Volunteer EMT while in college

[busygyal]

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I am interested in becoming an EMT at a volunteer ambulance corps, helping a professor with research, shadowing a doctor and volunteering with children (4hrs a week) while in school as a pre med chemistry major. Do you think this is manageable?

 

[aldol16]

Definitely manageable, although if you're volunteering with a campus squad, be prepared for a lot of drunk calls.

 

[hiyaman]

Should be fine, but if you become too overwhelmed then cut back on something.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

I am interested in becoming an EMT at a volunteer ambulance corps, shadowing a doctor and volunteering with children (4hrs a week) while in school as a pre med chemistry major. Do you think this is manageable?

I did this many years as an undergrad long before I ever thought about medical school. It was an incredible experience and undoubtedly planted the seeds that eventually grew into my med school ambitions.

Although I wasn't premed, I managed a fairly rigorous schedule with lots of upper level math with a 4.0 during my entire time volunteering. I spent hundreds of hours (probably over 1000), and it never interfered with my studies. But, as Gonnif mentioned, your significant other may be another story. I recall one year my girlfriend insisted that Valentine's Day was just a creation to sell cards and other junk and that she wanted nothing to do with it. So when the ambulance corps sent out an email that they desperately needed people to work the overnight shift on Valentine's Day, I did not hesitate to volunteer. Needless to say, that did not end well for me.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I worked as a volunteer EMT for two years as an undergrad, loved it. It's come up in all of my interviews. I did it while working in a research lab, working part time on a surgery floor, taking a full class load, while juggling various other short term activities as well. It can be done as long as you plan well and don't goof off.

 

[busygyal]

I worked as a volunteer EMT for two years as an undergrad, loved it. It's come up in all of my interviews. I did it while working in a research lab, working part time on a surgery floor, taking a full class load, while juggling various other short term activities as well. It can be done as long as you plan well and don't goof off.

I'm not the goofing off type of person but I think having to balance these activities will help me learn to manage time and stay focused. How many hours a week did you work in the research lab? If you remember.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I'm not the goofing off type of person but I think having to balance these activities will help me learn to manage time and stay focused. How many hours a week did you work in the research lab? If you remember.

Anywhere from 0-8 depending on the week. Some weeks I didn't need to do anything for the lab since I was waiting on specimens, some weeks I'd spend several hours doing IHC stains.

 

[Kuote]

I think a lot of it depends on your course load and the shift length/call volume of the service you're working with. It certainly sounds doable and you can always change something if you feel like you're overwhelmed.