<p>Hi everyone. I currently just finished my freshman year as an undergrad, majoring in General Biology and on the pre-med track. My GPA seems strong (so far) and I feel like I am lacking experience. </p>
<p>I am currently volunteering at a hospital (only one 3-5 hour shift a week) as a child life volunteer, where I pretty much keep kids company and set up activities for pediatric patients and their siblings. I also visit kids when they have no parents around and hold babies and entertain them to give nurses' a break. Other than that, I pretty much just disinfect toys whenever we have downtime. </p>
<p>I also just started researching with a professor on campus this summer who's researching aging and Progeria. I plan on continuing this until I graduate (as long as she still wants me!) </p>
<p>As for other experiences, I have none. I want to make sure my medical school application stands out and honestly, I just want to fill my free time. I want to challenge myself and put myself under some kind of pressure to understand how to balance and juggle my time wisely. </p>
<p>Starting next summer (summer after my sophomore year), I am planning to start working as an emergency room scribe (I just hope I can get the job). I feel like I could learn so much from this experience and we must be committed to this for 18-24 months, which I would gladly do. However, I'm not sure if I can get the position. </p>
<p>I was also thinking about getting certified to become a pharmacy technician. I feel like this would give me a really good experience with patients, since I know there's a position at an actual medical center, and not just CVS or Walgreens. And I also feel like understanding and knowing terminology and drugs will build my knowledge. </p>
<p>I'm debating if I would rather do that or try to become CNA certified. This may take a little longer, but I know you get more contact with patients. I would love this hands-on experience. </p>
<p>And last but not least, I REALLY want to go to El Salvador on a winter term, study abroad trip that focuses on poverty, risk, and education. Although this is not totally medical related, I feel like this is a great experience that would allow me to make some medical connections, considering we would be lodging with local, poor, rural families. The only problem is, I need to figure out how to get 3-4 grand by then =/ </p>
<p>I am so sorry for this being so long, but I would love any input or thoughts. Anyone who was a pharmacy tech in college and went on to medical school. Or was a CNA and went on to medical school or a medical scribe that went on to medical school. And if you studied abroad, please tell (: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I would really appreciate any responses.</p>