Optometry job on medical school application

[longhorn222]

Hi would working as a patient services position at an optometry clinic such as at the front desk help on medical school applications? I know that having medical/clinical work experience looks good but i'm not sure about other jobs in healthcare related fields whether they be in optometry,dental, nursing homes,etc. help. Would working in a optometry office and interacting with patients count as healthcare work and will it count the same as being a scribe,EMT,nursing assistant,etc.? Thanks!

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[tbonez71]

I cannot speak towards how the ADCOM will view it, but optometry was my first job in my gap year. It was a great experience and I got a ton of patient contact without the need for a MA cert. Then again, I was a tech and not front desk.

In your case it sounds like you would mostly be doing administrative work. Something like scribing or EMT would probably look better in that case, since you would be more involved with the work of actual treatment...

Why not hold out for a job you are actually excited for? These jobs are typically dead end and don't really have any upward movement. If you are just looking for experience, you could always volunteer on the side while having a better job than an entry-level med position.

 

[longhorn222]

I cannot speak towards how the ADCOM will view it, but optometry was my first job in my gap year. It was a great experience and I got a ton of patient contact without the need for a MA cert. Then again, I was a tech and not front desk.

In your case it sounds like you would mostly be doing administrative work. Something like scribing or EMT would probably look better in that case, since you would be more involved with the work of actual treatment...

Why not hold out for a job you are actually excited for? These jobs are typically dead end and don't really have any upward movement. If you are just looking for experience, you could always volunteer on the side while having a better job than an entry-level med position.

Thanks for the reply tbonez71. I'm definitely interested in the optometry job as it will be my first healthcare job as well so i'm excited about that (Scribing and EMT are interesting too but they require some time to complete requirements and training). What exactly did you like about your optometry tech position and would you recommend it?

 

[Catalystik]

Hi would working as a patient services position at an optometry clinic such as at the front desk help on medical school applications?

Yes, but I'd hope it won't stand alone as your sole exposure to sick and injured folks by the time you apply.

 

[stickgirl390]

Not sure if my input will help you, but I'll throw it out there and you can take it or leave it. I worked over 4,000 hours as a veterinary technician in an animal hospital. Worked in radiology, ultrasound, diagnostics, surgery, the works. Of the four individual people who interviewed me, only one of them brought it up, and for only one question.

That being said, I have no idea if that experience helped me get the interview in the first place.

Maybe that helps you, good luck!