Lab heavy resume? Also, hi :)

[littlebird03]

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Hi all!

I'm new here. I just finished up my freshman year at a top 20 school doing the pre-med requirements with a 3.9 GPA. I'm happy with my grades and how I've been doing so far (even though I obviously have no clue how I'll do on the MCAT yet), but I'm worried about my EC's. Everything on my resume seems too lab based, and I'm worried about finding clinical opportunities that will accept me with my pretty much nonexistent background.

So far, I have hospital laboratory volunteer experience from high school in the hematology/chemistry labs, and I'm returning to that same hospital this summer to do part time microbiology and part time immunology. During the year, I am a research assistant in a cancer lab, but I haven't quite gotten to do my own research projects yet. My university offers plenty of opportunities, and I'm close with some of the professors that run large labs with tons of undergrad students, so I'm not too worried about the getting the research/heavy science part of my resume done.

That being said, I tried to apply to roughly 8 hospitals' volunteer services and emailed 7 alum physicians that graduated from my school to try and get some clinical experience, but no dice. I'm worried that my resume does not demonstrably show enough people skills to get the clinical opportunities I need for med school apps, and I don't quite know how to make that transition.

TL;DR: How can I find clinical opportunities even though my resume skews too harshly to lab positions? Are medical schools going to be upset that my resume is too lab-based rather than people based?

P.S. - I've been lurking on these forums all year, and only now that finals are done I've had the time to join in. I'm happy to finally post in such a lovely community! 🙂

 

[eteshoe]

Relax - you just finished your first year. So far you're doing things right by keeping up your GPA. If you like research, that's not really a bad thing. If you can't get an opportunity to start volunteering during the summer, you could try to volunteer during weekends when the school year starts, especially if your school has a med school attached. At this point I can't really say if your resume is too lab heavy since I'm not sure how much research you had gotten done during your time in high school.

 

[bananafish94]

You have plenty of time to get clinical experience. I'm surprised you've had so little success after applying to eight hospitals for volunteer work...where I live it's basically a sure thing!

 

[Catalystik]

How can I find clinical opportunities

Think outside the box and look beyond hospitals. Consider Physical Therapy Assistant, hospice, skilled-level nursing home, free-standing Surgi-Center, inpatient dementia unit, volunteering at your own doc's office over the summer in exchange for shadowing opportunities.

Really, there's no rush on shadowing just now. You will meet docs during your clinical experiences that you can hit on to shadow. And that can wait unti the year before you apply.

 

[MaxPlancker]

Hi all!

I'm new here. I just finished up my freshman year at a top 20 school doing the pre-med requirements with a 3.9 GPA. I'm happy with my grades and how I've been doing so far (even though I obviously have no clue how I'll do on the MCAT yet), but I'm worried about my EC's. Everything on my resume seems too lab based, and I'm worried about finding clinical opportunities that will accept me with my pretty much nonexistent background.

1) At this point, nobody cares that you're from a top 20 school.
2) Pretty much everyone finds some clinical opportunity with no prior experience. You just have to look hard enough around you. Try the hospice, nursing homes, maybe even shelters, local/community hospitals, etc. Most top 20 schools are in areas with a pretty good amount of resources.

So far, I have hospital laboratory volunteer experience from high school in the hematology/chemistry labs, and I'm returning to that same hospital this summer to do part time microbiology and part time immunology. During the year, I am a research assistant in a cancer lab, but I haven't quite gotten to do my own research projects yet. My university offers plenty of opportunities, and I'm close with some of the professors that run large labs with tons of undergrad students, so I'm not too worried about the getting the research/heavy science part of my resume done.

3) No offence, but it really sounds like you have a checkbox mentality. Do research and lab work if you want to test the waters or if you enjoy it. Don't do it to get that "part…done." You are much less likely to get anything meaningful if you spread yourself thin over tons of experiences without dedication and passion.

That being said, I tried to apply to roughly 8 hospitals' volunteer services and emailed 7 alum physicians that graduated from my school to try and get some clinical experience, but no dice. I'm worried that my resume does not demonstrably show enough people skills to get the clinical opportunities I need for med school apps, and I don't quite know how to make that transition.

TL;DR: How can I find clinical opportunities even though my resume skews too harshly to lab positions? Are medical schools going to be upset that my resume is too lab-based rather than people based?

P.S. - I've been lurking on these forums all year, and only now that finals are done I've had the time to join in. I'm happy to finally post in such a lovely community! 🙂

4) Clinical opportunities are not just from volunteering. Shadowing gives you clinical insight. Working a clinical job like scribe, CNA, etc also give you clinical experience. Clinical volunteering is NOT better than nonclinical volunteering. Schools "want" to see volunteering regardless of type to affirm your altruism and dedication to your community. Clinical volunteering simply gives you the "bonus" of clinical experience while volunteering.
5) Google is your best friend.
6)It doesn't sound like your experience is "too lab-based" from your post here.

 

[timetraveling]

Hi all!

I'm new here. I just finished up my freshman year at a top 20 school doing the pre-med requirements with a 3.9 GPA.

Ooooooooooh God.

 

[Goro]

Add Planned Parenthood, camps for sick/disabled kids, or crisis hotlines.

Think outside the box and look beyond hospitals. Consider Physical Therapy Assistant, hospice, skilled-level nursing home, free-standing Surgi-Center, inpatient dementia unit, volunteering at your own doc's office over the summer in exchange for shadowing opportunities.

Really, there's no rush on shadowing just now. You will meet docs during your clinical experiences that you can hit on to shadow. And that can wait unti the year before you apply.