

[SteelResolve]

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So I applied this cycle and ended up on five waitlists with no acceptances. I have a 34 MCAT, 3.73 cGPA, and 3.5sGPA. I have been involved in research for 1.5 years and completed an honors thesis and recently received highest honors. I have spent a day or two shadowing doctors and have put in over 120 hours volunteering at my school's hospital. I recently met with an adcom member at UNC (where I was interviewed but ultimately rejected) and he said I had a good application, BUT that I needed to expand my clinical experience. I mentioned working as an EMT or an RNA and he didn't seem to have a preference either way. As I am planning on reapplying this next cycle which do you people think would be the best route? RNA, EMT, or perhaps something else?

Furthermore, I am relatively unknowledgable with regards to such paths. I know both EMT and RNA requires training but other than that I'm a bit lost. Thus any specific guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Dannyw]

My best clinical EC is at a free clinic. I take histories, blood pressure, temp, pulse and usually shadow a bit. I don't have any certifications and they were happy to take me in because I'm planning to study medicine. I'm sure there is a list of free clinics in your local area, check it out. The experience is invaluable.

 

[ShinyDome19]

I did the whole EMT thing, but if your planning on reapplying this cycle I would pretty much rule it out. The training, unless you find an accelerated course (3 months), will take you a full semester of which you will only get about 100 hours of actual time with patients. While its a great experience if you have the time to put into it (work full time in the ER or for an ambulance company), the certification alone doesnt mean anything.

you'll probably get more hands on experience by volunteering at a free clinic or something similar.

 

[Transmogrifier]

I was in a similar situation. I was a great applicant but I was a little light on my clinical experience. I fared much better round two.

If you've got a lot of hospital volunteer experience but they think you lack clinical experience I'd suppose it would be the lack of shadowing more than anything. They want to see a clear commitment to medicine, not just "healthcare." See what you can do to get more shadowing in, be it for an extended period with one doc or shorter stints with multiple people.

Also make sure you communicate your interest in medicine from your clinical experience. This sounds obvious but it may be helpful in writing your personal statement or for interviews. My first PS was decent but lacked punch. My second one was very focused on specific clinical experiences that made me want to be a doctor. Not every PS has to be about clinical experiences, but it's just an idea to help show them you're more than a good MCAT score who thinks he can get into medical school.

 

[jpatel]

You probably dont lack anything.

Think about it. if your in his shoes and some student asks you what went wrong. Ofcourse, your not gonea say upfront your interview was terrible or this about your personality they didnt like. They dont have time for you and he is probably recieving like 100 of calls asking about what went wrong. He cant recall anything and hell give you anything to hang up and get on with his day.

First of all, you would not have gotten interview if you were not good enough for that school.

Work on interviewing skills. Period.

 

[Transmogrifier]

You probably dont lack anything.

Think about it. if your in his shoes and some student asks you what went wrong. Ofcourse, your not gonea say upfront your interview was terrible or this about your personality they didnt like. They dont have time for you and he is probably recieving like 100 of calls asking about what went wrong. He cant recall anything and hell give you anything to hang up and get on with his day.

First of all, you would not have gotten interview if you were not good enough for that school.

Work on interviewing skills. Period.

I'm going to disagree. So you apply again. The adcom looks at your file. "Oh so you're a reapplicant, what have you done since last time?" "Just worked on your interviewing skills? Ok..." You've got to show a redoubled commitment.

 

[werd]

i would also guess it was interview related. on paper, you should have gotten in. work on interviewing and also add something else to your app that you can say you added something, then give it another shot.

 

[armybound]

At my school, they'd probably like it most if you got more shadowing in and continue volunteering. I wouldn't go through EMT training just for clinical experience. If anything you could do phlebotomy. RNA (nurse assistant?) also sounds like a good idea. I did something like that with my EMT certification and liked it a lot better than working on the ambulance.