ZS15 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 What type of volunteer work or organizations do you guys find schools to prefer? Would it look better if the volunteer work was patient oriented (e.g. Volunteer EMT) or are they more worried about continuity of the work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 3, 2014 Administrator Share Posted October 3, 2014 I think the best volunteer work portfolio is one that includes at least some medical work, but extends beyond that in time and scope. This is especially valuable for older applicants. I was able to show 3+ decades of volunteering in a variety of contexts, most of it non-medical, long before I'd done anything at all medically-focused in my career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MedLib42 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Agreed. Variety is best. Schools generally love to see volunteering done in medically underserved areas (such as free clinics), medical mission trips, hospice, EMT. But non-healthcare volunteer work is important too, so I would shoot for both if you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patho Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Like MedLib42 said, I found that volunteering at underserved clinics to be extremely valuable and was able to speak a lot about my experiences during my interview, but try to diversify your experience. I was also a health promoter. Also look for a local firefighter unit you can volunteer with, they'll have a lot to teach you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fakingpatience Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 The vast majority of my volunteer experience was non-medical. It also wasn't continuous with the same place for years at at time due to moving. I've worked with foster kids in the US, volunteered at orphanages abroad, and was a volunteer fire fighter for a short period of time. It hasn't held me back from receiving interviews at most of the schools I've applied to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I volunteered one day at a clinic and one day at a school. Hard to find time between work and school so for me I just wanted SOMETHING on my app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumsden Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Can you tell us more about your goals? What kind of PA do you want to be (e.g. family practice, specialty practice)? Do you want to work with a specific population (e.g. migrant workers, military, elderly)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZS15 Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 Can you tell us more about your goals? What kind of PA do you want to be (e.g. family practice, specialty practice)? Do you want to work with a specific population (e.g. migrant workers, military, elderly)? In answer to your question I have no idea what I'd like to do as a PA because I haven't had much experience working with specific populations/specialties to see what jives with me. The only experience I have is shadowing PA's in GI which is interesting but didn't strike me as a LOVE. I am an EMT so emergency medicine is also an interest. I guess I was just wondering what schools really wanted to see on an application. For example if I go walk dogs at the local humane society would that look worse on a application than working with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, etc. I don't have a lot of time between working full time and school full time so I want to make sure my hours count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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