How much HCE is too much??

[MexicanDr]

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How much Health Care Experience (HCE) is too much?

My work is in EMS, 2 days on an ALS rig and 1 day as an ER Tech in a trauma center and the following week is 2 days as a tech and 1 on ALS rig.

I volunteer for 2 free clinics, 1 of them I go once or twice a week depending on my schedule and the other one is usuaally once or twice a month since it's a mobile free clinic. At both places I do vitals, patient histories, EKGs, some phlebotomy and translating.

I will also be volunteering at a hospice although I don't think I ll be having much pt contact if any.

I also am part of a club that does health fairs/BP and diabetes screenings.

Do you guys think these is too much in terms of HCE? I can't leave my job because I love it and need the money. Being at the free clinics is amaIng because I love helping others, especially those in need.

What do you guys think? I have some other non clinical ECs as well so Im not unbalanced on that side. Just wondering your input.

Eddie

 

[niblet]

Dude.

 

[PopuriofHM]

I feel like this falls along the lines of "is my MCAT score too high?" or "is my GPA too high?" haha! Do you sleep?

But seriously, if you can handle all that, you sound pretty good to me 🙂

 

[DirtyJustice]

How much Health Care Experience (HCE) is too much?

My work is in EMS, 2 days on an ALS rig and 1 day as an ER Tech in a trauma center and the following week is 2 days as a tech and 1 on ALS rig.

I volunteer for 2 free clinics, 1 of them I go once or twice a week depending on my schedule and the other one is usuaally once or twice a month since it's a mobile free clinic. At both places I do vitals, patient histories, EKGs, some phlebotomy and translating.

I will also be volunteering at a hospice although I don't think I ll be having much pt contact if any.

I also am part of a club that does health fairs/BP and diabetes screenings.

Do you guys think these is too much in terms of HCE? I can't leave my job because I love it and need the money. Being at the free clinics is amaIng because I love helping others, especially those in need.

What do you guys think? I have some other non clinical ECs as well so Im not unbalanced on that side. Just wondering your input.

Eddie

Yah, way way way to much. Drop it all, I hear they don't want any anymore.

 

[armybound]

it won't make up for GPA or MCAT, so if you're suffering in classes, it's too much.

 

[-Goose-]

How much Health Care Experience (HCE) is too much?

My work is in EMS, 2 days on an ALS rig and 1 day as an ER Tech in a trauma center and the following week is 2 days as a tech and 1 on ALS rig.

I volunteer for 2 free clinics, 1 of them I go once or twice a week depending on my schedule and the other one is usuaally once or twice a month since it's a mobile free clinic. At both places I do vitals, patient histories, EKGs, some phlebotomy and translating.

I will also be volunteering at a hospice although I don't think I ll be having much pt contact if any.

I also am part of a club that does health fairs/BP and diabetes screenings.

Do you guys think these is too much in terms of HCE? I can't leave my job because I love it and need the money. Being at the free clinics is amaIng because I love helping others, especially those in need.

What do you guys think? I have some other non clinical ECs as well so Im not unbalanced on that side. Just wondering your input.

Eddie

Chill out. You're gonna be fine.

 

[Dannyw]

if I read all of that on an application I would think "he's trying too hard" (in a bad way).

 

[DirtyJustice]

if I read all of that on an application I would think "he's trying too hard" (in a bad way).

The more I think about it, I agree with you.

 

[MexicanDr]

Thanks guys for the input. Honestly, I was not trying to brag or be a troll in terms of the question.

The reason why I am involved is because I do enjoy it, I think I should drop one of the free clinics. My GPA is not great because of some immaturity and later a health problem. I have not taken MCAT and my current and future grades will not suffer because of these EC Commitments.

Just wanted an honest opinion.

 

[zebalong]

First fix your gpa, even if that means dropping out of some of your health care related activities. Nothing will really matter if you can't pass the number screen at most schools.

Second make sure you do well on your MCAT, again if you don't pass the number screen most of your experience won't matter.

After you pass the number screen at schools, health care experience will only help you. I have extensive health care experience and have landed some great interviews (you can see my md apps) with absolutely no research at some research intensive schools. My lack of research has not come up once in any of my interviews, and I attribute that to some of my health care experiences making strong selling points for my application. Being a tech and emt-b or emt-p / tech is definitely not unheard of.

Edit: I agree with other posts saying is seems a bit "trying to hard" try to make it more intensive in just one activity, don't make your application look numerous but lacking depth. For instance I really only went in depth on one activity in my AMCAS but i made sure i pointed out how i really thrived in a demanding activity/experience/job.

 

[MexicanDr]

First fix your gpa, even if that means dropping out of some of your health care related activities. Nothing will really matter if you can't pass the number screen at most schools.

Second make sure you do well on your MCAT, again if you don't pass the number screen most of your experience won't matter.

After you pass the number screen at schools, health care experience will only help you. I have extensive health care experience and have landed some great interviews (you can see my md apps) with absolutely no research at some research intensive schools. My lack of research has not come up once in any of my interviews, and I attribute that to some of my health care experiences making strong selling points for my application. Being a tech and emt-b or emt-p / tech is definitely not unheard of.

Edit: I agree with other posts saying is seems a bit "trying to hard" try to make it more intensive in just one activity, don't make your application look numerous but lacking depth. For instance I really only went in depth on one activity in my AMCAS but i made sure i pointed out how i really thrived in a demanding activity/experience/job.

Thanks a lot for your advice!

My main focus is on repairing my GPA right now. Next semester I will start taking all my pre-reqs ( have not taken any) and I will do the best of me to Ace them as well as finishing some upper division classes for my major, which will help my gpa and show an upward trend after I am done. I want to take some other upper level bio classes and show that I am committed and responsible to academics despite my academia past.

As far as the MCAT, I will be very focused, too and wont let any of the ECs interfere with classes or mcat.

Again, thanks for the advice and congrats on your interviews