What kind of experience does this count as?

[ihoop24]

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I am currently a freshman in college and recently got accepted as an intern at the sports medicine department here on campus, which is Division 1. The internship starts in the fall and will go on throughout each school year until I graduate. I will be working alongside doctors, trainers, and physical therapists with student athletes doing work such as taping, setting up training equipment, and basically tailoring to the overall needs of both injured and non-injured athletes. It also becomes paid after the first year. What kind of experience does this count as for medical school? Thanks in advance.

 

[Catalystik]

I am currently a freshman in college and recently got accepted as an intern at the sports medicine department here on campus, which is Division 1. The internship starts in the fall and will go on throughout each school year until I graduate. I will be working alongside doctors, trainers, and physical therapists with student athletes doing work such as taping, setting up training equipment, and basically tailoring to the overall needs of both injured and non-injured athletes. It also becomes paid after the first year. What kind of experience does this count as for medical school? Thanks in advance.

You might consider keeping a log that divides the time involvement into Clinical (helping injured athletes) and Not Clinical (teaching noninjured athletes how to maximize their potential), as well as Shadowing, for the times you are watching but not helping(listed separately). The first year could be listed in the initial two categories as Volunteer, and the remaining years under Employment (Shadowing being in its own space) Alternatively, list the whole thing under Other and call it an Internship, so you use fewer spaces.

You will need other clinical exposure so you have an experience of acutely ill folks, too. I also recommend regular community service with those in need.

 

[ihoop24]

Thanks! Would you say scribing would do the job in terms of other clinical experience?

 

[LizzyM]

Beyond 50 hours of shadowing, other clinical experience should be volunteering or paid... that you are doing something and not just watching others.

 

[premeddestiny]

Go with this option and do another clinical experience (preferably an acute/chronic setting such as hospice, ER, hospital) and a volunteering experience (preferably one that helps people less fortunate than you such as homeless shelters/tutoring underserved students)

 

[Catalystik]

Would you say scribing would do the job in terms of other clinical experience?

Some adcomms are fussy. It might depend on the venue, and certainly depends on whether it is in-person or distance scribing and (IMO) whether you are allowed to interact with the patient or are restricted from doing so.

 

[ihoop24]

@Catalystik @LizzyM I forgot to ask this. If I receive college credit during the first year that I am not getting paid, does that still count as volunteer work?

 

[a5ie5lavida]

This doesn't answer your question BUT this sounds like a really cool experience and I hope you enjoy it and get a lot out of it!

 

[ihoop24]

This doesn't answer your question BUT this sounds like a really cool experience and I hope you enjoy it and get a lot out of it!

Thank you!

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik @LizzyM I forgot to ask this. If I receive college credit during the first year that I am not getting paid, does that still count as volunteer work?

It is "volunteer" in the sense that you had the choice of doing the internship, or not, and you chose to do it without pay for the first year (in return for an educational benefit). But for med school application purposes, you also need a more altruistic volunteer activity, that provides a community service.

 

[ihoop24]

@Catalystik Sorry to bring back an old thread, but do you think going through with this experience during school years only and then volunteering at a hospital over winter, spring, and fall breaks would be ideal in terms of clinical experience?

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik Sorry to bring back an old thread, but do you think going through with this experience during school years only and then volunteering at a hospital over winter, spring, and fall breaks would be ideal in terms of clinical experience?

Sounds good to me, assuming interaction with sick folks will be part of your experience!