Phlebotomist as an EC: Clear Cut Answer

[santabanta]

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1) Is it a unique/catchy EC?
2) Does it replace hospital volunteering and so count as clinical exposure?
3) All in all, has it helped anyone in getting in?

 

[crystalgreen]

1) Is it a unique/catchy EC?
2) Does it replace hospital volunteering and so count as clinical exposure?
3) All in all, has it helped anyone in getting in?

i actually did alot of physician shadowing for my ECs. Medschools really want to know that you've been around hospitals, doctors and patients so that you really know what you're gettin urself into. in my opinion, phlebotomy is medically related but not broad enough...you want to show that you know what doctors do...not what phlebotomists do.

 

[dr seuss]

1) No.
2) It does replace it in the sense that it is clinical exposure, but you will need to do some volunteering somewhere to show that you are "altruistic." You will also need shadowing.
3) It is better than nothing, but being a phlebotomist isn't that important. I'm not saying don't do it, but don't do it only to pad your resume.

 

[LizzyM]

It is not unique or catchy.

It is clinical but is not a substitute for some volunteer effort that is either clinical or non-clinical. It is not a substitute for shadowing.

I don't doubt that there is someone out there who has done some shadowing, some community service (volunteering), and who has average or above average stats, good LORs and good essays AND has worked as a phebotomist who has gotten into medical school. Where that "helped"?? It is hard to say. However, it's a job and in this economy, don't knock having a job.

 

[Mattabet]

My feeling was kind of echoed above. ^

On point one, phlebotomy is not really an EC. Okay, fine, in the strictest sense of the term it is outside a school curriculum, but you should look at it as a job, not resume-padding. If you want a job drawing blood and starting lines, then you should get the training. If you just want to pad your resume, there are better ways.

 

[santabanta]

ah i see...i always presumed it would be something very unique...
does this go same for ER Tech and MA?

 

[tiedyeddog]

ah i see...i always presumed it would be something very unique...
does this go same for ER Tech and MA?

I don't know what an MA is but a ER tech is not "unique".

 

[MedMan25]

ah i see...i always presumed it would be something very unique...
does this go same for ER Tech and MA?

If you're looking for an EC that is "unique" and "catchy" you've got to step outside the box of clinical employment. If it's a job that you can apply for after getting some certification that takes only a few weeks to obtain then you can almost guarantee that it is something that another premed just like you has done before and put on their application to med school.

I'm not saying becoming an ER tech or phlebotomist isn't a good idea, if you're looking to get some clinical experience that will help you decide whether or not medicine is right for you, then it's a great idea. It just wouldn't be anything that would set you apart from the rest of the crowd.

 

[Oxygen206]

I don't know what an MA is but a ER tech is not "unique".

I presume MA = Medical Assistant?

I am an MA and have worked in a few various settings... I feel it has been insanely beneficial because I really know what I'm getting myself into (we work very closely with the physicians we assist). Being an MA made me want to be a physician, however if I knew before working in the medical field I wanted to be a doctor I probably wouldn't have spent an entire year becoming an MA...

So if you are looking for the most clinical exposure possible I would get an MA for sure.. unfortunately it is a significantly more time intensive route than phleb or ER tech.

 

[Mattabet]

ah i see...i always presumed it would be something very unique...
does this go same for ER Tech and MA?

Yes. Ask yourself, "is this a valid option for a career?"

If the answer comes back, "yes, people do this as a real job", then it's a real job, not to be confused with an EC.

1. Radiology tech (job)
2. competitive hamburger eating (EC)
3. nurse (job)
4. new box of pipette opener (EC)
5. at-risk counselor (job)
6. doctor-watcher (EC)

As has been said above, it's not wrong to do any of those jobs. But it is ridiculous to pursue those solely as an way to get to 15 things you can list on AMCAS.

 

[medicalmatins]

To be fair, though, being a phlebotomist is a useful experience: not only do you make a pretty good wage (~$14/hr), but you're usually in fast-paced, high-volume workplace with a good amount of patient contact.

I agree with the above, however: it should not be treated as or thought of as an EC.