How much Clinical Exp. is enough?

[Wardens]

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I read about a lot of people volunteering in an ER, but I chose to become involved in other volunteering programs. I shadowed a pediatric oncologist and a gastroenterolist for a week each and may follow an ER doc for a couple days. I feel it's enough to gain insight on the field, but it may be the case that medical schools and I disagree. What's the general consensus?

 

[jtheater]

Although I feel like shadowing a physician is a great way to start learning about medicine, I don't think that it will really show an adcom that you've taken a strong initiative to explore the field. Most people at some point will have done it, so it won't really differentiate you from the next candidate. I also think there is a BIG difference between shadowing and volunteering. When volunteering you are fulfilling a need of the organization. If you have the time, I would look into other clinical opportunities. There are a lot out there.

1) Clinical research at a hospital/university
2) Children's playtime/playroom at a hospital
3) Convalescent hospital (not as much medicine, but a lot of hands-on time with sick and elderly patients)
4) Volunteer in medical clinic for underserved population (if you live in big city or near a poor community)
5) Health peer counselor at school (some have general ones, some have ones related specifically to AIDS/HIV)
... many more.


When shadowing ask the physicians or staff if there are volunteering activities available or look for a need to fill. There are a lot of opps out there, you just need to look. Doing so will show an adcom that you have the initiative. Straight from the mouth of someone who reads at Stanford, they said "I really value someone who identifies an area of need and finds a way of helping to fill that need. Honor societies and awards impress me far less." Again, shadowing is great, but if you want your clinical experience to be a strong part of your application, my feeling is you need more. That being said, if you are volunteering in other important venues (education, social services) that should also help your application.

 

[Wardens]

jtheater,
My notion of clinical experience was that it was to help people better understand the medicine they'll encounter when they leave medical school. I'm sure I'm being defensive 🙂 , but I think I've identified and committed to a couple 'areas of need' not directly pertaining to medicine. I lead habitat trips abroad and at home, tutor, bring food to underserved, and play games with assisted living patients. I think I do enough volunteer outside of medicine, but despite these projects do you think medical schools will require more medically-related projects? I guess the reason is I apply this summer and have a only month before school starts because my program goes late. Thanks again.

 

[jtheater]

I don't mean to undervalue other service related projects, I think they are great and can be a very strong component of an application. That is why I added that last caveat to my previous post.

Is medical exposure highly recommended by most medical schools? Yes. Will your clinical experience show a medical school that you have really explored a career in medicine? I don't think so.... But, does your record indicate a strong science background with dedication and service to other areas of need? I can't answer the first part at all, but it sounds like a yes for the second part. If yes to each of them, then I don't think a medical school will question you.

Each application will be reviewed differently. It sounds like you already know the answer to your original question or you wouldn't have asked it. Your clinical experience isn't the strongest part of your application... you seem to know that. It isn't for everyone and they still get in. But it sounds like you have filled your time doing other, relavent and important things. That should carry you in my opinion.

Don't worry about being defensive. No one has to prove anything to anyone on here.... just to adcoms. Each person will have different advice and insight into the process. Personally, having a lot of hands-on clinical experience both in this country and abroad I think was a strength in my application. But a medical school isn't going to fill every spot with someone like me. So many other experiences, weather clinical or educational, will be valued by adcoms.