What to do in the year before Post Bac

[Humanities Guy]

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Hi everyone. I've been lurking on this forum for months, and I'm glad I finally decided to officially join. I'm going to start out strong by asking you all for a bit of advice.

I graduated a year ago from a large public university. I got a 3.7 but I didn't take any premedical classes. Also, I've had a few good leadership experiences and I've done some volunteer work, but I've done nothing in a clinical setting. I want to go to a program designed for career changers like Bryn Mawr or Goucher.

I'm wondering what I should do for the next few months before I apply in October and then what I should do for the next year before classes start in June. I want to get the broadest possible clinical experience, both to help my applications and to ensure that this is what I want to do.

1. I currently work at a company which specializes in electronic medical records for hospitals. I could continue working here for the next year and volunteer somewhere on the weekends. If you think I should do this, what do you think the best place to volunteer would be? ER department, hospice, free clinic etc.?

2. Another option is to find a volunteer project that lasts until June. I looked into Americorps, but almost all of the projects there end in August so I wouldn't be able to make the June start dates I'm looking at. Do you know of any projects which last from September to June (an academic year)?

3. My most ambitious idea is to do research for a year and work/volunteer in a clinical setting on the side. Is it possible for a liberal arts student with no college science background to find research opportunities? Where should I look? With my EHR background perhaps I could find something in Clinical Informatics?

If you have any other ideas, please let me know. I've been pretty good about saving money so I think I could afford to leave my job if I found a good enough opportunity.

Thanks for your help! I’m glad to finally be an official part of the forum. 🙂

 

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Take an EMT or CNA course and work as an EMT or CNA until you start the program.
Volunteer in a health care setting with patient care opportunities.

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Hospitals usually have volunteer departments. Inquire with them. I'm sure they'll assign you where help is needed. I would not consider medical records HCE. Find patient care opportunities, either as a volunteer, or as an EMT or CNA (which are quick enough to do).

I don't know any volunteer opportunities with that specific timeframe, but I suspect many volunteer programs ask for a minimum commitment. (The one I'm in requires a total of 280 hours. Shifts are in 4-hour increments. I can do 8 hours a week and get it done in 35 weeks, or ~9 months. As an EMT, I can volunteer in Triage.)

It's difficult, if not impossible, to do research if you're out of school, especially if you were a non-science major and don't know any science professors. I would focus on getting patient care experience.