<p>I'm trying to find a volunteer position or a shadowing position. The problem is, the hospitals around my home claim that their volunteer programs "are full" and that they essentially don't need me. I have no idea how one attempts to get a shadowing position, since nobody in my family is in the field of medicine. I'm also open to finding a receptionist job at a doctor's office, but I'm not sure how to go about that either. By the way, I just graduated from high school this year and I'm going to a combined med program in the fall. If you have any advice on how I can snag a position for the summer, PLEASE let me know. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>let me get this straight. you got into a combined med programs yet you dont even know how to get some clinical experience, which is somewhat important in getting into those programs...</p>
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The problem is, the hospitals around my home claim that their volunteer programs "are full" and that they essentially don't need me.
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<p>They claim they're full because they are - they have enough volunteers and don't need you. You're way too late for the vast majority of those positions. Most students started looking for summer volunteer work in the spring, not in the middle of summer.</p>
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I'm also open to finding a receptionist job at a doctor's office, but I'm not sure how to go about that either.
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<p>I doubt you'll find one of those, either. Most receptionists also do stuff like billing, and so they have more skills than a fresh high school graduate.</p>
<p>When did you start thinking your summer plans? At this point, it's going to be hard to find anything along the lines of what you're looking for. If I were you I'd just relax for the rest of the summer. I don't think it's a big deal if you take this summer off.</p>
<p>From my experience, contacting doctors directly by calling their offices to state your interest in shadowing works best. They understand the importance of having clinical experience, and many would be flattered that you have an interest in their practice/speciality. You might even want to try your family physician first, since he or she already knows you. If you contact enough physicians someone is bound to eventually say yes.</p>