Starting clinical experience late

[reddyice]

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[workaholic181]

Hey! I've been lurking on SDN for a while but I have a question that I haven't seen answered clearly at least recently. I'm a rising junior (graduating a year early) and I'll be applying hopefully in the June 2018 cycle. So, I'm taking a de-facto gap year in place of my fourth year of college. My problem is, I wasn't really aware of the importance of clinical experience until about this summer. I've been looking at potential clinical experience for all summer, and gained about 25 hours of shadowing experience so far (although I know it doesn't count as clinical). I'm also going to start volunteering in an ED waiting room, and will probably start volunteering in a hospice within the month (combined about 8-12 hours a week). I have a GPA around 3.9, and over 1000 hours of research (this was my focus for my undergraduate as I thought it was relatively important for medical schools), with one pub. My question is, will it be a negative that I'm starting clinical experience so late? I'll likely take a clinical research position in the spring that will allow me to do clinical duties like pushing drugs and taking blood and interacting with patients, as well as going on rounds with doctors and working with doctors. I'll most likely continue this clinical research position into a full time position over the course of my gap year while continuing volunteering at hospice and such over the weekends. Will I be hurt by this late start? (I've seen online from @LizzyM that starting <12 months before applying is not great) Thanks in advance!

It's not as ideal as having had clinical experiences throughout UG but it shouldn't sink your app. My only clinical experience in college was 50 hours shadowing; most of what I did came during my gap year and I've been having a reasonably successful cycle. Anecdotal, but I think you'll be okay.

 

[reddyice]

It's not as ideal as having had clinical experiences throughout UG but it shouldn't sink your app. My only clinical experience in college was 50 hours shadowing; most of what I did came during my gap year and I've been having a reasonably successful cycle. Anecdotal, but I think you'll be okay.

Thanks so much! that makes me feel a lot better honestly. Do you think the clinical research would count as clinical experience? Also, do you think starting late would preclude me from top 20s? @Goro your input would be great here.

 

[seren1051]

Thanks so much! that makes me feel a lot better honestly. Do you think the clinical research would count as clinical experience? Also, do you think starting late would preclude me from top 20s? @Goro your input would be great here.

Like workaholic, I did all of my clinical experiences or even non-clinical volunteering after graduation during gap year. I'm also having a good cycle so far with IIs from top 20s. Granted, I've had 1.5 ~ 2 years of them. If you plan to apply with six months of clinical volunteering under your belt, it might not be most ideal. Do remember most people applying to top 20s have hundreds of hours over sustained period of time.

I don't think clinical research counts same as clinical experience - one's for research while other's for serve. Was it with extensive patient contact? How's your other EC/nonclinical volunteering? (ie. serving the community)

 

[reddyice]

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[workaholic181]

Hey! So it's the position that I will hopefully be doing full-time over my gap year and part-time over this next spring semester. From what I've heard/seen when I interviewed, we'll have significant contact with patients and their families (its a NICU, so mostly neonatal patients) with monitoring patients and pulling blood and pushing treatments, as well as working with doctors to coordinate studies. I'm not sure if that specifically counts though; if not I'd rather do something with my EMT license like ED tech or EMT. However, this opportunity seems really cool. In terms of other EC/nonclinical volunteering, I've had significant leadership experience since sophomore year in multiple orgs (will probably get a nice rec from them) as well as volunteering experience through a pre-medical organization. Currently, I'm also on the administrative volunteer team at a local NPO, and will likely continue it throughout the next two years hopefully.

I think if you're in a health care setting where you can observe healthcare professionals interact with patients it is generally seen as clinical experience.. I agree that opportunity sounds awesome and I would definitely go for it. If ou have time I would definitely recommend volunteering clinically; with your emt cert you should be able to find cool opportunities easily.

 

[LizzyM]

Have you worked as an EMT? If not, you should do that during the year. That will be enough.

 

[reddyice]

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[LizzyM]

You have used your EMT training so that is a plus. (Getting it and not using it is a minus.)
"I'll likely take a clinical research position in the spring that will allow me to do clinical duties like pushing drugs and taking blood and interacting with patients, as well as going on rounds with doctors and working with doctors."

I'm not sure what "pushing drugs" means in this context (I've only heard it in terms of selling and marketing street drugs).
It sounds like you will be doing things by virtue of your EMT license as these are not typically things that a college grad research assistant is allowed to do (I know, I was one many years ago and I've supervised them, too). What you have planned sounds reasonable.

 

[reddyice]

You have used your EMT training so that is a plus. (Getting it and not using it is a minus.)
"I'll likely take a clinical research position in the spring that will allow me to do clinical duties like pushing drugs and taking blood and interacting with patients, as well as going on rounds with doctors and working with doctors."

I'm not sure what "pushing drugs" means in this context (I've only heard it in terms of selling and marketing street drugs).
It sounds like you will be doing things by virtue of your EMT license as these are not typically things that a college grad research assistant is allowed to do (I know, I was one many years ago and I've supervised them, too). What you have planned sounds reasonable.

Yeah, sorry about that I meant helping to administer treatment. Thanks for your help everyone! I'll probably continue to do volunteering on the side of the Clinical Research position throughout my gap year.