•••quote:•••Originally posted by 2NT:
I don't think the certificate by itself will be any significant help.
What's gonna help you is your work experience as a nurse's aid. I really believe medical schools really look highly of applicant with quality patient contact experience such as working as a nurse's aide. Not only would the experience confirm your desire to be a physician, but it would also give you a realistic view of what physicians actually do and make you comfortable interacting with patients.
-2NT[/QB]••••I agree 2NT, it isn't so much the type of work that you do.... volunteering, clinic assistant, EMT, etc etc... there are a million different opportunities to work in several different roles, what is most important is the patient contact and becoming familiar with a clinical setting (it shows that you are compassionate -by helping others, since that is what docs are supposed to do.. right?- and that you know what you are getting yourself into... you may think that you know what it would be like to practice as a physician and work with sick, injured, or dying people... but thinking you know and actually being exposed to it are entirely different worlds.) If you like doing the NA thing, then go for it, but don't do it just for the sake of having something that you think will look good on your app, or you may not enjoy the experience.
Good luck!