Summer Options

[139871]

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This summer I will be taking the Princeton Review MCAT course from May through August. I am looking to do a few EC activities on the side but the problem is that this would require me staying in different cities. My first option is to do a combination of hospice, volunteering, and research in my university. My second option is an internship with a physician at Arizona Heart Institute which would involve shadowing and note taking. I have previous shadowing experience with a cardiologist but I still think I lack in clinical experience. Based on this and the fact that I have an MCAT course, which do you believe would be the best option EC wise? I will be applying to medical school in 2008.

 

[blargh]

ah i saw that arizona heart institute thing online. it looks like a glorified shadowing experience, and it's not paid for all the hours it requires. i think staying at your university is a better idea... you can get clinical experience there.

 

[emaj1n]

This summer I will be taking the Princeton Review MCAT course from May through August. I am looking to do a few EC activities on the side but the problem is that this would require me staying in different cities. My first option is to do a combination of hospice, volunteering, and research in my university. My second option is an internship with a physician at Arizona Heart Institute which would involve shadowing and note taking. I have previous shadowing experience with a cardiologist but I still think I lack in clinical experience. Based on this and the fact that I have an MCAT course, which do you believe would be the best option EC wise? I will be applying to medical school in 2008.

If you have shadowing experience but lack clinical exposure, you definitely want to secure some clinical opportunities before you shadow some more. Hospice is a great idea. There are lots of clinical volunteer opportunities. I volunteered at a crisis hotline. Schools consider that "clinical" because I was interacting with patients. "Clinical" doesn't have to be in a hospital.

Also, I would try to find additional shadowing experience down the road because it seems to be the big unwritten rule. When you get the time, try to shadow a generalist. Specialists are great, too, but you may see more doctor-patient interaction with a generalist. Just a thought.