How to play up EMT experience during interview

[SteveNC]

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As a junior at duke i worked with my college squad about 12 hours a week. As a senior I started volunteering in an adjacent county as a volunteer about 15 hours per week (6pm-6am shifts), and continued to work with my college squad. I did that for about 14 months during school until I graduated in May of this year.

I then took a year off and have been working as a paid EMT with the county squad for about 3.5 months, working anywhere from 36-95 hours per week, 12 or 24 hour shifts.

My question is how to play up this experience during a med school interview (especially at UNC)?

I know why it has been beneficial to me as it is my passion, but I often can't think of the best way to express it. I'm afraid I'm going to overlook pointing out something about it that is particularly relevant to how I will do as a med student/future doc.

I dont know if im making sense but.... any advice?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Amy B]

Try answering questions to yourself. Write whatever comes to mind when you think of things like...........

The patients I worked with were_______________

Being an EMT was important to me because it gave me the chance to ______________________

While thinking back on my time as an EMT I will always remember __________________________

I was touched by ____________________________while working as an EMT.

While working as an EMT, saddened me when ___________________________________

Then take your answers and put them all together and you should be able to express your thoughts about your time as an EMT, which is a very important job.

 

[Optimist]

It's hard to top EMT experience, as far as med school is concerned. It shouldn't be hard to play up: it requires dedication, long hours, quick thinking skills, compassion, as well as a good number of skills necessary when practicing medicine, both emotional and technical. What else is there, really?

 

[PluckyDuk8]

I'm going to assume you are done with secondaries and are currently interviewing...

I got asked the question "Do you think your EMT experience will help you in medical school (or as a future physician/career in medicine- I don't remember exactly how it was worded)." You can think about that one.

If you mentioned it in a well written essay or personal statement your interviewer will most likely ask you a question about it- don't sound cheesy when answering though.

Plucky

 

[BigRedPingpong]

The AMCAS Application essay or any other application essay is a perfect opportunity to put an EMT experience in. I know at all the interviews I went to they asked about my EMT experiences that I mentioned in the Essay. Just my .02

Originally posted by SteveNC
As a junior at duke i worked with my college squad about 12 hours a week. As a senior I started volunteering in an adjacent county as a volunteer about 15 hours per week (6pm-6am shifts), and continued to work with my college squad. I did that for about 14 months during school until I graduated in May of this year.

I then took a year off and have been working as a paid EMT with the county squad for about 3.5 months, working anywhere from 36-95 hours per week, 12 or 24 hour shifts.

My question is how to play up this experience during a med school interview (especially at UNC)?

I know why it has been beneficial to me as it is my passion, but I often can't think of the best way to express it. I'm afraid I'm going to overlook pointing out something about it that is particularly relevant to how I will do as a med student/future doc.

I dont know if im making sense but.... any advice?

Thanks

Steve

 

[BklynWill]

I gave a lot of thought to the same topic as you before my interviews. After some deep thought I realized that I might be relying too heavily on my EMT experience as the "shoe-in" that would get me into medical school. Of course it had been an attractive accomplishment, but I decided the best way to present myself in an interview was as a well-rounded applicant with many different interests. Being an EMT is great, I love the job, but I don't think we're perceived as "mini doctors" by adcoms, and therefore we need some more substance in our files.
As far as bringing up EMT experience in the interview, I agree with others that you should write about two or three exceptional cases in your Personal Statement, and try to refer to your essay at the appropriate times.
Good luck!

 

[SteveLight]

One interviewer asked me to describe the two patients that had the greatest impact on me. After the thunderous "HIPPA" cloud cleared, I answered honestly. After that he asked, "So what is it like raising cattle on the farm?" He was a psychologist, so it was my "dreaded" interview, but it turned out to be one of my most enjoyable ones!