Name Your Top 4 Most Meaningful Experiences as a Pre-Med

[akademiks1989]

Would be great to see diversity in experiences of our fellow cohorts 😀

List your top 4, in order, and briefly explain why (including any non-medical insight you gained).

1. Patient Transporter: loved this job. I learned about every part of the hospital, got direct patient contact (CPR, ICU, ER, etc), learned about how silly unions can be in the healthcare setting, and got to assist in the morgue on a weekly basis. I also communicated with each member of the healthcare team, including police officers and EMTs.
2. Clinical Research Coordinator: communication with PIs, research staff, pharm companies, IRB and gained a strong knowledge of radiation oncology since I was managing 60 studies concurrently between 5 radiation oncologists of different subspecialities (prostate, breast, head & neck, etc). My only professional job, so I learned how to write really convincing cover letters explaining how amazing I was when I actually wasn't.
3. Cancer Center Volunteer: loved helping patients when they were frightened at their newly diagnosed disease, and made a lot of great connections inside the hospital as well as at charity events. Loved the perks at the charity events, including being able to enjoy an event that had a $565/ticket price tag.
4. Pharmacy Technician: this was hilarious and comical at how annoying people in a retail pharmacy can be. I hated a lot of my customers with a passion, but the second I gained more experience, I realized why patients can be so irritated and upset when picking up medication. I loved hanging out with the non-pharmacy staff who had been working there for 15+ years.

{note: I graduated with my B.S. in 2010 so I had some time to get some experiences that many traditional pre-meds are unable to get)

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Bookish]

I'm fairly new in my premed journey, but here goes:

1) Hospital internship program- I'm only in my third week, but it's been amazing. I've met so many great people, talked to patients, and learned so much about the inner workings of healthcare that it makes me dizzy. Also, I know a lot more acronyms now than I did before!

2) Orangutan research- I do behavior research on the orangutans at my local zoo. They are beautiful creatures and I feel like I have gotten to know them very well. It's amazing how much animals can teach you about humans.

3) ER Volunteering- Most of the time I just stood around with nothing to do, but every so often I would meet a great patient. It's those little sparks that make all the tedious hours worth something.

4) Having surgery- being on the patient side really puts it into perspective.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

I thought there were only 3 to list on AMCAS

1. shadowing- showed me the interpersonal demands of the profession and provided me with an appreciation for the true reason for pursuing medicine - to heal others.

2. bodybuilding - chose this for personal reason. Even though it seems superficial, it is the single most important activity that has shaped my discipline/commitment/ and hunger for success more than anything else. Its about the constant drive to be better than I was the day before, which I apply to other parts of my life, including academics and medicine.

3. clinical research - revealed a very interesting area of medicine. Interaction with pharm companies, doing procedures, vitals, and interacting with patients showed the day to day activities to ensure I knew what I was getting into and the business aspect of running a practice.

 

[bandgeek0295]

A relatively new pre-med, I have one to date: volunteering in autopsy

Originally, I was supposed to be in the path labs, but there were no spots left, so I got sent down to the basement to work the morgue and autopsy service. I got to do little things like hold a tray while the organ block was removed, bring placentas to the path lab, and set up tools and formaldehyde for autopsies. And of course various morgue duties: releasing bodies, preparing viewings, etc. And in retrospect, I'm glad I did. In a busy academic hospital, I had the chance to participate in many autopsies, but my most profound experiences occurred in the morgue. I gained a new appreciation for life, a sensitivity towards others, and some kind of shift in my world view that I can't quite explain yet, but I definitely left two summers working in the morgue as a different person.

 

[The Buff OP]

I thought there were only 3 to list on AMCAS

1. shadowing- showed me the interpersonal demands of the profession and provided me with an appreciation for the true reason for pursuing medicine - to heal others.

2. bodybuilding - chose this for personal reason. Even though it seems superficial, it is the single most important activity that has shaped my discipline/commitment/ and hunger for success more than anything else. Its about the constant drive to be better than I was the day before, which I apply to other parts of my life, including academics and medicine.

3. clinical research - revealed a very interesting area of medicine. Interaction with pharm companies, doing procedures, vitals, and interacting with patients showed the day to day activities to ensure I knew what I was getting into and the business aspect of running a practice.

Amen, brotha! 👍

 

[The Buff OP]

So far I have a couple of these, they could change through out the years since I'm not applying anytime soon to medical school. (I will be a non-trad)

1. Clinical Volunteering I have volunteer for my local hospital's annual giant event where they conduct student physicals for those who don't have insurance. This year we saw around 1200 students (ages from 12-17 I believe) and out of those numbers 220 students had to see a specialist (something wrong was found). This year I conducted vision exams on the kids and I had couple of people who didn't know they needed glasses, thus I feel like I help them in a way.

2. Don't inform your professors you are a pre-med! My intro biology professor knew I was a pre-med and she went hard on me and other pre-med's. 👎

3. There is some doc's out there who don't really care. I will try my best to give my full attention to patients and actually listen to them. I hope not to make them feel dumb.

4. Bodybuilding As my friend Gandalf said, (bro, what's your real name?) bodybuilding has help me be doer, work hard, and be committed. Discipline etc..... 👍