Volunteering vs EMT

[econ2med]

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I understand that clinical experience is an absolute must in regards to entering medical school.

I am curious, do adcoms view long-term volunteering and long-term paid EMT work differently? I guess what i'm really asking is if there is some sort of intrinsic value in participating in non-paid volunteer work over working in a clinical setting?

 

[DocMcMommy]

I am in no way an expert and have absolutely no experience, but since you don't have any responses I'll give this a stab.

Based on the bit of past posts I've read around here, an EMT is not adequate clinical experience? And, personally, I think volunteer work would be valued a bit more because that's your personal free time you're devoting, rather than going because you're getting paid. At least that's how I'd look at it, but I'm not an adcom.

Basically, I'm not much help. But I think this topic has been covered a bit if you feel like doing a search.

 

[econ2med]

This was the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you

 

[Being]

I know some PA schools don't accept volunteer clinical hours - they want it to be paid. The idea is that if you're getting paid for your time, you likely have more responsibility and are working more. I know this is typically true for paid vs volunteer EMT positions, at least. If you're talking about paid EMT vs helping the homeless or something, though, then I'm not sure. You kind of need both.

EMT on its own it may not be "adequate" clinical experience because you spend most of your time not in the hospital. Compared to CNA or scribing, for instance, you spend a lot less time interacting with docs, so it may not be the best for proving that you want to become a doc. On the other hand, you have a ton of autonomy and responsibility, and need to make working diagnoses and clinical decisions, so in many ways it is IMO much better clinical experience. EMT + a good amount of shadowing seems like a good path to me.

 

[econ2med]

You are looking at two different settings, mindsets, and cultures.

PA was founded on the idea of utilizing those already with significant medical experience, typically in a formal job setting, such army medic or navy corpsman, and give them education to advanced from that starting point. In many it a way to advance those who already have the "technical" training if you will and build upon that foundation. Therefore, EMT, radiology tech, etc are very welcomed.

Physician education is much more on selecting individuals with proven motivation, commitment, ideals and academic rigor to be molded in both of knowledge of being a doctor as well as the societal position that physicians see themselves as in always being available, selfless to help those ill, etc. Obviously these are idealize values but a culture such as MD has these value well entrenched and it becomes apparent that adcoms take much of their mindset from it. Thus volunteering isnt seen solely for the clinic aspects but also the motivation of the applicants. Yes, many applicants simply go thru the motions of doing such volunteering, but it is still required and med schools expect it

Interesting, so you would agree that there is an altruistic quality that adcoms see in volunteers and not in EMTs?

 

[Annabell Lee]

Look at the schools you are most interested in. Every adcom seems to have their own preferences, so maybe the school's website could point you in the right direction. It doesn't really matter if most schools value paid work more if the schools you will be applying to all place a higher value on volunteer work.

Just to be safe, I would have a mixture of both. Doing both also shows your dedication and ability to handle multiple obligations. My first choice med school explicitly states that they prefer applicants with multiple out of class activities because it shows that they are "high energy".

I'm planning on working as a nurse in the hospital while I do my undergrad while also doing volunteer work and hopefully some physician shadowing.