November 1, 2013
Article by Global Pre-Meds
Hospital doctor shadowing & global health experience programs.
While it is not mandatory for you to do so, working in a healthcare setting can give your confidence an extra boost. Moreover, it will also give you the edge when you are applying for admission in any medical college. The reason why medical work experience is such an integral part of your med school application is because admission tutors look for some indication of the following:
When you work for the NHS in a healthcare setting, you will get a chance to shadow a doctor. You get the opportunity to observe how they deal with day-to-day situations in a hospital/medical unit. In addition, you also get to see how they deal with patients concerns and understand what bedside mannerisms are expected of a doctor. Another valuable piece of experience that this gives you is that you know how to interact with other doctors, nurses and caregivers. This experience will:
The broad spectrum of experience that the NHS offers you is something that you might not gain when you work elsewhere.
Apart from the fact that you will be able to add this work experience on your application to a medical school, you will gain a great deal of confidence. Very importantly, it will also help you judge whether you really like working in the medical field and whether you are really cut out to be a doctor. This is very important as this is something you will be doing for the rest of your life.
What colleges are looking for is an indication that the student has looked at his/her future career with a certain amount of deliberation. Some colleges and universities will often double check with the experience providers and confirm whether you have volunteered placement and carried out that work experience. They also request feedback about the applicant and this is a great way to build credibility in the eyes of the people who matter.