Question about high school work experience

[vk79]

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Hey everyone I had a question on how to categorize a certain work experience I had in high school.

In high school I got paid minimum wage to work at a small local hospital. Basically i worked with the techs and helped with feeding patients, taking vitals, bathing some very elderly patients, transporting, and other small jobs in the hospital. I have about 200 hours worth of this.

I should note that this is the same hospital where I shadowed at during undergrad, so I believe this is worthy of putting on my app. However, I know it wasn't a volunteer experience since I got paid... so will med schools look down on my high school work experience?

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Hey everyone I had a question on how to categorize a certain work experience I had in high school.

In high school I got paid minimum wage to work at a small local hospital. Basically i worked with the techs and helped with feeding patients, taking vitals, bathing some very elderly patients, transporting, and other small jobs in the hospital. I have about 200 hours worth of this.

I should note that this is the same hospital where I shadowed at during undergrad, so I believe this is worthy of putting on my app. However, I know it wasn't a volunteer experience since I got paid... so will med schools look down on my high school work experience?

The general thought is that unless you continued an activity in college, you shouldn't mention high school experiences on your application. This sounds like something you may consider writing about in your personal statement, since I'm not sure it fits in the Experiences section considering you were a high school student. You didn't continue this job in college, and shadowing in the same hospital doesn't make it the same activity.

 

[235009]

The general thought is that unless you continued an activity in college, you shouldn't mention high school experiences on your application. This sounds like something you may consider writing about in your personal statement, since I'm not sure it fits in the Experiences section considering you were a high school student. You didn't continue this job in college, and shadowing in the same hospital doesn't make it the same activity.

i disagree. definitely put it down. list it as "paid employment". not only is this a clinical experience but having a real job in high school shows adcoms you are mature and dependable. I wouldn't make a high school experience the highlight of your application....as in you likely shouldn't put it as one of your 3 most important ECs or write about it extensively in your PS (though a mention in your PS would be fine) but I think this definitely belongs in the EC section of your app and would make adcoms look more favorably at you.