<p>I am a high school junior looking at applying to 8 year BS/MD programs (VCU, Stonybrook, CWRU, etc.).</p>
<p>This summer I am looking at pursuing an EMT-B certification or hospital volunteering. My state allows people 16+ to take EMT-B classes and obtain a certification. This course seems really interesting to me, and I think it would be helpful in learning basic skills that I could use later on. However, I could also do more hospital volunteering - however, given my age, I would be limited to administrative/clerical tasks, but I would be in a real hospital setting. I really want to stick to one of these options so that I don't overload myself (the timings conflict).</p>
<p>Given that I am looking at BS/MD programs, which option would you recommend that I pursue this summer?</p>
<p>PS. I have done some hospital volunteering before; I have also been doing a research mentorship at my local research facility for the past 1.5 years and have been doing hospital shadowing.</p>
<p>Thank you so much in advance - any input would be appreciated.</p>
<p>An EMT-B certification by itself is not very impressive unless you do something with it. If the EMT certification will allow you to work in a more direct clinical capacity in your volunteer work, then it can provide a significant experience. Otherwise, it probably won’t mean much for an application. However, you say you’ve been volunteering, shadowing, etc. so it’s not as if getting the EMT cert will preclude you from having these other things on your application. So if you want to do the EMT thing (even if you won’t have the opportunity to put those skills to use), go for it.</p>
<p>Can you work as a volunteer EMT after the course? If so, I would go that way. I am on CC as a parent of a HS student, but in my real life as a medical school/residency/fellowship interviewer and committee member I will tell you the EMT will pay dividends. If you work (even for a limited time) you will have “real patient stories” and an understanding of triage, diagnosis and patient interaction.<br>
There are very rare volunteer positions or shadowing positions that will give you as much experience as being out in independent practice.</p>
<p>EMT, from my experience, definitely helps a lot in the application. IF you do both hospital volunteering and EMT it;ll be great. You want to look distinct. Everyone applying to BS/MD programs have already done some hospital volunteering. </p>