Research vs. Hospital Volunteering

[ILPsychDoc]

Hey guys, I just got an opportunity to do some chemistry research with one of my Profs, the thing is that I was planning on using that time to volunteer in a medically related field... I'm having a tough time deciding which to do as my time constraints wont allow me to do both. Any advice is appreciated!

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[future_dr_house]

Hey guys, I just got an opportunity to do some chemistry research with one of my Profs, the thing is that I was planning on using that time to volunteer in a medically related field... I'm having a tough time deciding which to do as my time constraints wont allow me to do both. Any advice is appreciated!

whichever one your weakest in

 

[LizzyM]

If you have not had any clinical experinence then it is essential that you do so. If you have some clinical experience on your resume then go ahead & do research if it interests you.

 

[63768]

volunteer. research is nice but not as essential as hospital volunteering/shadowing.

 

[Thomas Hearns]

What do admission commissions think about volunteering at hospitals in a position where you just sit and play with patients' kids? Is that sort of thing beneficial to do?

 

[MDstudent101]

What do admission commissions think about volunteering at hospitals in a position where you just sit and play with patients' kids? Is that sort of thing beneficial to do?

Anywhere from a kid to an adult if their a patient, then its considered Patient contact so infact this would be relevent to your Med. resume... So I would do the volunteering, unless you already have strong volunteering/ clinical experiences...

 

[LizzyM]

What do admission commissions think about volunteering at hospitals in a position where you just sit and play with patients' kids? Is that sort of thing beneficial to do?

playing with kids whose parents are patients isn't clinical because the kids aren't patients. It does help the parents and the kids (I was grateful that some students played games & otherwise amused my child in the waiting room of the ortho clinic) and if it makes you feel good, do it. But if you are looking to wow an adcom with your clinical exposure or your service to humanity, this one is a little cushy and not very clinical.