Quick Question about ECs..

[chiefscribejake]

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I'm currently a sophomore in undergrad with a 3.35 cGPA, but that doesn't currently matter or pertain to the question:

I'm employed as a Chief Scribe through ScribeAmerica in an ED around my uni. Outside of this, should I still look at possible volunteering opportunities elsewhere even though I'm pulling 35~ hrs a week shadowing a physician?

 

[Dr. Retractor]

If you interact with patients, it's clinical experience. Otherwise, you should volunteer to interact with patients.

 

[gtbROX]

I've asked an ADCOM members about this before and was told that their schools wants to see both shadowing and comfort care type opportunities.

Shadowing = following doctors around/observation.

Comfort care = basic patient care, talking to patients, cleaning patients, feeding patients, basically serving patients directly.

They also mentioned that for their school, Scribe is classified as shadowing, and for most schools, never as comfort care. I've also read online that some schools don't consider scribing to be shadowing. It really depends, but I would err on the side of caution.

Note that this distinction was specific to a single medical school, but according to the people I spoke with, many medical schools follow this mold.

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

That's great job and clinical experience, but I do agree with the above poster. Some volunteering with hospice or some such where you directly care for people would round you out so you have the adminstrative/diagnostic exposure as well as the humanistic side. Also, I don't know if you were also referring to non clinical volunteering, but that's strongly recommended as well.

 

[Aerus]

I've also read online that some schools don't consider scribing to be shadowing. It really depends, but I would err on the side of caution.

Note that this distinction was specific to a single medical school, but according to the people I spoke with, many medical schools follow this mold.

Do these schools even know what shadowing is? Do they understand the point of shadowing?

I feel like those admission officers are just putting in irrelevant hoops to jump through for the giggles. I understand if they don't consider scribing sufficient shadowing (since there are other specialties as well), but you definitely get to understand the life of a particular type of physician by following them around for 4-8 hours a week for a whole year.

 

[gtbROX]

Do these schools even know what shadowing is? Do they understand the point of shadowing?

It was one medical school, and I hope so since the term, in and of itself, is self-explanatory. It was a CA school btw.

I feel like those admission officers are just putting in irrelevant hoops to jump through for the giggles. I understand if they don't consider scribing sufficient shadowing (since there are other specialties as well), but you definitely get to understand the life of a particular type of physician by following them around for 4-8 hours a week for a whole year.

I agree. I feel like scribing should constitute shadowing for a specialty. It's better to shadow other specialties also, but scribing should be sufficient for one specialty (usually EM).

I do feel that it's helpful to have shadowing and clinical volunteering as separate experiences. I enjoyed getting to see the medical field in the context of the physician (shadowing) and the patient (clinical volunteering).

 

[Hospitalized]

I'm currently a sophomore in undergrad with a 3.35 cGPA, but that doesn't currently matter or pertain to the question:

I'm employed as a Chief Scribe through ScribeAmerica in an ED around my uni. Outside of this, should I still look at possible volunteering opportunities elsewhere even though I'm pulling 35~ hrs a week shadowing a physician?

Chief scribe as a 3.35 cGPA as a sophomore? Reality check: Your grades are more important then scribing.

Yes, it does currently matter, don't shy away from the fact you have a lower then average admissions GPA just because you're a "Chief Scribe." Titles don't mean jack and medical schools won't even consider you if you don't have base stats.

Yes you should look for other opportunities aside from scribing. But your focus right now should be getting better grades. Do your volunteer work as a late junior/senior/gap year so that you have relevant, recent experiences to talk about in your interview.

Hopefully you have learned through your time as a scribe that EM is just a small fraction of exposure. Bedside manner, treatment, and diagnosis all are approached differently for varying specialties. There are similarities, yes. But there are significant differences.

Yeah, I'm a little harsh. But seriously, priorities. Medical schools aren't admitting a chief scribe, they're admitting a future physician. Well-rounded, focused, and balanced.

This is coming from a scribe, junior undergrad, with a 3.82.

 

[chiefscribejake]

Chief scribe as a 3.35 cGPA as a sophomore? Reality check: Your grades are more important then scribing.

Yes, it does currently matter, don't shy away from the fact you have a lower then average admissions GPA just because you're a "Chief Scribe." Titles don't mean jack and medical schools won't even consider you if you don't have base stats.

Yes you should look for other opportunities aside from scribing. But your focus right now should be getting better grades. Do your volunteer work as a late junior/senior/gap year so that you have relevant, recent experiences to talk about in your interview.

Hopefully you have learned through your time as a scribe that EM is just a small fraction of exposure. Bedside manner, treatment, and diagnosis all are approached differently for varying specialties. There are similarities, yes. But there are significant differences.

Yeah, I'm a little harsh. But seriously, priorities. Medical schools aren't admitting a chief scribe, they're admitting a future physician. Well-rounded, focused, and balanced.

This is coming from a scribe, junior undergrad, with a 3.82.

I appreciate this response. I was no way intending to boast about my opportunity, just giving context of my EC. I do agree, my grades need improvement as my sGPA is about a 3.2. Currently maintaining an A in Orgo Chem 1 which should help boost my GPA. I completely blew off my first semester as freshman which had a detrimental impact on my cGPA but I'm working my way back.

Mind if I message you about some study tips/ways to improvement?

 

[Afford]

Yeah cut back on the scribe position. The money isn't worth it.