Job as unit clerk worth it?

[pstrick]

Would working as a unit clerk on a floor in a hospital be a helpful thing to have on an application?

After what Goro et al have said about working as an EMT, I don't want to waste my time with a job that ultimately won't make my application any stronger.

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[AlteredScale]

Would working as a unit clerk on a floor in a hospital be a helpful thing to have on an application?

After what Goro et al have said about working as an EMT, I don't want to waste my time with a job that ultimately won't make my application any stronger.

It's a good clinical experience. It's not going to be the thing to make adcoms state "holy moly with those hundreds of hours working as a unit clerk, we have to accept them". There's a lot more that comes into play wen it comes to admitting a student.

 

[kamakazi5]

Why not do a quick CNA course and get a job as a PCT? I doubt it will really "elevate" my application much but it's been a great experience in terms of seeing if I really want to get into medicine. I think patient contact is great as long as you work in a hospital setting.

 

[mathnerd88]

I'm going to be honest with you. What makes your application strong is GPA/MCAT first, then your EC's/Volunteer/Healthcare experience. If you have enough EC's, then focus on your GPA and/or MCAT.

Also, don't worry about job titles as much as the actual experience you can get out of them. If you can talk about them in your interview and tie it into wanting to become a physician, you're golden.

 

[xstetsonx]

Why not do a quick CNA course and get a job as a PCT?

Or you can be a scribe. You can develop a relationship with doctors that can potentially give you a well written recommendation letter. In addition, it gives you a better insight in medicine.

 

[pstrick]

Hmm.
The reason I started looking into this job is because it is weekends only.

I have one semester until I graduate, at which point I plan on applying to med school.
Might as well take this job to make some money during the cycle/gap year. I can always quit.

I guess it's not going to move my application to the top of the pile, but it might be another positive on what I believe is an otherwise well rounded app.

 

[pstrick]

I guess the question I have now is about volunteering.

I have another job and don't need the money from the clerk job. Would it be better to not take the job and continue to volunteer at the hospital so that I could have more volunteer hours at a single place, or would be equally as beneficial to take this job and pick up a different clinical volunteering gig?