Hey guys, which of the three programs do you prefer?
Thank you
Thank you
Volunteer at UCIrvine Healthcare center, Cedars-sinai or SOS (share our selves)?
- Thread starter ICUatUCI
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What happened to volunteering with Red Cross?
They even asked me if i wanted to go to Alabama for about three weeks to help out with the disasters.
I volunteered at SOS and it was the best experience I had as pre-med. When I was there the volunteer program wasn't diluted with other pre-meds like some of the other name brand hospitals around the area (volunteered at UCI-MC also). The doctors at SOS where always helpful, and looked to teach the pre-meds things like taking vitals, SOAP notes, etc. If you end up volunteering at SOS try spending some of your time at the annex as well, where you provide food and other living essentials to all the under served in the area.
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Volunteered at UCI Medical center for 6 months in the in patient surgery center. Didn't really do much besides answer phones and file papers. Tried talking to doctors, residents, and the like, but some of them didn't want to give me the time of day. I wouldn't recommend it. I volunteer at St. Joseph's right now and its actually pretty good. They do a good job of giving you more responsibilities and actual contact with patients.
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I volunteered at UCIMC in the ER and while I generally did more than file papers, it wasn't a valuable experience. A lot of my time was spent folding towels or searching the hospital for pillows I could steal for the ER. I did get to watch a Plastic surgeon attack a finger once while he explained everything to me. That was neat but that was about it.
I would recommend finding a clinic that serves the undeserved in the OC or LA.
I would recommend finding a clinic that serves the undeserved in the OC or LA.
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As an undergraduate you're the bottom of the food chain, as you should be. Med students and docs are going to get first dibs on everything.
If you can get into a clinic then I would recommend that. Smaller clinic will give you more hands on experience and more exposure to docs.
However, they aren't that easy to get so if you can't get into SOS then just go to UCIMC. Yes, mostly you will just be used as a gopher but at least you'll have exposure to patients and docs. Try to be involved and go often and you may be able to get more out of it.
If you can get into a clinic then I would recommend that. Smaller clinic will give you more hands on experience and more exposure to docs.
However, they aren't that easy to get so if you can't get into SOS then just go to UCIMC. Yes, mostly you will just be used as a gopher but at least you'll have exposure to patients and docs. Try to be involved and go often and you may be able to get more out of it.
Thanks everyone for the comments. I will apply to all three of them. I have to go to an info session for UCIMC this wed. THe sos program, the lady said she will invite me for an interview. It seems sos and cs are more competitive than ucimc.
Thanks again for the inputs
Thanks again for the inputs
