How to get clinical experience... in one semester

[ladymiresa]

Hey guys, so basically I'm hoping to apply this coming summer and I feel like my application is lopsided.

I'm a senior, have a 4.0 GPA, have yet to take the MCAT, and have done 2 summers of research with poster presentations but no pubs. I have very little clinical experience, though, and very few shadowing hours. Part of the problem is that I go to school in a rural area so, as I see it, the clinical opportunities are limited. I realize I might be trying to self-rationalize, though. The other problem is that outside of studying I spend most of my time during the school year working and doing leadership in campus clubs, something I've been very passionate about.

Two summers ago I completed a clinician researcher development program in which I worked directly with research volunteers and physicians to study lower back pain. But I'm not sure if I can actually consider this clinical work since at its core it was research.

I've also volunteered two summers at a camp for children with cancer... but that was nearly four years ago now and again I wasn't an aid or anything, I mostly just set up activities, assisted with meals, etc. It was a positive experience, though.

So basically, I'm seeking advice on how to round out my experiences a bit more. I realize I should have been thinking about this years ago, not just a few months before I submit my app. But it is what it is. Are there opportunities that can yield something meaningful in just a few months that I haven't really thought about yet? Furthermore, something that's accessible to a rural student like me?

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[Packed2go]

Hey guys, so basically I'm hoping to apply this coming summer and I feel like my application is lopsided.

I'm a senior, have a 4.0 GPA, have yet to take the MCAT, and have done 2 summers of research with poster presentations but no pubs. I have very little clinical experience, though, and very few shadowing hours. Part of the problem is that I go to school in a rural area so, as I see it, the clinical opportunities are limited. I realize I might be trying to self-rationalize, though. The other problem is that outside of studying I spend most of my time during the school year working and doing leadership in campus clubs, something I've been very passionate about.

Two summers ago I completed a clinician researcher development program in which I worked directly with research volunteers and physicians to study lower back pain. But I'm not sure if I can actually consider this clinical work since at its core it was research.

I've also volunteered two summers at a camp for children with cancer... but that was nearly four years ago now and again I wasn't an aid or anything, I mostly just set up activities, assisted with meals, etc. It was a positive experience, though.

So basically, I'm seeking advice on how to round out my experiences a bit more. I realize I should have been thinking about this years ago, not just a few months before I submit my app. But it is what it is. Are there opportunities that can yield something meaningful in just a few months that I haven't really thought about yet? Furthermore, something that's accessible to a rural student like me?

I'm from a rural area, too, and would recommend looking into hospice volunteering. There is in-patient and in-home hospice care. In-home requires more training, from what I've gathered. I've done about 200 hours of hospital volunteering with very little that I would consider meaningful, so I decided to try this and hopefully learn a lot from it before applying.

 

[ladymiresa]

I'll definitely look into hospice volunteering, that's very interesting and something I hadn't thought of.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Rural areas are perfect for hospitsl volunteering
You tend to get more patient interaction

Anyways, clinical experience is something you get over time. So OP I don't know what to tell you; You don't want to extend your gap year to develop meaningful clinical experience?

Many adcoms have said they will flat out reject anyone with no clinical experience.

Also a semesters worth wouldn't be enough in my opinion..
You might get 70-100 hours if you dedicate enough time.

I think the adcoms would agree with me.

 

[ladymiresa]

Haha, I agree that experience like this is better accumulated over several years and not in one semester. My only excuse is that I thought good grades and research was more valued... though I'm not even sure how valuable my research experience is!

Anyway, I guess I have 2 questions. The first is, does my "clinician development program" not sound like clinical experience at all? The second is in regard to @Dr.Sticks 's comment about extending gap year... you really think that would be the best course of action? I'm not sure. I'm already a 5th year undergrad. I think I can get about 50 hours of hospital volunteering before I apply in June... clinical experience over the summer might not help my initial application but is it worth pursuing?

Thanks for your responses! Much appreciated!

 

[pseud0]

call every hospital in the area. If that doesn't work call all the clinics and hospice next. Someone at one of those places wants you to work for free.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Haha, I agree that experience like this is better accumulated over several years and not in one semester. My only excuse is that I thought good grades and research was more valued... though I'm not even sure how valuable my research experience is!

Anyway, I guess I have 2 questions. The first is, does my "clinician development program" not sound like clinical experience at all? The second is in regard to @Dr.Sticks 's comment about extending gap year... you really think that would be the best course of action? I'm not sure. I'm already a 5th year undergrad. I think I can get about 50 hours of hospital volunteering before I apply in June... clinical experience over the summer might not help my initial application but is it worth pursuing?

Thanks for your responses! Much appreciated!

Please for the love of God or what ever deity you believe in, don't apply with 50 hours.
You have such a beautiful GPA and I would hate to see you rejected for that.

As for time; Average age for a matriculant is now 24.. Not a big deal
You got the potential to get into Harvard, why not out another year into it?

@gyngyn @Goro

 

[pseud0]

He hasn't even taken the MCAT and you think he'll get into Harvard?

 

[Dr.Sticks]

He hasn't even taken the MCAT and you think he'll get into Harvard?

Someone who can get a 4.0 is Moe likely to do well on the MCAT and therefore Harvard potential
I mean OP obviously has a solid base in all the basic knowledge needed to do well in the first place..
Plus more than likely has the study skills, and test taking ability.

Also I said "potential"
Not you will get into Harvard.

 

[mimelim]

Someone who can get a 4.0 is Moe likely to do well on the MCAT and therefore Harvard potential
I mean OP obviously has a solid base in all the basic knowledge needed to do well in the first place..
Plus more than likely has the study skills, and test taking ability.

Also I said "potential"
Not you will get into Harvard.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321518/data/factstablea24-4.pdf

More than 85% of students with a 3.8+ GPA get a 35 or lower on their MCAT. While people with better GPAs will tend to do better on the MCAT, it is a poor predictor. Further, only 69% of applicants with a 3.8+ GPA get into medical school, much less Harvard.

Make no mistake, a solid GPA is important and it is a marker of being a good student, but trying to read into a GPA and assuming it has over inflated meaning is harmful.

 

[mimelim]

Hey guys, so basically I'm hoping to apply this coming summer and I feel like my application is lopsided.

I'm a senior, have a 4.0 GPA, have yet to take the MCAT, and have done 2 summers of research with poster presentations but no pubs. I have very little clinical experience, though, and very few shadowing hours. Part of the problem is that I go to school in a rural area so, as I see it, the clinical opportunities are limited. I realize I might be trying to self-rationalize, though. The other problem is that outside of studying I spend most of my time during the school year working and doing leadership in campus clubs, something I've been very passionate about.

Two summers ago I completed a clinician researcher development program in which I worked directly with research volunteers and physicians to study lower back pain. But I'm not sure if I can actually consider this clinical work since at its core it was research.

I've also volunteered two summers at a camp for children with cancer... but that was nearly four years ago now and again I wasn't an aid or anything, I mostly just set up activities, assisted with meals, etc. It was a positive experience, though.

So basically, I'm seeking advice on how to round out my experiences a bit more. I realize I should have been thinking about this years ago, not just a few months before I submit my app. But it is what it is. Are there opportunities that can yield something meaningful in just a few months that I haven't really thought about yet? Furthermore, something that's accessible to a rural student like me?

What exactly is 'rural'. Your location says you are in St. Louis, which has multiple major hospitals in the area.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

https://www.aamc.org/download/321518/data/factstablea24-4.pdf

More than 85% of students with a 3.8+ GPA get a 35 or lower on their MCAT. While people with better GPAs will tend to do better on the MCAT, it is a poor predictor. Further, only 69% of applicants with a 3.8+ GPA get into medical school, much less Harvard.

Make no mistake, a solid GPA is important and it is a marker of being a good student, but trying to read into a GPA and assuming it has over inflated meaning is harmful.

Right; That is why I said potentially.
Also I wonder how many of those rejects had lacking ECs, or poor MCATS.
I can find the latter out but not the former really.

 

[ladymiresa]

I kind of figured GPA wasn't a great predictor of MCAT success... only curious, though, are other standardized tests a good predictor? Like ACT or ACS exams?

@mimelim I'm from STL, yes, but I go to college in a rural town. To complicate things, this rural town has a medical school and maybe it's just my perception but I often feel like this detracts opportunities from premeds bc the hospitals and such favor the actual med students. That might just be the word in the premed dorms though

 

[Dr.Sticks]

I kind of figured GPA wasn't a great predictor of MCAT success... only curious, though, are other standardized tests a good predictor? Like ACT or ACS exams?

I'm from STL, yes, but I go to college in a rural town. To complicate things, this rural town has a medical school and maybe it's just my perception but I often feel like this detracts opportunities from premeds bc the hospitals and such favor the actual med students. That might just be the word in the premed dorms though

There was a thread where the general statistic was those who do well on the SAT or ACT do well on the MCAT

A 2400 SAT person got a 527 MCAT for example.. (I might be off but it was something like that for one poster)

 

[Goro]

Add service to others less fortunate than yourself.

Hey guys, so basically I'm hoping to apply this coming summer and I feel like my application is lopsided.

I'm a senior, have a 4.0 GPA, have yet to take the MCAT, and have done 2 summers of research with poster presentations but no pubs. I have very little clinical experience, though, and very few shadowing hours. Part of the problem is that I go to school in a rural area so, as I see it, the clinical opportunities are limited. I realize I might be trying to self-rationalize, though. The other problem is that outside of studying I spend most of my time during the school year working and doing leadership in campus clubs, something I've been very passionate about.

Two summers ago I completed a clinician researcher development program in which I worked directly with research volunteers and physicians to study lower back pain. But I'm not sure if I can actually consider this clinical work since at its core it was research.

I've also volunteered two summers at a camp for children with cancer... but that was nearly four years ago now and again I wasn't an aid or anything, I mostly just set up activities, assisted with meals, etc. It was a positive experience, though.

So basically, I'm seeking advice on how to round out my experiences a bit more. I realize I should have been thinking about this years ago, not just a few months before I submit my app. But it is what it is. Are there opportunities that can yield something meaningful in just a few months that I haven't really thought about yet? Furthermore, something that's accessible to a rural student like me?

[ QUOTE

 

[ladymiresa]

Add service to others less fortunate than yourself.

Perhaps my resume is missing pure altruistic volunteerism as well... but not sure if that's the same thing as clinical experience? or did you just mean in general?

 

[kb1900]

A rushed application is a great way to waste a 4.0 with a low mcat and less than stellar ECs.

Low shadowing, low recent volunteering to those less fortunate, low pt intx.

Think about the risk/reward.

Also please don't mention how hard it is to get clinical exposure in your interviews. All an adcom would think would be "it wasn't hard, just inconvenient"

Hospice centers and many other clinical settings are always looking for people to just be there.

 

[ladymiresa]

Also please don't mention how hard it is to get clinical exposure in your interviews. All an adcom would think would be "it wasn't hard, just inconvenient"

Yes, I think you're right. Plenty of students at my school get the clinical experience they desire, despite being in the middle of nowhere. I can admit, I chose to put my time towards student clubs instead and I realize now that choice only had short term reward! I mean, I think my extensive leadership experience has benefitted my character, but maybe not my med school application.

Anyway. Perhaps I'll move my schedule around and graduate in may while volunteering at my local hospital, spend the summer preparing for the MCAT, and then I'd have a full year without classes to get the other clinical experiences I'm looking for before applying summer 2018. But for whatever reason, 2 years between UG graduation and matriculation sits weirdly for me. ...I don't know, I knew my application was lopsided but y'all are making me feel like the lack of clinical exposure is lethal! ditto whoever said risk/reward

 

[ciestar]

Yes, I think you're right. Plenty of students at my school get the clinical experience they desire, despite being in the middle of nowhere. I can admit, I chose to put my time towards student clubs instead and I realize now that choice only had short term reward! I mean, I think my extensive leadership experience has benefitted my character, but maybe not my med school application.

Anyway. Perhaps I'll move my schedule around and graduate in may while volunteering at my local hospital, spend the summer preparing for the MCAT, and then I'd have a full year without classes to get the other clinical experiences I'm looking for before applying summer 2018. But for whatever reason, 2 years between UG graduation and matriculation sits weirdly for me. ...I don't know, I knew my application was lopsided but y'all are making me feel like the lack of clinical exposure is lethal! ditto whoever said risk/reward

It does tend to be lethal. Schools want to see you know what you're getting into as far as working with patients. How do you know you want to spend the rest of your life around patients if you haven't yet? As @Goro would say, "would you buy a car without test driving it first?"

Lacking nonclinical volunteering is problematic as well... They like to see altruistic applicants who have a genuine interest in helping people in many ways. My nonclinical volunteering was the focus of most of my interviews last year.

EDIT: Leadership is great to have, btw. I also had 3 gap years between UG and starting med school.

 

[ladymiresa]

lethal for t20 med schools or lethal in general? I know it's hard to predict w/o an mcat, but assuming my mcat is on par with my GPA and prior standardized tests (which were all >93percentile), am I still looking at little med school love, even from mid tier schools?

about the interaction with patients... couldn't I have realized what medicine is like and gotten some patient interaction through shadowing? I feel like I've had a few eye opening moments! Might not volunteering a couple 100 hours at the hospital pale in comparison to those moments? At least at the hospital near my school, it seems to be more about getting something to put on paper than actual valuable moments. I went through the training and it was nothing more than running papers from one room to the other and changing bed sheets, which is why I decided it wasn't worth my time.

Can I ask what you did in those gap years? If I'm going to effectively have 2 gap years, I want to do something substantial! And so I'm back to question A, which is how to get clinical experience. changing bed sheets seriously does not seem the solution.

It does tend to be lethal. Schools want to see you know what you're getting into as far as working with patients. How do you know you want to spend the rest of your life around patients if you haven't yet? As @Goro would say, "would you buy a car without test driving it first?"

Lacking nonclinical volunteering is problematic as well... They like to see altruistic applicants who have a genuine interest in helping people in many ways. My nonclinical volunteering was the focus of most of my interviews last year.

EDIT: Leadership is great to have, btw. I also had 3 gap years between UG and starting med school.

 

[ciestar]

lethal for t20 med schools or lethal in general? I know it's hard to predict w/o an mcat, but assuming my mcat is on par with my GPA and prior standardized tests (which were all >93percentile), am I still looking at little med school love, even from mid tier schools?

about the interaction with patients... couldn't I have realized what medicine is like and gotten some patient interaction through shadowing? I feel like I've had a few eye opening moments! Might not volunteering a couple 100 hours at the hospital pale in comparison to those moments? At least at the hospital near my school, it seems to be more about getting something to put on paper than actual valuable moments. I went through the training and it was nothing more than running papers from one room to the other and changing bed sheets, which is why I decided it wasn't worth my time.

Can I ask what you did in those gap years? If I'm going to effectively have 2 gap years, I want to do something substantial! And so I'm back to question A, which is how to get clinical experience. changing bed sheets seriously does not seem the solution.

Lethal in general, as many adcoms here will tell you that an application with zero clinical experience is dead in the water. They want to see people who are more than just academics. Just because a school is "low tier" doesn't mean they don't have their own standards, which I recommend looking into. Some schools have minimum nonclinical volunteering hours, actually. I also had some eye opening experiences while shadowing (which, really helped tell me that this was the career I wanted, but patient interaction told me more of the why outside of what a physician actually does), but no, you generally need more than just shadowing to have a successful application. While shadowing, you're there for you, not the patient and the interaction with patients in more on the physician. Volunteering shows your altruistic side, that you can be selfless and do things for other people. You're there to help another person and learn to be around and interact with sick people.

I had a unique situation as I was a nursing major before switching to bio, so I had hundreds of clinical hours because of that when I applied. However, I would have probably volunteered at a nursing home, hospice, or VA hospital for clinical experience, as this is more actual patient interaction and you spend time with these patients, rather than be a gopher for staff. I worked in a pharmacy for three years during my gap years (gaining like 4000+ hours along the way), as I needed an income. I also gained hundreds of nonclinical volunteering hours when I wasn't working and it was rewarding and well worth it for me. I still continue this as I am close to home at the school I am at. I also did some additional shadowing while gaining leadership experiences as well.

 

[raiderette]

Check free clinics, blood donation sites, hospital, nursing home and hospice. I did a lot with Planned Parenthood as well. I scribed for a free clinic during junior and senior years. Try to get time in now rather than waiting in summer.

 

[Sardinia]

@ladymiresa The easiest way to initiate getting clinical exposure is to look for CNA positions within your local area. Certified nursing assistants often allow you to start as nursing assistants at locations that are desperate for helping hands (almost all of them) due to the high turnover rate. In this job you will feed, clean, and move patients on a constant basis. They will have issues ranging from motor neuron disease to gastroenterological (G-tube) to respiratory (Trach tube) to psychiatric conditions (Alzheimer wards are common in these areas). These experiences will show you how different it is to perform even basic tasks from one patient to the next.

There are many different places to work as a CNA with some subdivisions as follows: LTC (long term care), assisted living, adult daycare, rehabilitation facilities, or some combination of the aforementioned. Many places will subsidize your certification class which is why they are willing to hire you with no experience. Some of these places are so desperate they will allow you to work as often to as little as possible. I honestly suggest that you schedule yourself for alternating days off because the physical stress to get accustomed to the job in the beginning can be a shock for most people when they start their orientation.

If you have any questions about job hunting then feel free to field me a PM.

 

[ladymiresa]

Okay, guys. I really appreciate all your responses. I've spent the past few days thinking over about a million different paths for me ...and it's honestly exhausting/the worst winter break ever!

Anyway, here's what I'm thinking. I'll graduate in May 2017, while volunteering at the hospice in my college. I've already begun the application process here and think that in addition to my 18 hour course load I can get about 50 hours before the end of the semester.

Then I'd move home for the summer and possibly work but spend a good chunk of time studying for the MCAT, which I'd probably take in July or August. Obviously I don't know exactly what this "work" will be because I haven't been offered a job... but I'd hunt for something definitely clinical related. From my initial browsing, I've seen a few "clinical research assistant" positions at a respectable med school in town, and I have some research experience so that might be a good fit. Also, I'm really interested in working for this healthcare organization that offers services related to mental health and drug abuse/addiction (my interest in helping people like this is one of the reasons I took a psych major and wanted to become a doctor)... but I'm unsure if this is technically clinical work. Anyone know if it is?

If none of the above works out, I think I'd start training as a scribe since I had a friend that did this and really loved it.

So I'd spend pretty much aug- june working and volunteering at the local hospice. Someone mentioned Planned Parenthood, as well, and I can definitely see myself there. I'd apply to to med school in June and either keep working or maybe apply for the Americorps (not with the intention to boost my application, I've just looked into that program before and find it very interesting).

Anyway, I'd really appreciate some feedback on this. I need some validation because my initial "plan" of applying in the 2017 cycle has completely changed because of this thread (my parents are pissed!) and I just want to make sure that what I'm doing is best for my future career and also for me. One of my biggest concerns (and it's hard to tell when I'm passing over the neurotic line) is that it will appear to adcoms that I've just shoved all this stuff like volunteering and clinical exposure into a short 18 months with the sole intention of becoming a better applicant. And hell, that might be completely true! Why didn't I have these kind of experiences in college, you know? To which all I can do is shrug and use my GPA and campus involvement as a poor defense.

Oh, one more thing. For the altruistic volunteering... I realize that having non-clinical volunteering is important, but should I be searching for entirely non-medical? I've worked some at a soup kitchen and wouldn't mind doing more work like that, but I've found my experiences with Special Olympics and children's cancer camps much more meaningful. Why do I feel like I just have to check off a list of SDN items, ugh...

Again, everyone's responses were and are really appreciated. /long post

 

[Dr.Sticks]

Okay, guys. I really appreciate all your responses. I've spent the past few days thinking over about a million different paths for me ...and it's honestly exhausting/the worst winter break ever!

Anyway, here's what I'm thinking. I'll graduate in May 2017, while volunteering at the hospice in my college. I've already begun the application process here and think that in addition to my 18 hour course load I can get about 50 hours before the end of the semester.

Then I'd move home for the summer and possibly work but spend a good chunk of time studying for the MCAT, which I'd probably take in July or August. Obviously I don't know exactly what this "work" will be because I haven't been offered a job... but I'd hunt for something definitely clinical related. From my initial browsing, I've seen a few "clinical research assistant" positions at a respectable med school in town, and I have some research experience so that might be a good fit. Also, I'm really interested in working for this healthcare organization that offers services related to mental health and drug abuse/addiction (my interest in helping people like this is one of the reasons I took a psych major and wanted to become a doctor)... but I'm unsure if this is technically clinical work. Anyone know if it is?

If none of the above works out, I think I'd start training as a scribe since I had a friend that did this and really loved it.

So I'd spend pretty much aug- june working and volunteering at the local hospice. Someone mentioned Planned Parenthood, as well, and I can definitely see myself there. I'd apply to to med school in June and either keep working or maybe apply for the Americorps (not with the intention to boost my application, I've just looked into that program before and find it very interesting).

Anyway, I'd really appreciate some feedback on this. I need some validation because my initial "plan" of applying in the 2017 cycle has completely changed because of this thread (my parents are pissed!) and I just want to make sure that what I'm doing is best for my future career and also for me. One of my biggest concerns (and it's hard to tell when I'm passing over the neurotic line) is that it will appear to adcoms that I've just shoved all this stuff like volunteering and clinical exposure into a short 18 months with the sole intention of becoming a better applicant. And hell, that might be completely true! Why didn't I have these kind of experiences in college, you know? To which all I can do is shrug and use my GPA and campus involvement as a poor defense.

Oh, one more thing. For the altruistic volunteering... I realize that having non-clinical volunteering is important, but should I be searching for entirely non-medical? I've worked some at a soup kitchen and wouldn't mind doing more work like that, but I've found my experiences with Special Olympics and children's cancer camps much more meaningful. Why do I feel like I just have to check off a list of SDN items, ugh...

Again, everyone's responses were and are really appreciated. /long post

Sounds like a good plan; Also having volunteering in both is a good idea but it is okay to have more of one and less of the other.
As for your parents being upset I guess they don't get it.
It seems a lot of parents and people in general do not understand what it takes to get into medical school.
Most people I know think all you need is good grades and you can go wherever..
If it was only that simple!!!!

 

[candbgirl]

Do what makes you happy. Special Olympics, kids camps etc are fine. When are you applying? June 2017 or June 2018. I hope it's 2018. You only want to do it once with the best possible application possible. You have too many things swirling around to even attempt to do an application including the MCAT during the summer. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[ladymiresa]

Do what makes you happy. Special Olympics, kids camps etc are fine. When are you applying? June 2017 or June 2018. I hope it's 2018. You only want to do it once with the best possible application possible. You have too many things swirling around to even attempt to do an application including the MCAT during the summer. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

When I started this thread, I had the intention to apply June 2017 and graduate in Dec 2017.. Based on my most recent post, I have the intention to grad this semester and spend a year working in the health field and volunteering my time before applying in 2018. It's a pretty radical change and I honestly don't want to leave school but I think in the long run this might be best. And it'll save me a semester's of tuition and get me into the workforce where I can save up!

Sounds like a good plan; Also having volunteering in both is a good idea but it is okay to have more of one and less of the other.
As for your parents being upset I guess they don't get it.
It seems a lot of parents and people in general do not understand what it takes to get into medical school.
Most people I know think all you need is good grades and you can go wherever..
If it was only that simple!!!!

So it doesn't come off as if I'm shoving as much pre-med cookie cutter stuff as I can into the year prior to my app? lol

 

[Dr.Sticks]

When I started this thread, I had the intention to apply June 2017 and graduate in Dec 2017.. Based on my most recent post, I have the intention to grad this semester and spend a year working in the health field and volunteering my time before applying in 2018. It's a pretty radical change and I honestly don't want to leave school but I think in the long run this might be best. And it'll save me a semester's of tuition and get me into the workforce where I can save up!



So it doesn't come off as if I'm shoving as much pre-med cookie cutter stuff as I can into the year prior to my app? lol

If it is consistent and you do it over time
No

 

[greenturtle22]

Don't really have any additional advice, but I just wanted to say I'm proud of you for listening to the sage advice that everyone here gave you and taking the time to improve/round out your app! It would be a shame to throw away that GPA. With your new plan, I think you'll be set for success in the 2018-19 application cycle.

 

[ladymiresa]

Okay guys, I'm dragging this thread back to life because it's been a year since I first posted, and I wanted to update.. As a direct result of this thread, I decided to graduate college earlier than expected and take a gap year (2, technically), so I felt I owed it to come back.

After graduating in May, I spent my whole summer studying for the MCAT and volunteering as a victim advocate with a local agency. Both of those endeavors have gone really well... I got a 521 on the test (!) and have accumulated a couple hundred hours of meaningful (to me, at least) volunteering with low-income individuals dealing with crisis that need counseling, health insurance, and flat-out help. I've also been volunteering with hospice, but have probably only gotten about ~50hrs total. Even though that sounds really low in my mind, I think it's been quality time and have enjoyed every minute with the patients. And lastly, in August, I started a full time job as a patient tech in a psych treatment center so even though it isn't volunteering and it isn't in a hospital, I finally feel like I've got some solid clinical exposure. Hooray! Plus, I love the population I'm working with.

Some things I intend to do or keep doing before I submit my application: Continue to volunteer as a victim advocate, perhaps extend this role into becoming a sexual assault victim advocate in the hospital ED, and continue with hospice. I hope to maybe take on a leadership role with hospice or something; I'm afraid of being stagnant and I really miss doing "leadership" type things in undergrad. I want to increase my shadowing over the next couple months, and I want to especially shadow a primary care doctor since I haven't done this at all. As far as my job, I hope to keep working at the treatment center but I also feel compelled to join Americorps. My parents don't want me to join, though, because Americorps doesn't pay well and because they think it looks flaky to quit a job after less than a year (and considering my current job is my main clinical exposure, perhaps they're right haha). So who knows how that will fan out.

Some other random thoughts: I feel like my research experiences are long behind me (only did 2 summer internships, summer after sophomore and junior year). Sometimes I feel like I need to try to join a local lab just to prove that I'm interested in science and academia, and also because I feel like it's an expectation of top tier schools to have published in Cell half a dozen times before matriculation (okay okay, I kid, but not really)... but frankly, I can't imagine finding time for that without cutting something else, and I'm enjoying everything else I'm doing.

My greatest concern is that I waited to do all this volunteering/clinical exposure until after I graduated college, and that these recent experiences --though impactful on me-- will be viewed as lesser because they've been squeezed into the 12 months before I submitted my application. Alas, this is the bed I made for myself and all I can do is try to get comfy! Other concerns include not being well rounded enough; for example, almost all of my non-clinical volunteering is as an advocate and even though I've become really passionate about this kind of work, I wonder if I need to step back a bit to try to get other non-clinical experiences, too. I guess that's partly where my motivation for Americorps come in, but if I wait to serve until the fall (like my parents want), I fear I won't be able to include it on my application.

ANYWAY I've basically treated this post as my own personal diary, so sorry about that. I'd be surprised if anyone actually read this far.. which is fine, I guess, because it's mainly for myself. But hey, if anyone did read, plz let me know what you think/have any advice/any glaring weaknesses. I've been known to take the life advice of total strangers on the internet before. Guess I'll be back in a year to let y'all know if I got in anywhere!

 

[calivianya]

I think you took the time to make your application perfect. I will be surprised if you don't have a ridiculously successful cycle next year.

Just make sure you apply early!