Working as a caregiver

[pre med 2014]

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Will working as a caregiver for 2 years after college give me any advantage over the other applicants?

It definitely gives me something talk about and is consistent with a proper motivation to go into medicine. Outside of that is it an advantage and will it put me up to par with people who have stronger volunteering success than me?

 

[darkjedi]

It does seem like a very significant volunteer experience, however adcoms will likely look for experiences involving shadowing actual physicians as well. If your experience as a caregiver has shaped your decision to get into medicine, use that in your personal statements or secondaries. One thing won't make you stand out from all the applicants, especially given how competitive the application process is. A variety of interests and experiences is what gets noticed.

 

[pre med 2014]

I do have quality shadowing experience. I also have good volunteer experience but I didn't do anything extraordinary like go to Africa.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I do have quality shadowing experience. I also have good volunteer experience but I didn't do anything extraordinary like go to Africa.

Meh, going to Africa not so very extraordinary. Some people have the money and time to go. Most of us don't, and we can still get accepted just fine. If you learn a lot from this experience and can articulate that, being a caregiver will definitely help your application.