Primary Caregiver as an EC?

[Dr. Bacon 5204]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

This is something I've been curious about. I made the decision to try for med school a little late into my return to college (when I realized it was actually a possibility), and I have about two years to get some solid EC work in. I haven't been able to spend a lot time away from home, aside from going to campus for my pre-req classes, because I am both the primary caregiver for my father and secondary caregiver for my grandmother, so it has been difficult to find chances and spend significant lengths of time away.

I'm curious if these roles as caregiver should be mentioned as an EC? As well as if the situations themselves should be explained in detail in any part of the app? Thank you all for your help.

 

[HinduHammer]

Yes, I was a caregiver to my disabled sister. This was one of my most meaningful activities. I have no idea of telling, but I believe this was a very strong point in my application. Combined with strong research experience, volunteerism, and MCAT, this sealed the deal for me, I think. In any case, being a caregiver, especially over any sig. length of time, shows compassion and ability to provide long-term, sustained care (commitment, dedication, humility, service). If you are truly a primary caregiver list your duties and the effect it has had on you.

 

[Holmwood]

It'd be safer to include it in the personal statement and secondary applications as there may be mixed opinions about it.

This is a similar issue with parenting, I guess. Here are some topics about parenting as an EC:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/listing-being-a-father-as-an-activity-on-amcas-app.749784/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/mention-child-on-amcas.530554/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/is-family-an-ec-lol.398775/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/anyone-listing-their-kids-as-an-ec.283710/

Again, it depends on who's reviewing your application. If I had to do it, I would add it in as an extracurricular entry and write the memorable experience essay, but only if I couldn't fit in the personal statement. An essay is needed to emphasize on the experience, regardless, as it is important.

 

[Teddy.KGB]

Seems like a good thing to put in your personal statement, but I would couch it in that you would still have sufficient time to devote to medical school, otherwise they may see it as a potential risk.

 

[Goro]

Getting an EC credit for taking care of family is like trying to get credit for breathing. The ECs are demonstrating service to others.

Hey all,

This is something I've been curious about. I made the decision to try for med school a little late into my return to college (when I realized it was actually a possibility), and I have about two years to get some solid EC work in. I haven't been able to spend a lot time away from home, aside from going to campus for my pre-req classes, because I am both the primary caregiver for my father and secondary caregiver for my grandmother, so it has been difficult to find chances and spend significant lengths of time away.

I'm curious if these roles as caregiver should be mentioned as an EC? As well as if the situations themselves should be explained in detail in any part of the app? Thank you all for your help.

 

[LizzyM]

Getting an EC credit for taking care of family is like trying to get credit for breathing. The ECs are demonstrating service to others.

I would respectfully disagree. The section is titled, "Experience". Just living with others might be the same as breathing but if you have daily responsibility for the care of a sick or disabled person (or two!) it does place your other experiences (EC) in perspective and explains what you have been doing with your time. Furthermore, having the perspective of a family member opens ones mind to the experiences of patients and their families and may make a medical student/physician more empathetic to the travails of patients and families.

 

[Catalystik]

Getting an EC credit for taking care of family is like trying to get credit for breathing. The ECs are demonstrating service to others.

Calling it a "Volunteer" activity is inappropropriate, considering the experience is with family members, but it would be acceptable to list it under the "Other" category that AMCAS provides.

 

[Goro]

This is one of the few times my learned colleague and I are at cross purposes. I look at taking care of a loved one as something you simply have to to do.

Taking care of a stranger is always an option, and better defines altruism (for me, at least).

I won't deny that being a Primary Caregiver can be a meaningful experience. I learned this myself when taking care of my dying mother. Yet my motivation was out of love, not altruism.

I would respectfully disagree. The section is titled, "Experience". Just living with others might be the same as breathing but if you have daily responsibility for the care of a sick or disabled person (or two!) it does place your other experiences (EC) in perspective and explains what you have been doing with your time. Furthermore, having the perspective of a family member opens ones mind to the experiences of patients and their families and may make a medical student/physician more empathetic to the travails of patients and families.

 

[Affiche]

I think I fall somewhere in between Goro and LizzyM.

I grew up with a very ill, single parent. I took care of him because he depended on me to. I did not list this in my ECs because it's not something that I volunteered to do, it was something I had to do. It wasn't an activity that I could pick and put down whenever I felt like it. However, it was incredibly meaningful to me and shaped me in a way that no EC can. I wrote about this in my PS and it seems to keep coming up in different ways in my secondaries. I don't feel like I'm leaving it out at all in my application by discussing it this way, either.

 

[LizzyM]

I look at it this way. If you are spending even 14 hours per week (1 hour morning and night) doing things for this person that you wouldn't otherwise be doing (e.g. preparing a tube feeding, extra laundry, etc) you should account for this time just as you would account for the fact that you were working 14 hours/week as a nanny to help pay the bills. I would call it "other" and not "volunteer, clinical" or anything else but it is time that can't be used for research, volunteerism or any of the other things and I think it should be accounted for in the experience section or you look like a slacker.

 

[LLCoolK]

.

 

[Goro]

Agree 100% with my wise colleague. These types of experiences should be mentioned somewhere, other than volunteering.

I look at it this way. If you are spending even 14 hours per week (1 hour morning and night) doing things for this person that you wouldn't otherwise be doing (e.g. preparing a tube feeding, extra laundry, etc) you should account for this time just as you would account for the fact that you were working 14 hours/week as a nanny to help pay the bills. I would call it "other" and not "volunteer, clinical" or anything else but it is time that can't be used for research, volunteerism or any of the other things and I think it should be accounted for in the experience section or you look like a slacker.

 

[Dr. Bacon 5204]

Incredibly grateful for everyone's input here; thank you guys so much. You've certainly helped clarify it for me. I do want to note that I was indeed only asking for where it would make the most sense to talk about my experiences and explain why I (might) have less to show in the ECs, not whether I could just profit from their unfortunate situations lol.