REU or Volunteering This Summer

[HolyCow0333]

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Applied to a bunch of chemistry REUs (as that's where I have research experience) and just got accepted at UC-Irvine to a lab that develops drug-like molecules, which are then sent off to a group at UCI's med school to test for effects against cancer cell lines.

Wondering if I should accept...I already have a full summer (400 hours), plus 2+ semesters of organic synthesis research (I'll have 3 by the time interviews roll around). I'm a bit weak on clinical experience-I have 50 hours of shadowing experience , plus 150 hours of (non patient contact*) hospital volunteering. My other option for the summer is volunteering for 30 hours/wk at a local hospital in inpatient unit, ER, and with the hospital's infection prevention group, so I'd have lots of patient contact.

Applying to MD programs in the 2014 cycle. Should I accept the REU position, or spend my summer volunteering? Just want to be careful I don't come off looking like an MD/PhD applicant.

*my hospital volunteering experience has been working in nutrition, doing things like stocking fridges, and putting together mailings, so literally no patient contact.

 

[passionformed]

Try to get clinical experience; you already have research (and a good amount too).

 

[HolyCow0333]

Thank you!

 

[msj6403]

If it is not too late, would it be possible to accept the REU and get patient-contact volunteer during the academic year? Unless you have to study for MCAT during the summer, I think that not accepting REU seems a bad decision. Networking with UCI is also a plus too.

I understand that you need clinical experiences, but I'm wondering if you can change your current volunteer position to more patient-contact one during the academic year. If hours are of concern, maybe 8 hrs a week, instead of 4 hrs, can be possible along with classes?

Just my personal opinion.

Thank you!