Need Clinical Experience? Consider a Medical Scribe Position.

If you’re a pre-med on the hunt for some high-quality clinical experiences, medical scribing could be an excellent fit. This paid position can help you to develop a strong network of provider relationships, gain an excellent foundation in medical terminology, observe clinical decision-making first-hand, and learn about the daily work and challenges of life as a physician. 

The work. Medical scribes serve as assistants to a physician (or multiple physicians) taking notes and charting patient encounters, inputting documentation into the Electronic Health Record (EHR), responding to patient questions and messages as directed by the physician, locating health records, and even researching information as requested by the physician. Scribes play a key role on a medical team as they free up the physician to focus on patient interactions while the scribe takes responsibility for administrative tasks. Scribes work closely under the supervision of a physician and do not have independent decision-making responsibilities. They work across a variety of specialties, including but not limited to: Emergency Medicine, Oncology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Family Practice, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Pain Management.

The training. After obtaining the position, medical scribes receive between a few weeks to a month of training in preparation for the position. This training is typically paired with a period of shadowing a fellow medical scribe. Even with this onboarding, most scribes feel overwhelmed early on in the role due to the steep learning curve. Scribes need to learn the styles and preferences of the physicians that they work alongside, including their preferred charting methods, as well as the EHR system and the new terminology. 

The benefits. 

• Medical school admissions committees view scribing favorably. A scribe’s work demonstrates their commitment to a career in medicine by showing that they have an intimate understanding of the work of a medical provider. They will gain foundational medical knowledge and experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between their undergraduate and medical studies, and inform their future career path.

• Scribes can gain experience within a specialty, including a more thorough understanding of the challenges that physicians in those roles face. 

• Scribes will have the opportunity to develop a wide network of provider relationships, some of whom may be willing, and able to write detailed recommendations based on their work alongside of them.  

• Scribes will demonstrate their ability to thrive on a team. Scribes must learn to work well with a variety of physicians who will each have a different style. They will also learn to deal with stress and be proactive in asking questions and picking up information quickly, which will benefit them as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.

Related: The Must-Knows if You’re a Premed Considering EMT Training

The Medical School Application: Key Tips to Consider Before you Begin Drafting the Work and Activities Section

The AMCAS application allows for a total of 15 entries. For each entry, you will provide a description of the activity (700-characters including spaces), experience dates, and completed/anticipated hours. You will then designate three of these entries as your “most meaningful,” which will give you an additional 1,325 characters (including spaces) to provide depth on the perspective you gained during the involvement.

Key tips to consider before you begin drafting:

• Take advantage of all 15 entries. What have been your most meaningful experiences that influenced your decision to apply to medical school? To start, brainstorm and write them all down in chronological order, limiting yourself to college or postgraduate experiences. This section is purposely broad and can include activities from a multitude of categories. (Read about the newly established social justice/advocacy category here.) If you can’t find 15, think about that one-day community service event that had a particular impact on you, that tutoring involvement where you worked with middle school students, or how playing the piano helps you to de-stress. While not all experiences will be equally meaningful, several are probably still worth sharing if they influenced your path in some way.

• You may also include anticipated experiences—past experience(s) that you have participated in and expect to continue with after you submit your application or an entirely new experience you have yet to start, but have a good idea what your work will involve. Just keep in mind that you may not enter anticipated activities in the following categories: Honors/Awards, Conference, Publications, Presentation.  

• After brainstorming all of your potential activities, take note of the 15 most relevant, some of which should fall into clinical work, research experience, community service, and social justice/advocacy, though make sure to span a diverse array of categories.

• When selecting your three most meaningful experiences, highlight first those that will show the reader your commitment to medicine. Then think about those that will show the reader your abilities in critical thinking and problem solving and/or leadership, as these qualities set physicians apart from other members of a healthcare team. What did you think, feel, see, and do in each involvement? What did you learn? How did you grow? 

• After writing each of your descriptions, read them aloud, and edit. Confirm that you are within the allotted number of characters. Such a stringent character limitation emphasizes the importance of clear language and perfect grammar. Treat these descriptions with as much care as you would your personal statement.

• Note that medical schools receive entries in plain text. If you write your descriptions and paste them into AMCAS, do not use formatted text (such as bullets) as it may not come across as you intend and you cannot edit the section after submission. 

The Work and Activities section gives the medical school admissions committee a summary of your meaningful involvements since the start of your college career experiences, which reinforced your interest in the study and practice of medicine. Thus, it is vital to ensure each word moves your candidacy forward in a compelling way.

Related:

AMCAS Work & Activities Section: Hobbies

2024 AMCAS Work & Activities Section Will Include New Experience Category: Social Justice/Advocacy

2024 AMCAS Work & Activities Section Will Include New Experience Category: Social Justice/Advocacy

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) just announced that the 2024 application will include a new experience category in the Work and Activities section: Social Justice/Advocacy.  

AMCAS defines a social justice/advocacy experience as “one in which the applicant worked to advance the rights, privileges, or opportunities of a person, a group of people, or a cause.” It is specifically noted that experiences in this category do not need to be tied to any particular ideology, and that the category is “not intended to solicit experiences campaigning for a particular political candidate or party.” Rather, it is based on the applicant’s understanding of social justice/advocacy.

AMCAS provides examples of social justice/advocacy activities, which include: Registering people to vote, advocating for civil rights, decreasing health inequities, addressing food deserts, building awareness for a particular cause or health condition, advocating for vulnerable populations (children, homeless, etc.), and assisting with policy change or development. Previously, some applicants might have included advocacy work and social justice-related volunteering in other categories.

It's likely that you’ve already had experiences that will fall into this category. If so, we recommend that you include them. More schools are emphasizing social justice in their mission statements—and they’re looking for students whose values align with theirs.

As you consider this new category, remember these tips:

• Provide specific information about your social justice/advocacy experiences instead of making broad or generalized statements. For what specific issues did you advocate? What vulnerable population did you intend to benefit? What actions did you take on behalf of this issue/population? What did you learn that will make you a more effective member of the medical community?

• Avoid using overly-political or inflammatory language in your description. You want to resonate with a broad audience. Keep your description centered on the issues or population for which you worked and explore how it prepared you for medical school and your future career.

• While showing dedication to social justice and advocacy is important to admissions committees, ensure that you come across as well-rounded and include experiences across many different categories. If you have many social justice/advocacy experiences, select the strongest few to share or group them together. Consider the efforts where you played a meaningful leadership role, issues that you have a particular passion for, or experiences that relate directly to the mission of a school where you are applying.

• Conversely, if you don’t have any of these experiences, first think carefully about your volunteer activities and if there are components of those activities that may fit into this category. A good deal of volunteer work advocates for vulnerable populations or seeks to change an issue. However, if you are unsure or uncomfortable, don’t try to stretch an experience to make it fit. While this is a meaningful category for the medical community, there are many other experiences that will also prove your readiness for medical school.

Study Finds Perseverance the Most Common Theme of the AMCAS W&A Entries of Highly Successful Medical Students

Earlier this year, researchers Joseph M. Maciuba, Yating Teng, Matthew Pflipsen, Mary A. Andrews, and Steven J. Durning published findings from early research into the qualitative differences in the AMCAS applications of medical students identified as high performing (via entry into a medical school honor society) and low performing (referred for administrative action). The study’s scope included 61 students who graduated from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD from 2017 to 2019. 

The researchers found significant differences in the AMCAS Work and Activities submissions: 

• Among the high performing students, seven themes emerged frequently in their Work and Activities submissions: teamwork, altruism, success in a practiced activity, wisdom, passion, entrepreneurship, and perseverance. High performers, on average, referenced the themes 7.86 times per application as compared to the low performers’ 3.81 times. 

• High performers also showcased a more diverse array of themes within their applications than low performers. On average high performers referenced 4.5 different themes in their applications, while low performers averaged 2.5.

• The most notable differences between high and low performers occurred in use of “perseverance.” Fifty five percent of high performers referenced the trait (19 percent of low performers). 

• 73 percent of high performers included a reference to their success in a practiced activity (38 percent of low performers). 

• Among low performing students, common themes emerged as well: Witnessing teamwork (taking a passive versus an active role in a team environment), describing a future event (event that has not yet occurred), and embellishing an achievement.

AMCAS Work & Activities Section: Hobbies

Hobbies. They are not a make or break component of the medical school (and later, residency) application, but they are an opportunity to provide the admissions committee with a view of the person beyond the test scores. Hobbies are also an effective way to demonstrate how you will add to the diversity of the incoming class, showcase qualities you will need as a medical student/physician, and/or provide insight into how you may relieve stress during medical school. 

Within the AMCAS application, hobbies belong in the Work & Activities section under the extracurriculars category. Applicants can provide up to four experiences under each category type, with a 700 character (with spaces) count, unless the experience is designated “most meaningful” (requires an additional 1,325 characters with spaces). 

Below are our guidelines for adding hobbies to your AMCAS application:

• Be current. If you played the trumpet in the high school band, but haven’t picked it up since then, consider what hobbies are more relevant to your life now. What do you turn to for fun, and what do you see yourself doing for stress relief in medical school?

• Be specific in your description. Provide a sense of how often, and how long you have been pursuing the hobby, as well as what the hobby entails. It’s great that you love to read, do yoga, and travel, but so do many others. In what unique ways have you engaged with your interests? Did you launch a monthly book club for discussing the NYT best sellers? Write book reviews for the school paper? Did you gain a yoga teaching certification or take part in a unique yoga retreat? Do you travel to particular destinations or participate in medical experiences abroad?

• State how your hobby has impacted your personal growth. Did an experience within your hobby contribute to a change in your perspective or influence your decision to apply to medical school? What attributes have you developed through your hobby that will benefit you as a medical student and physician (resilience, effective communication and collaboration skills, empathy, the ability to thrive in a diverse environment, etc.)? 

• When possible, provide an experience or milestone that differentiates your involvement in the hobby. Many people play an instrument, but fewer start a quartet or play in the university band. Many people enjoy running or fitness, fewer run the NY marathon to support a favorite cause/organization or start a running club. Providing the specific way(s) that you’ve engaged with your hobby will demonstrate to the admissions committee what you may offer to your incoming class. 

The Must-Knows if You’re a Premed Considering EMT Training

Many premedical students consider EMT training and certification because it can provide excellent clinical experience and patient interactions. Could it be the right fit for you? 

There are a lot of benefits that medical school admissions committees view favorably.

• As an EMT, you will develop your leadership skills and understanding of some of the work and challenges physicians may face. 

• You will gain foundational medical knowledge and clinical experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between your undergraduate and medical studies. In a recent study at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, which added EMT certification into the first-year curriculum, most students agreed that the certification eased the transition into medical school (82 percent) and “increased awareness of patient’s lives and circumstances” (91 percent). 

• You will hone your ability to stay calm and clear-headed under duress, which will certainly benefit you as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.

EMT Certification Process. To become a certified EMT, you must take the equivalent of about six college credits at an accredited school, which includes CPR, controlling blood flow, and patient communication and interactions. You will then take the NREMT exam which is made up of two components: a written, cognitive section that measures your medical knowledge and a psychomotor skills assessment that measures practical skills in patient assessment and emergency response skills. After passing the test, you can apply for EMT certification through your local EMS agency. 

After certification, you will want to consider paid versus volunteer opportunities. Paid employment generally takes shift structures. Volunteer work is more flexible. If you consider paid employment, you will want to look for emergency response or ambulatory work, rather than interfacility transfers. Emergency work will provide you with the most opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences. To understand the opportunities available, check with your local EMS agency, fire departments or hospitals. 

Is it the right fit?:

• What types of clinical and/or research experiences have you already had? In what areas might your future medical school application benefit most?  

• Do you have the time… really? If you want to gain EMT certification, consider it earlier in your undergraduate career or as an activity during a gap year. You won’t want to combine EMT certification with studying for the MCAT, coursework, and medical school applications and interviews.

• What volunteer or employment opportunities are available for you locally? Are they a good fit with your schedule and interests? Gaining the certification without the associated patient experiences from working or volunteering will not provide you with any meaningful benefit as an applicant or medical student.

Are you a Pre-Med in Need of Summer Research or Clinical Experiences? Check out the SDN Activity Finder.

If you are a premedical student looking to supplement your learning and enhance your medical school application this summer, check out the Student Doctor Network (SDN) activity-finder. The activity-finder allows you to sort through summer or next-term experiences, organized into the following categories: medical/clinical work experiences, volunteer/community service experiences, research experiences, and shadowing experiences. Then it provides a list of organizations and resources for you to consider by location.  

The Medical School Application’s Work and Activities Section: Key Tips to Consider Before You Begin Drafting

Crafting a compelling Work and Activities Section is an important priority for any medical school applicant. It will allow you to provide depth on your most meaningful experiences and communicate how a particular research position, teaching opportunity, or clinical exposure inspired your interest in the study of medicine. It will also give you the chance to show through anecdotes such characteristics as intellectual curiosity, adaptability, empathy, as well as your aptitude in critical and creative thinking, or your ability to thrive in a collaborative environment.   

The AMCAS application allows for a total of 15 entries, with three designated as “most meaningful.”  While all of the entries allow for a 700-character (including spaces) description of the activity, the three most meaningful entries include an additional requirement of 1,325 characters (including spaces) where you can provide further context on the perspective you gained and lessons you learned.

Key tips to consider before you begin drafting:

• Take advantage of all 15 entries, considering the various experiences you have had that influenced your decision to apply to medical school. To start, brainstorm and write them all down in chronological order, limiting yourself to college or post-graduate experiences. This section is purposely broad and can include activities from a multitude of categories (listed below). If you find that you do not have 15, carefully consider even one-day community service events that had a particular impact on you. Keep in mind that while not all experiences will be equally meaningful, several experiences are probably still worth sharing if they influenced your path in some way.

• After brainstorming all the potential activities, make note of the 15 most relevant, making sure to span a diverse array of categories. Pay particular attention, however, to clinical activities, research, and community service.

• When selecting your three most meaningful experiences, highlight first those that demonstrate a commitment to medicine and service to others. After that, consider work/activities that are unique and, therefore, will help differentiate you to the admissions committee.

• When you describe your work/activities, be sure to clearly articulate what you did and what the outcome(s) of your participation included. In your descriptions, highlight also the qualities that you used or developed through your involvement, noting your academic/intellectual growth, maturity, sound judgment, and compassion, as well as ability to interact well with others. It is also important to include, where possible, the impact of the activity on your decision to apply to medical school.

• After writing your descriptions, read them aloud, and edit. Confirm that you are within the allotted number of characters. Such a stringent character limitation emphasizes the importance of tight, clear language and perfect grammar.

The Work and Activities section gives the medical school admissions committee a summary of all those experiences that ultimately inspired your interest in and commitment to a rigorous, yet rewarding career path. Thus, it is vital to ensure each word moves your candidacy forward in a compelling way.