<p>Hey guys,
I was wondering if having/not having an EMT certification is a big advantage/disadvantage, or if it doesnt really affect chances at BA/MD programs at all. Anyone know?</p>
<p>i think it’s definitely helpful. it’s not like it’ll get you in, but they pretty much require some sort of significant medical activity. make sure to clock a good amount of hours emt-ing also.</p>
<p>what’s EMT stand for</p>
<p>emergency medical technician</p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>Its pretty ironic because i had just about the same question one year ago.<br>
I’ve gone through the process: applied to a bunch of these BS/MDs, got a bunch of interviews at some of the best programs out there, and finally got into one of my top choices.</p>
<p>Just to give you an idea, I wanted to do something medical related for my senior project. I pretty much had the option of either cancer research or an EMT certification. After doing a little bit of research, I found that EMT certification would take me a few hundred hours for the classes and required a significant amount of effort, when in the end, the best I could do in the short term would be shadowing in an EMT vehicle, and I couldnt actually get a job and do any real work before my interviews. In the end, I decided to research.</p>
<p>That probably made all the difference. I wasn’t super low on medical extracurriculars, but for the most part I basically had about 150 hours of volunteering and another maybe 50 hours of shadowing, with a few random things thrown in there. Research was definitely the most significant thing that I had done, that I felt would set me apart (even though a few others had done research). </p>
<p>In the end, I got into one of my top choices: University of Rochester’s REMS program (the medical school’s primary care rank is the same as harvard’s this year). Which, at the start of the process, I really felt I had zero shot of getting into. I am 90% sure that my research played a significant part in getting me into Rochester and also getting interviews at other very good programs. </p>
<p>So, in conclusion, if it is possible for you to get research in any way, I highly recommend it. But if not, it would be a great idea to get EMT certification, because it shows a lot of commitment and it will open doors to allow you to get some significant first hand experience. Also, I know many people who got their EMT certification in high school and are now working as EMTs in college for a good amount of money.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>lol yea emt or research both things are activities high school kids usually never do. i still think its odd that high school kids are able to do research. even college seems a bit early for kids to do meaningful research.</p>
<p>@ blackbelt22</p>
<p>well thats a relief, because i do biomedical research at Columbia university. I’ve been doing it for about a year now, and plan to continue on into the following school year (I’m a junior). I have one paper published already, and another one is on the way. I was just worried that EMT would give me a disadvantage, because it requires such a committment during the summertime, when I am most focused on research and other volunteer activities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback!</p>
<p>Honestly, I would just focus on the research. Especially since you’ve published a paper already. Make sure you are confident with the stuff you’ve done, because i got grilled about my research at some of my interviews.</p>
<p>But seriously, as long as you have hospital volunteering and some shadowing, youre probably in pretty good shape. Just write some decent essays, keep good (2250+) SAT scores, and apply to as many programs as you can (theyre all craps shoots).</p>
<p>Hope you get in to the shcool of your choice!</p>