Major Primary Application omission, update??? HELPP

[fredsaget69]

After submitting my primary application and completing all of my secondaries, I found out that one of my past work experiences would definitely count toward clinical volunteer hours. As of right now I have none listed and I've been told that this could significantly affect my apps. Should I update each individual school about this omission and explain my work, and if so how do I go about doing so without looking like a complete idiot? Hardcore stressing about potentially wasting this cycle because of a dumb error so I'd greatly appreciate any input!

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[Engrailed]

After submitting my primary application and completing all of my secondaries, I found out that one of my past work experiences would definitely count toward clinical volunteer hours. As of right now I have none listed and I've been told that this could significantly affect my apps. Should I update each individual school about this omission and explain my work, and if so how do I go about doing so without looking like a complete idiot? Hardcore stressing about potentially wasting this cycle because of a dumb error so I'd greatly appreciate any input!

@Catalystik

IMO, I think it's worth updating schools as some schools filter for candidates with clinical exp. Major omission i think

 

[Catalystik]

After submitting my primary application and completing all of my secondaries, I found out that one of my past work experiences would definitely count toward clinical volunteer hours. As of right now I have none listed and I've been told that this could significantly affect my apps. Should I update each individual school about this omission and explain my work, and if so how do I go about doing so without looking like a complete idiot? Hardcore stressing about potentially wasting this cycle because of a dumb error so I'd greatly appreciate any input!

-What is the work experience you belatedly discovered "counts" as clinical activity?

 

[fredsaget69]

What is the work experience you belatedly discovered "counts" as clinical activity?
I

Worked as a secretary for a physician in my family during high school. I filled up my experiences section with shadowing, many nonclinical volunteering experiences, and other extracurriculars. I have A LOT of family in medicine, and my advisor told me that exposure would be enough for schools to see that I know what I'm getting into. I've only recently discovered these forums and the r/premed sub and am now realizing this is a pretty big issue with schools "screening."

 

[Catalystik]

Worked as a secretary for a physician in my family during high school. I filled up my experiences section with shadowing, many nonclinical volunteering experiences, and other extracurriculars. I have A LOT of family in medicine, and my advisor told me that exposure would be enough for schools to see that I know what I'm getting into. I've only recently discovered these forums and the r/premed sub and am now realizing this is a pretty big issue with schools "screening."

-Was it on the application, but mislabeled?
-If it's on the application, from the activity description could a reader determine that it was clinical in nature?
-In what way did you interact with patients?

 

[fredsaget69]

-Was it on the application, but mislabeled?
-If it's on the application, from the activity description could a reader determine that it was clinical in nature?
-In what way did you interact with patients?

- No 🙁
- No 🙁
- met with and directed patients to providers, handled insurance information, scheduled appointments, etc.

 

[Catalystik]

I suggest you Email each school with a short blurb, like this:

"Due to my error, I omitted an Employment-Medical/Clinical Activity I consider essential to my application.
-[inclusive dates] [total hour estimate] Medical Office Secretary at [Name of Practice] Contact: [name of physician, office manager, or nurse who can attest to your hours, email address or phone number]
- Duties: met with and directed patients to providers, handled insurance information, scheduled appointments, etc.

I apologize for my mistake of and any inconvenience it may cause. Please add this information to my file."

Don't forget to include your AMCAS number. Please realize that activities from high school are not generally included on a med school application. For the sake of update letters (where allowed), and interview conversations, and against the possibility that you may need to reapply regardless of this added information, start ASAP in a clinical volunteer position and start accumulating hours.

 

[diasterdream]

To echo @Catalystik, I don't think this update is going to do much. In fact, it may come off as grasping at straws. Your advisor led you astray. You should also include the clinical volunteering you are starting (T minus yesterday) on your update email. I hope the cycle goes well for you.

 

[Talldoctor96]

1) that realllllly does not sound like clinical work. Clinical aka caring for people/patients.

2) Med schools do not care what you did in high school.... updating them with something from high school is a big no no

 

[candbgirl]

So you haven’t done anything clinical since high school? That’s along time ago. Why would you even apply without clinical experience? That’s the big question. I’m not sure that suddenly throwing in high school volunteering will help you at all.

I’m not sure you would fall into this because it was a big omission from your primary, but some schools don’t accept updates. I’m not sure what your situation is considered .

I hope you are working on filling this hole in your application with current clinical experience. Do you have physician shadowing(different than clinical experience). I see you are very new here. Spend some time reading the threads. General consensus is that premed advisors aren’t usually the most knowledgeable people when it comes to application questions.

 

[premed20172017]

Unless it's something you continued in college, isn't hs too far away?

 

[Engrailed]

Worked as a secretary for a physician in my family during high school. I filled up my experiences section with shadowing, many nonclinical volunteering experiences, and other extracurriculars. I have A LOT of family in medicine, and my advisor told me that exposure would be enough for schools to see that I know what I'm getting into. I've only recently discovered these forums and the r/premed sub and am now realizing this is a pretty big issue with schools "screening."

To echo what others have said, high school does not count. Clinical experience for AMCAS is only relevant if it was done in college.
The exception would be if you started it in high school and continued that same role thru college.
Im also confused how one could apply to med school without knowing the basic EC requirement that is.. clinical and/or shadowing.