Will completing online certifications while I wait for interview responses strengthen my chances?

[BlueScar]

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I am not only speaking for me, but those who will be applying the next cycle.
Websites that offer free certifications, such as "allison.com" seems to be pretty indepth and informative. Will they help make me or someone else later a stronger applicant?

Here is the website for more information: Free Online Certificate Diseases and Disorders Courses | Alison

 

[KnightDoc]

I have no doubt that free certifications are worth every penny you pay for them.

Please feel "free" to share the feedback you get from the schools.

 

[GreenDuck12]

How do you think these certifications will enhance your application?

 

[BlueScar]

How do you think these certifications will enhance your application?

I just thought is something probably worthwhile as are facing this ****ty virus, which is essentially barring all premeds from shadowing or clinical activities.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

I'm going to go somewhat against the grain here and ask what are they doing for your brand?

I'll give myself as an example. I went into med school as an EMS heavy applicant. That was my brand. Therefore, doing and listing my certificates was helpful when I had 5 Incident Command certs and Basic/Advanced Disaster Life Support certs and ITLS/PEPP courses and so on.

They were just certs, but they made it plain and obvious that EMS wasn't just a hobby to get into med school, that I went and sought out and picked up extra skills.

David D MD, USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[KnightDoc]

I'm going to go somewhat against the grain here and ask what are they doing for your brand?

I'll give myself as an example. I went into med school as an EMS heavy applicant. That was my brand. Therefore, doing and listing my certificates was helpful when I had 5 Incident Command certs and Basic/Advanced Disaster Life Support certs and ITLS/PEPP courses and so on.

They were just certs, but they made it plain and obvious that EMS wasn't just a hobby to get into med school, that I went and sought out and picked up extra skills.

David D MD, USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Were they online and free?

 

[BlueScar]

I'm going to go somewhat against the grain here and ask what are they doing for your brand?

I'll give myself as an example. I went into med school as an EMS heavy applicant. That was my brand. Therefore, doing and listing my certificates was helpful when I had 5 Incident Command certs and Basic/Advanced Disaster Life Support certs and ITLS/PEPP courses and so on.

They were just certs, but they made it plain and obvious that EMS wasn't just a hobby to get into med school, that I went and sought out and picked up extra skills.

David D MD, USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Thank you, this was though provoking. I did certificates to help with my current research as well, so as you said, it is about the branding.

 

[GreenDuck12]

I just thought is something probably worthwhile as are facing this ****ty virus, which is essentially barring all premeds from shadowing or clinical activities.

I don’t think that it is not worthwhile. It could be useful as an example of how you have stayed busy. It won’t have the same “value” as a certification that is earned through coursework since there really isn’t a standard that you are being held to - online certifications really don’t offer much. If you’re interested in it because of the material, go for it (not everything has to be geared towards med admissions). And you’re right, clinical work and shadowing are likely to be severely reduced for the next period of time. This is a great opportunity to engage in some non clinical volunteer work such as at a food bank (there have been numerous stories in the news about the lines at food banks and the need for volunteers).

 

[BlueScar]

I don’t think that it is not worthwhile. It could be useful as an example of how you have stayed busy. It won’t have the same “value” as a certification that is earned through coursework since there really isn’t a standard that you are being held to - online certifications really don’t offer much. If you’re interested in it because of the material, go for it (not everything has to be geared towards med admissions). And you’re right, clinical work and shadowing are likely to be severely reduced for the next period of time. This is a great opportunity to engage in some non clinical volunteer work such as at a food bank (there have been numerous stories in the news about the lines at food banks and the need for volunteers).

Thanks, I was looking for COVID- related activities around my city which I registered for, and this website came across my searches.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

Were they online and free?

If they were the same Incident Command certs I did, then yes they are offered free online, through FEMA (I believe there are also in person versions). But those are legit courses that are sometimes required or encouraged by EMS training programs or employers (my EMT course required them). I don't think I put them on my med school app (I'd let my EMT cert lapse by that point anyway) but I did keep them on my resume while I was still doing EMS related things.

I don't know anything about Alison courses, but from first glance at the site I personally doubt that the certs themselves will mean much. But if you really don't have anything else to be doing right now, they might at least teach you some interesting things and give you something to talk about in secondaries/interviews? Lots of us have been doing dumber things during quarantine

 

[KnightDoc]

If they were the same Incident Command certs I did, then yes they are offered free online, through FEMA (I believe there are also in person versions). But those are legit courses that are sometimes required or encouraged by EMS training programs or employers (my EMT course required them). I don't think I put them on my med school app (I'd let my EMT cert lapse by that point anyway) but I did keep them on my resume while I was still doing EMS related things.

I don't know anything about Alison courses, but from first glance at the site I personally doubt that the certs themselves will mean much. But if you really don't have anything else to be doing right now, they might at least teach you some interesting things and give you something to talk about in secondaries/interviews? Lots of us have been doing dumber things during quarantine

FEMA training as part of something else is one thing. Random free online certificates to fluff up a thin resume due to COVID is something else. Schools will either be impressed by the resourcefulness or put off by the attempt to turn nothing into something. Personally, I wouldn't risk it, but I'd love for someone to come back here and post how schools were impressed by something like this.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

FEMA training as part of something else is one thing. Random free online certificates to fluff up a thin resume due to COVID is something else. Schools will either be impressed by the resourcefulness or put off by the attempt to turn nothing into something. Personally, I wouldn't risk it, but I'd love for someone to come back here and post how schools were impressed by something like this.

No these courses are definitely not a replacement for other ECs or actual college/grad school courses, I wouldn't recommend relying on them us such. Personally, I meant that there's no harm in taking the courses for fun and maybe you'll learn an interesting fact or two that you can mention if you're asked about what you've been doing lately amid the disruption of usual activities

 

[KnightDoc]

No these courses are definitely not a replacement for other ECs or actual college/grad school courses, I wouldn't recommend relying on them us such. Personally, I meant that there's no harm in taking the courses for fun and maybe you'll learn an interesting fact or two that you can mention if you're asked about what you've been doing lately amid the disruption of usual activities

Fair points, but OP wasn't asking for our blessing to engage in a little self-improvement for fun. OP was asking in the context of a med school application, which implies using it as EC or educational substitutes because:

I just thought is something probably worthwhile as are facing this ****ty virus, which is essentially barring all premeds from shadowing or clinical activities.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

Fair points, but OP wasn't asking for our blessing to engage in a little self-improvement for fun. OP was asking in the context of a med school application, which implies using it as EC or educational substitutes because:

Yep, I'm aware! And I am saying that I don't think the certifications will add to their application, except in the sense that it may teach them interesting things to talk about during an interview or just in life. I think it's important to remember that med school apps aren't all about checkboxes - These courses certainly don't check any boxes, but if your alternative is being really bored and not learning or doing anything, might as well do some learning, and become a more well rounded/interesting person.

 

[Goro]

I am not only speaking for me, but those who will be applying the next cycle.
Websites that offer free certifications, such as "allison.com" seems to be pretty indepth and informative. Will they help make me or someone else later a stronger applicant?

Here is the website for more information: Free Online Certificate Diseases and Disorders Courses | Alison

Nope