What type of EC’s for Med school?

[postponemastudentloan]

Hi guys,

I wanted to get your advice on what you think standard EC’s (and how many hours) are for MD schools?

I’m not sure what all falls under the category of EC’s but this is what I’m doing so far:
-working as an LPN
-research
-volunteering in a hospital

because of my clinical experience with nursing, do you still think I should shadow a physician or should I focus on getting more volunteer hours?

thanks in advance!

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[Goro]

Hi guys,

I wanted to get your advice on what you think standard EC’s (and how many hours) are for MD schools?

I’m not sure what all falls under the category of EC’s but this is what I’m doing so far:
-working as an LPN
-research
-volunteering in a hospital

because of my clinical experience with nursing, do you still think I should shadow a physician or should I focus on getting more volunteer hours?

thanks in advance!

Yes, you should shadow a doctor, because you need to know who they approach the practice of medicine, and what their day is like. You only see snapshots.

By being an LPN, you don't need any more clinical exposure.

Research is OK, but overrated. Get in service to others less fortunate than yourself, in a non-clinical setting.

 

[Goro]

You should have
> 150 hrs clinical exposure
> 150 hrs nonclinical volunteering
~50 hrs shadowing.

 

[postponemastudentloan]

You should have
> 150 hrs clinical exposure
> 150 hrs nonclinical volunteering
~50 hrs shadowing.

Thanks for the advice! what type of nonclinical volunteering do you suggest?

 

[Goro]

Thanks for the advice! what type of nonclinical volunteering do you suggest?

I'm a big fan of Habitat for Humanity.

Here are some other ideas:
". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.