Working before/during Post Bac

[NPSperl0863]

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Hey everyone,

First time poster here. Im a 23 year old Communications grad, 3.3 CGPA. I've recently decided to make a switch in medicine, and am looking into all sorts of post bacc programs on the east coast to get my science p'reqs finished. As I have no clinical or hospital experience, I know that I need to get something sorted out asap. For the next year or so before I start my post bacc, I want to get some good experience in a medical setting, and was wondering what my options might be? I am hoping for something that is paid to start off, and then I can volunteer a little further down the road. I was thinking EMT, but people seem to have mixed opinions about it. I would love to get some experience in the ER or OR if possible. What would give me good hands on training and also look good for post bac and med school apps? Any feedback or advice would be great! Thanks!!

 

[TFS]

i think you can get paid as a scribe and it's great clinical exposure. i wish i had known about it when i was taking classes. check with your local hospitals.

 

[drimpossible]

Post-bacc programs such as Columbia University's require you to be in a clinical volunteering position while in their programs. Other programs do not have such requirements. The more competitive/rigorous programs (such as Columbia) do not provide you with enough time to work full time. The few people I know who did continue to work while in postbacc studies took classes only part-time, and mostly worked in pre-existing jobs that they had in non-medical fields.

I began by taking classes at night and volunteered in an Emergency Department on the weekends.I eventually got my EMT cert and began volunteering in an ambulance. Both were awesome experiences, but being an EMT is definitely more hands-on that most other volunteering opportunities. I went into full-time postbacc studies about two years ago, but never felt that I wanted to do a 40 hour work week on top of my course load. In terms of finances, I was able to get by on loans, and ended up with decent grades and good EC's.

Good luck. It's a more fun process than most people say. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.