<p>I'm being presented with the option to have my local township pay for an EMT Certification, but by the time I'm certified, it'll be right around the time of Regular Decision applications, and I don't think I could put down that I even volunteered because I would probably start volunteering around February (RD = January).</p>
<p>My dad says that it could make it look as if I'm showing a willingness to volunteer, but also thinks I should consider it carefully because classes would run during the school year while I'm submitting apps, taking SAT Subject Tests, etc. and it would be after school Monday, Wednesday, and all day Saturday (not including all the studying for additional tests)</p>
<p>And as of right now, I'm undecided on my major, but there is a relatively slim chance it will be anything medicine related (albeit not out of the question). Would spending the 130+ hours to get EMT cert look good on my app if it is inconsistent with all my other ECs, there is no volunteer work, and I'm probably not going to do pre-med?</p>
<p>I'd also feel pretty guilty about cancelling at the last minute :P</p>
<p>As a practicing EMT, I would say do it if you’re genuinely interested in it. EMS is a stressful profession and there is actually no point in going through the class with no intention to practice. That is, if you’re doing it just for a college application, forget about it. It’s not worth it. </p>
<p>However, if you’re doing it because you are genuinely interested in medicine, then it could be ultimately rewarding. However, most squads only pay for your education with a time commitment to serve the squad. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense paying for someone to be trained and then having them leave. So, if you were going away for college, that could be problematic. I got my certification while I was in college, so I volunteered with the local squad near my college campus. It’s all matter of whether you actually enjoy it.</p>
<p>Having an EMT Cert would be beneficial on some resumes and would provide me with a chance to do volunteer/paid work later on. I’m not saying that I’m not interested in it, I’m saying I’m not sure if the time commitment would be prudent during a busy portion of my senior year.</p>
<p>And yes, I would be volunteering with them, but it would be after I submit my college applications- so I’d still be volunteering the colleges just wouldn’t see it. I’m not dismissing volunteering on those grounds, I’m just wondering if my time could be invested elsewhere for a higher payoff during these critical times</p>
<p>Okay, so yes, an EMT cert would be a waste of time to get to “look good on my app” and so colleges would see it. Defeats the purpose of becoming an EMT, actually.</p>
<p>Agh, I think you’re misunderstanding me a little bit. I would get my cert and I’ll still be volunteering after I get my cert. For a while actually. It would be interesting experience, it might push me into medicine (because I might get interested in it), it would look good on a resume and it might open some doors down the line. </p>
<p>I’m just asking if colleges would consider it, because if they wouldn’t, it would probably be more prudent not to take the soonest classes and consider doing it later or in college. I’m asking if it is worth taking AS OF RIGHT NOW- doing it at a more inconvenient time so that colleges can see that I’m a certified EMT</p>
<p>Okay, I think I understand a little better now. If it would place a strain on the rest of your schedule, then, by all means, take it at a later date. Because, you have only a certain amount of time after you pass the course to sit for the state/national exams. And those would probably require you taking a day or two off from school to take. Taking it now just so colleges can see you’re a certified EMT probably is not worth it, to me anyway.</p>
<p>Hm, would you say EMT-B training is rigorous then? I would actually be certified by RD decisions and I think you start riding with them before (but I don’t know if that counts as volunteer work) so it seems as if there are certain benefits that go with getting my cert now</p>
<p>Where I was from, you can start riding when you start EMT class and can practice the skills up to what you are learning in class at the time. I mean, even as a certified EMT, you’re most likely going to be with more advanced EMTs who are going to handle the tough stuff. So like for an arrest, you would be doing compressions most likely, as a junior EMT. </p>
<p>EMT training is like another class at school, requiring the same type of dedication. There are minimum scores you have to achieve on tests to pass. You also will need to practice certain skills. And the curriculum where I’m from is now EMT, not EMT-B. If you train as an EMT-B, you will need to take additional classes if you decide to sit for the national exam. You would also need additional classes if you want to get certified and practice in another state that requires EMT to be certified in EMT as opposed to EMT-B.</p>