How does the EC sound?

[Dr. Scribe]

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Hello SDN,

I am currently in my gap year and am applying to medical schools. I definitely want to make sure my app is improving just in case things don't go well this cycle.

I am currently: Scribing, Hospice Volunteering, doing Research, and possibly tutoring for $$

I think I should find a non-clinical volunteering gig as well.

How does this sound?
Training dogs that will become therapy dogs for people with mental health problems like autism. In addition, the dogs are used to incentivize young children to read in a program called Furry Tales Reading program. I have always loved dogs and will continue volunteering here even if you all tell me not to, but I am just curious how you all think it would sound on an application.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Professional Student]

Find something to do with man instead of his best friend.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

Find something to do with man instead of his best friend.

So the fact that the dogs will be used to help people doesn't matter? Like I said, I'm still gonna do this activity but I appreciate your input.

 

[chemdoctor]

I think it's fine! Of course, you wanna have some stuff that deals with interacting with human patients if you wanna be an MD or a DO. However, it is still important to have some things that you love to do. If you love working with dogs, then go ahead! Do what you love and love what you do!

 

[Coltuna]

What's your question? The EC sounds fine and may be an interesting brief talking point at interview, but it isn't going to be the difference between you receiving an II or not.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

What's your question? The EC sounds fine and may be an interesting brief talking point at interview, but it isn't going to be the difference between you receiving an II or not.

My question is: Does this EC sound good for a med school app?

For example, volunteering at an animal shelter may not be very useful but since these dogs will be used as therapy dogs maybe its more relevant for an AMCAS app.

 

[Coltuna]

My question is: Does this EC sound good for a med school app?

For example, volunteering at an animal shelter may not be very useful but since these dogs will be used as therapy dogs maybe its more relevant for an AMCAS app.

I think it's sounds good for a med school app. It shouldn't be a focal point but it's definitely unique.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

I think it's sounds good for a med school app. It shouldn't be a focal point but it's definitely unique.

Cool, thanks for the reassurance.

 

[Professional Student]

So the fact that the dogs will be used to help people doesn't matter? Like I said, I'm still gonna do this activity but I appreciate your input.

I don’t think so, not in a humanitarian way anyway. Yes it’s interesting and would be worth mentioning, but in my opinion it misses the mark if you are trying to communicate an empathetic service activity (such as working in soup kitchen, or anything else helping those in need).

P.S. If you are excited about this then have a great time whether it really helps with your app or not! I’m all for doing things you enjoy and/or are passionate about instead of just application box-checking.

 

[Goro]

Hello SDN,

I am currently in my gap year and am applying to medical schools. I definitely want to make sure my app is improving just in case things don't go well this cycle.

I am currently: Scribing, Hospice Volunteering, doing Research, and possibly tutoring for $$

I think I should find a non-clinical volunteering gig as well.

How does this sound?
Training dogs that will become therapy dogs for people with mental health problems like autism. In addition, the dogs are used to incentivize young children to read in a program called Furry Tales Reading program. I have always loved dogs and will continue volunteering here even if you all tell me not to, but I am just curious how you all think it would sound on an application.

Thanks in advance!

Service to others less fortunate than yourself. Do that.

 

[Doctor-S]

I am currently: Scribing, Hospice Volunteering, doing Research, and possibly tutoring for $$

I think I should find a non-clinical volunteering gig as well.

How does this sound?
Training dogs that will become therapy dogs for people with mental health problems like autism. In addition, the dogs are used to incentivize young children to read in a program called Furry Tales Reading program. I have always loved dogs and will continue volunteering here even if you all tell me not to, but I am just curious how you all think it would sound on an application.

Thanks in advance!

I'm fine with this EC.

You sound very passionate about training future therapy dogs.

Animal-assisted therapy uses animals to help individuals cope with various issues, such as PTSD, heart disease, autism, cancer, pain, depression, anxiety, etc.

As an example, here is some information about the animal-assisted therapy program at UCLA:

Animal-Assisted Therapy Research Findings | UCLA Health

 

[Dr. Scribe]

Service to others less fortunate than yourself. Do that.

So, would you say that this counts? I think people with mental health problems are less fortunate than I am.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

I'm fine with this EC.

You sound very passionate about training future therapy dogs.

Animal-assisted therapy uses animals to help individuals cope with various issues, such as PTSD, heart disease, autism, cancer, pain, depression, anxiety, etc.

As an example, here is some information about the animal-assisted therapy program at UCLA:

Animal-Assisted Therapy Research Findings | UCLA Health

View attachment 224739

Thank you for the encouragement and information!

 

[Professional Student]

So, would you say that this counts? I think people with mental health problems are less fortunate than I am.

You are not directly helping them or even interacting with them. The dog is. That is why this activity does not count in the way you are trying to force it to.

 

[Catalystik]

My question is: Does this EC sound good for a med school app?

For example, volunteering at an animal shelter may not be very useful but since these dogs will be used as therapy dogs maybe its more relevant for an AMCAS app.

Either of these volunteer activities "sounds good" for the purposes of a med school application, even though you are not working directly with actual human patients.

 

[Lawpy]

I'm fine with this EC.

You sound very passionate about training future therapy dogs.

Animal-assisted therapy uses animals to help individuals cope with various issues, such as PTSD, heart disease, autism, cancer, pain, depression, anxiety, etc.

As an example, here is some information about the animal-assisted therapy program at UCLA:

Animal-Assisted Therapy Research Findings | UCLA Health

View attachment 224739

Either of these volunteer activities "sounds good" for the purposes of a med school application, even though you are not working directly with actual human patients.

@Dr. Jay i recommend following the above advice. This is a fine EC.

 

[Lawpy]

I don’t think so, not in a humanitarian way anyway. Yes it’s interesting and would be worth mentioning, but in my opinion it misses the mark if you are trying to communicate an empathetic service activity (such as working in soup kitchen, or anything else helping those in need).

P.S. If you are excited about this then have a great time whether it really helps with your app or not! I’m all for doing things you enjoy and/or are passionate about instead of just application box-checking.

Just curious, what are you basing this on? Is it SDN perceptions, personal admissions experience etc.?

 

[Professional Student]

Just curious, what are you basing this on? Is it SDN perceptions, personal admissions experience etc.?

I think it’s the exact same reasoning as LizzyM’s saying “If you are close enough to smell patients, then it is clinical experience.” If OP is never or rarely interacting with the less fortunate, then OP is not serving the less fortunate and is not learning the lessons provided by that type of service. Plus, I assume these dogs, once trained, are not being given for free to those with the mental health problems? It’s a neat and interesting experience worth including on the application, but not one for non-clinical volunteering of the less fortunate.

What do you think?

 

[Goro]

So, would you say that this counts? I think people with mental health problems are less fortunate than I am.

If the wise Cat and the kindly Doctor-S are on board with this, then so am I!

 

[Catalystik]

If OP is never or rarely interacting with the less fortunate, then OP is not serving the less fortunate and is not learning the lessons provided by that type of service.

What do you think?

It might seem counterintuitive to some but med school adcomms, in general, seem to love seeing volunteering to serve homeless pets.

 

[Lawpy]

I think it’s the exact same reasoning as LizzyM’s saying “If you are close enough to smell patients, then it is clinical experience.” If OP is never or rarely interacting with the less fortunate, then OP is not serving the less fortunate and is not learning the lessons provided by that type of service. Plus, I assume these dogs, once trained, are not being given for free to those with the mental health problems? It’s a neat and interesting experience worth including on the application, but not one for non-clinical volunteering of the less fortunate.

What do you think?

.

I am currently: Scribing, Hospice Volunteering, doing Research, and possibly tutoring for $$

I think I should find a non-clinical volunteering gig as well.

How does this sound?
Training dogs that will become therapy dogs for people with mental health problems like autism. In addition, the dogs are used to incentivize young children to read in a program called Furry Tales Reading program. I have always loved dogs and will continue volunteering here even if you all tell me not to, but I am just curious how you all think it would sound on an application.

I think OP already has volunteering with the less fortunate via hospice. I don't think nonclinical volunteering has strict rules to follow, meaning that there’s a requirement to volunteer for the underserved (even though it’s good to have).

Also, some hospices encourage volunteers to engage in pet visits since patients love being comforted by friendly pets. So training therapy dogs to help people with autism can be considered a meaningful activity.

It might seem counterintuitive to some but med school adcomms, in general, seem to love seeing volunteering to serve homeless pets.

Unless I’m misreading things, OP is training therapy dogs to provide comfort for people with autism. Volunteering to serve homeless pets is something different (like animal shelters).

 

[Professional Student]

It might seem counterintuitive to some but med school adcomms, in general, seem to love seeing volunteering to serve homeless pets.

That is very interesting. I would have never guessed that!

I think OP already has volunteering with the less fortunate via hospice. I don't think nonclinical volunteering has strict rules to follow, meaning that there’s a requirement to volunteer for the underserved (even though it’s good to have).

Also, some hospices encourage volunteers to engage in pet visits since patients love being comforted by friendly pets. So training therapy dogs to help people with autism can be considered a meaningful activity.

I was under the impression OP was asking if this counted as volunteering with the underserved. If not, then I would very much agree this is a worthwhile non clinical volunteering activity.

If OP were to take these animals to interact with the less fortunate, such as in hospice setting, I would personally even count that as volunteering for the undeserved. It’s the people interaction I was looking for.

 

[LizzyM]

Not everything has to fit into a checkbox. If the OP is going to do this anyway, it makes sense to put it on the application and it could be volunteer, non-clinical or it could be "hobby/advocation". Clearly it is something done because the OP enjoys interacting with dogs and there is nothing wrong with doing something that you enjoy and that helps others.

I'd rather see someone who enjoys dogs volunteering with dogs than serving hot dogs in a soup kitchen because someone says that the patrons of the soup kitchen are more worthy of your free time.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

Thanks for all of your advice/input everyone! I just wanted to make sure that putting this activity on my AMCAS (if I need to reapply) would not look out of place. Cheers.

 

[Catalystik]

Unless I’m misreading things, OP is training therapy dogs to provide comfort for people with autism. Volunteering to serve homeless pets is something different (like animal shelters).

I agree. I was referring to the latter situation, as applicants in the former scenario are thin on the ground.