My situation

[flightguy]

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Here's a quick question. Obviously a non-traditional student. I have an advanced science degree, and don't think I'll have any problem with the BS or PS portion of the MCAT (VR is a different story, and am working on it).

My issue will be the healthcare experience. I worked in a hospital for a year or so. In the OR, doing patient transport, OR cleaning, that kind of stuff. I know that it is a good thing. The bad part, is that it was when I was in undergrad, in 96-97. The last two years, I've been working in clinical chemistry, but have had no patient interaction in it.

Is that experience 10+ years ago going to be considered expired? Will it still be useful? Or will I need to get additional experience (which will be difficult with a wife, 3 kids, a full time job and a serious medical issue in the family, which precipitated my drive for med school)?

 

[DitchDoc73]

Experience is a good thing, but not an absolute requirement...That being said your clinical experience is old, and it would be beneficial to show some recent clinical experience. Have you sahdowed a physician yet? If not, this may be a good way for you to kill two birds with one stone. Many schools require some shadow experience with a physician, and you can use this to show some recent clinical experience... Also since you stated that a significant illness peaked your interest in medicine, you can use that to your advantage in interviews. That is another type of clinical experience that many applicants do not possess. It may help to set you apart! Best of luck!

 

[seelee]

In your case, your clinical experience does not have to be substantial. Can you get 20-40 hours in before you apply? Get a variety of shadowing, volunteer (nursing homes and hospice care are great), and even paid (if possible).

When shadowing, I did almost all my shadowing (5 hours every friday for 5 months) with one doctor. If I had it to do over again, I would have not spent more than a shift or two with any one doctor. I would instead have tried to shadow many doctors from many different specialties, that way I could talk more knowledgeably about the different specialties when asked about my field of interest during interviews.

When you apply, be sure to paint your lack of hours in a positive light. Being married with kids, and a health issue will give you a pass in the eyes of most AdComs, just be sure to state that that is the reason for your lack of experience.

Good luck.

 

[Petypet]

If you live in or around a major city there should be many hospitals, most of which need volunteers (excluding ones that are associated directly with a large undergrad university). Get your self in the door by volunteering and meet nice doctors through that experience that you can shadow or ask if they know other attendings that you can shadow (volunteering forms are usually online). Volunteer for 2-4 hours per weekend, and in now time you will meet some suitable people to shadow. Being a PhD student myself, I am allotting 2-3 hours/day mcat, 5-6 hours volunteering on the weekend, and the rest is for family/work.