relentless11
Going broke and loving it
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First off, i've seen a few threads in here talking about how much is enough for EC's. IMO this is what it comes down to:
1) Committement and Motivation for the EC.
2) Variation in what you do
3) Ones reasons for doing it.
I believe that 1>2, but if you can do both then more power to you. For 3, i believe that if you're just doing it to be like other pre-meds, it won't hurt you, but it won't have any major benefit (other than making you like other pre-meds). However if you do it for positive reasons outside of that whole pre-med image...could help you (if you mention it somehow in your application).
Anyway, thats just speal for all others that are like me. For those that have started their path in medical school, please feel free to provide input to this, as i'm sure everyone like me would welcome it!
Ok on my end, I've done various things which includes the standard clinical work. My choices for doing theses were:
1) I love it
2) For some, i needed money to support my family
3) Gain experience
Usually 1 = 2 in my opinion because i was lucky enough to find some great jobs.
I spent my first 2 years in college as a highschool swimming and water polo coach. At the same time i served as a salesman/delivery man. Difficult job, but got some great interpersonal skills from it. Spent another two years as a mentor to young adults.
The following 2-3 years after my fresh/soph years, i spent my time getting to know the medical world. Found out i liked both the clinical setting and the lab setting. I did research, and have been doing it for the past 4 years. Research has allowed me to be author or co-author of a total of 15 or so publications in chapters of medical textbooks, and journal articles in the US and abroad. Additionally, my clinical exposure thanks to research went beyond volunteering/shadowing. I've had hands on experience with a variety of patients. From diabetic patients to patients with severe blood infections. In regards to the latter, i've been charged with screening for these patients, so had to learn how to read a medical chart and interpret if the patient has what we want. Its a great paid job, and lots of fun!
Recently, i've become an employee for the United States Army. For the past year and a half, i've been involved with testing software. This past year however, i've also designed and wrote the manual for the software that i tested. I continue to do that to this day.
Well of course i did my share of volunteering and shadowing. Volunteered for a year in the ER as well as Heme/Onc. Shadowed a pediatrician for a year, and shadowed a cardiovascular surgeon as well.
Today, I still do research, I also TA for a rescue scuba diving class. I still shadow, since it goes along with my research job. I usually do work in the ICU and ER, so its pretty fun.
^^So as you can see, i did what i LIKED TO DO, and I did most of them for a long time. Really though, people who do more or less than i do, you still have as good of a chance at getting in than me....there are CLEARLY a lot of other factors that come into play (other than GPA/MCAT/Personal Statement). I'm betting come interview time, it also has to do a lot with if your life experiences mixes well with the interviewer. Since i hear that many of the interviews seem to be a stressful form of small talk🙂.
1) Committement and Motivation for the EC.
2) Variation in what you do
3) Ones reasons for doing it.
I believe that 1>2, but if you can do both then more power to you. For 3, i believe that if you're just doing it to be like other pre-meds, it won't hurt you, but it won't have any major benefit (other than making you like other pre-meds). However if you do it for positive reasons outside of that whole pre-med image...could help you (if you mention it somehow in your application).
Anyway, thats just speal for all others that are like me. For those that have started their path in medical school, please feel free to provide input to this, as i'm sure everyone like me would welcome it!
Ok on my end, I've done various things which includes the standard clinical work. My choices for doing theses were:
1) I love it
2) For some, i needed money to support my family
3) Gain experience
Usually 1 = 2 in my opinion because i was lucky enough to find some great jobs.
I spent my first 2 years in college as a highschool swimming and water polo coach. At the same time i served as a salesman/delivery man. Difficult job, but got some great interpersonal skills from it. Spent another two years as a mentor to young adults.
The following 2-3 years after my fresh/soph years, i spent my time getting to know the medical world. Found out i liked both the clinical setting and the lab setting. I did research, and have been doing it for the past 4 years. Research has allowed me to be author or co-author of a total of 15 or so publications in chapters of medical textbooks, and journal articles in the US and abroad. Additionally, my clinical exposure thanks to research went beyond volunteering/shadowing. I've had hands on experience with a variety of patients. From diabetic patients to patients with severe blood infections. In regards to the latter, i've been charged with screening for these patients, so had to learn how to read a medical chart and interpret if the patient has what we want. Its a great paid job, and lots of fun!
Recently, i've become an employee for the United States Army. For the past year and a half, i've been involved with testing software. This past year however, i've also designed and wrote the manual for the software that i tested. I continue to do that to this day.
Well of course i did my share of volunteering and shadowing. Volunteered for a year in the ER as well as Heme/Onc. Shadowed a pediatrician for a year, and shadowed a cardiovascular surgeon as well.
Today, I still do research, I also TA for a rescue scuba diving class. I still shadow, since it goes along with my research job. I usually do work in the ICU and ER, so its pretty fun.
^^So as you can see, i did what i LIKED TO DO, and I did most of them for a long time. Really though, people who do more or less than i do, you still have as good of a chance at getting in than me....there are CLEARLY a lot of other factors that come into play (other than GPA/MCAT/Personal Statement). I'm betting come interview time, it also has to do a lot with if your life experiences mixes well with the interviewer. Since i hear that many of the interviews seem to be a stressful form of small talk🙂.
