I have been reading BS/MD threads for a while. The stats in these “chance me” and acceptee posts all show high achievements with loads of ECs and awards. I am especially impressed by their 200-300 even 400 hours of volunteer work at hospitals. I wonder how important the number of hours volunteering at hospitals matters to the application? Daughter has been volunteering in a community hospital for a year, it is a special program so daughter gets only 2-hours shift twice a month. She has been volunteering/working in a Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine clinic for a few years. She shadows the doctor occasionally but most of the time she helps processing the issuance claims and billings, about 1-2 hours a week, and get a small pay for this. Is this considered as a good EC when applying BS/MD programs like PLME and HPME? I often heard people talking about one must show “love” in order to get in medical schools, by working at hospitals without pay.
Your D has good exposure to medical related activities. Put the details related to claims and billings but not under volunteer. Put them under paid activities.
thanks
We don’t know what she’s doing, but in general, the closer to actual healthcare delivery, the better. The more exposure to the rough realities, the better. It’s more than shadowing, as top schools also want to see the level of responsibilities and some impact.
Many kids vol at a hospital, but also local clinics, get involved in advocacy, education, work directly with the needy, etc. And the hs math-sci ECs. Billing isnt direct care work.
It’s not really about showing the love as much as that her view of the career, the challenges, the rigor, is well informed, a mature decision. The competition is fierce.
Even if she’s a senior, maybe she could do some quick thinking and add some activity.