NU post-bacc + EMT training = too much?

[MiaBia]

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Typical paranoid career-change pre-med student. I'm enrolled in Northwestern's post-bacc program for this fall. Taking Orgo, Physics and Bio (already took GenChem in undergrad). *Hopefully* volunteering at Community Health starting soon.

Question is, do I want to tack on an EMT course at my local community college on top of that? I would only be taking all 4 classes for a quarter, which is what you normally take at NU anyway, though it's not usually all hard science classes.

It would greatly improve my skills for working in the free clinic, as well as giving me an option for work during my glide year in an area I'm actually interested in. Plus, I want to start this stuff already!!

But is it overkill? 😱

 

[mspeedwagon]

Overkill. Physics, Bio and O-chem is an insane schedule as it is. Focus on getting As in those classes. In the long-run and EMT certificate won't help you (especially not relative to acing your classes).

 

[katiemaude]

I went to NU undergrad and I'm doing my own informal postbacc at a community college now. I'm taking Ochem and physics this fall and microbio and everyone on here has strongly advised me to drop microbiology. I did biology and gen chem last year and took three hard sciences and one math in the spring while volunteering 8 hrs/week. It was tough. I can't imagine throwing an EMT program on top of it. Focus on your classes. I would be surprised if you find free time while taking those 3 classes and volunteering.

 

[brdmadgrl82]

I chose the Loyola post-bac over NU (mainly because Loyola med likes to take their own). I heard that the classes are on a quarter system at NU, and that it is not an easy program since you try to get through everything quickly.

I also heard that the grading is tough since the professors that teach undergrad sciences teach the post-bac evening classes as well and don't cut slack on the grading.

Focus on NU's program and get an awesome gpa and you will get in. I have a family friend who went through the program and his gpa was not as good as he had hoped...he ended up in carribean school but got residency here because his parents are physicians. Good luck with your studies!

 

[MiaBia]

I applied to both NU and Loyola too! But I went to NU for my undergrad with a degree in math, so I'm comfortable with the quarter system (which still works out to 30 weeks a year, the same as semesters) and love the school. It's tough, but I hope the medical admission committees will think so too.

I just figure that I don't need to start studying for my summer MCAT until February (earliest) anyway, so the EMT class would be done by then. And I honestly think it'd be fun, but I'm getting really mixed reviews on whether it'll help with med school or not.

By the way, where are you all volunteering/researching? How did you find your various jobs/experiences?

 

[PMA]

I agree with the general consensus, don't do the EMT. While the EMT class wont be really hard work, it will be time consuming. I got my EMT-B a couple years ago, and it is quite the commitment. Where I took it, you couldn't miss any classes (except for extreme cases, and even then you had to make it up somehow), and you had to get in eight 12 hr "ride alongs", and two 12 hour clinicals. Each state has different requirements, but I know that all want to get you a good amount of "hands on" experience. I took it as a 4 month night class, 3 nights a week for 3-4 hours a night. The "hands on" stuff is in addition to regular class hours. As far as helping with skills to use at the free clinic, that may or may not be true. It has been my experience that while they are glad to see I am an EMT, it doesn't really effect what I am allowed to do at my volunteer gigs...

Lastly, if you go the EMT route just for your app, and you don't actually practice as an EMT for any amount of time, it will most likely not help you at all in the application process.

Just work extra hard on the sciences, get A's, and volunteer in your free time. You'll be surprised at how little free time you will actually have with all those sciences, especially if they include labs...

 

[brdmadgrl82]

I applied to both NU and Loyola too! But I went to NU for my undergrad with a degree in math, so I'm comfortable with the quarter system (which still works out to 30 weeks a year, the same as semesters) and love the school. It's tough, but I hope the medical admission committees will think so too.

I just figure that I don't need to start studying for my summer MCAT until February (earliest) anyway, so the EMT class would be done by then. And I honestly think it'd be fun, but I'm getting really mixed reviews on whether it'll help with med school or not.

By the way, where are you all volunteering/researching? How did you find your various jobs/experiences?

It sounds to me like you are comfortable and have a good idea of what to expect from NU's program. I still think you should wait until your classes start, and if you want to do the emt why not wait until next quarter?

I got mixed reviews about the emt and have also thought about going this route. I decided to just focus on my post-bac and the volunteer I am already involved in.

To answer your question: I volunteer for local food drives, peds clinic, work with children (tutoring), worked at a mental health clinic because of my psych background.

Try to find something through NU...loyola always sends out volunteer opps via e-mail to the pre-meds.

Also, contact a hospital and volunteer there...it will be at least some patient contact, and you will meet physicians you can shadow (I plan to do this next semester as well, it was suggested to me by another med student).

 

[MiaBia]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I finally officially got the volunteer position at the clinic I was interested in. That was a major relief to me, so I didn't feel the added pressure of needing to take the EMT course as well anymore. My goal now is to just do really really well in my three classes and get as many volunteering hours in as possible during my free time (and do well on the MCAT of course!).

Thanks again!

 

[drimpossible]

A wise decision. As you'll likely experience, Orgo-Bio-Physics is quite the course load, and you might not have much free time for ECs. If you have some time later before applying, I recommend trying the EMT route. Training & Certification happens fairly quickly and the work itself can be tedious or extremely rewarding, depending on where you ride (urban vs. rural, transport vs. 911, paid vs. volunteer, etc.) It will also give you plenty of material to write about in your applications.

 

[CookDeRosa]

Typical paranoid career-change pre-med student. I'm enrolled in Northwestern's post-bacc program for this fall. Taking Orgo, Physics and Bio (already took GenChem in undergrad). *Hopefully* volunteering at Community Health starting soon.

Impressed.

 

[MiaBia]

Update #2:
Loved the NU program. And everyone was right that volunteering and taking a full load of science classes was plenty. Thanks again!

 

[EMTB2MD]

You might want to see if there is an accelerated EMT program in your area where you can get certified within one month before school starts. I did a 1 month accelerated program with classes daily (140+ hours + clinicals). The course is not very hard at all.

 

[Courtjester8]

I typically would never say something like this but unfortunately its true (and frightening): Aside from learning how to set up the oxygen tank, insert an OPA or NPA, and splint a broken femur, there's not too much to an EMT class. This is why you can be 16 years old and pull off becoming an EMT. It is not taxing at all. So if you feel comfortable with the rest of it, believe me when I say you will not be further taxed by taking an EMT class.

 

[Courtjester8]

Oh by the way, if you keep your nose in the books, orgo, bio, and physics in the same semester is VERY doable. Did the same myself and pulled a 4.0. The only time it gets bad is if you make the mistake of leaving your lab write ups to the last second. Have half of those things written before you even start the labs....at least that's how I felt about it. Oh and the best approach to orgo and physics is to memorize nothing, but understand everything. You'll end up saving yourself a lot of time and stress. I'm rooting for you buddy! Go get it!

 

[NightGod]

OP is almost certainly either in med school or moved on with his life at this point...