Clinical experience/shadowing during the summer?

[uneven crown]

I'm finishing up my freshman year of undergrad and really want to get started on getting some clinical experience, whether it's through volunteering, working, or shadowing. I don't just want to do it to look good for medical school (although that's obviously a plus), but I'm also deciding between medical school and clinical psych and want some exposure to help with my decision. Where do you usually find experiences like these, and what should I be looking for?

[elder sleet]

Honestly I think you just have to reach out to people in your area and ask to shadow!

Also volunteering for 7cups would give you some exposure to listening to people and being compassionate, so you can see if you like it (:

[orchid iron]

I usually find experiences through people that i know. I would ask them if they're ok with you shadowing them for volunteering experience.

[uneven crown]

I don’t really know any doctors, should I just email some I find online directly?

[orchid iron]

yea that could work, i'd also contact like some doctors that you know and ask about volunteering for them as well

[fickle beacon]

1. Check out premed resources at your local university website or nearby colleges websites.
   They list out hospitals and organizations past pre meds have worked and volunteered at.
   (If your local universities aren’t great at listing resources, then look at FIU pre med and UCF pre med if you’re in the FL area. I’m biased but they are great resources.)

2. Look online at your local hospitals for shadowing opportunities.
   Any big name hospitals you will probably have to fill out an application to shadow a doctor.

3.Talk to your pre med classmates in your year and above to find out who they shadowed.
If they are cool people they can even introduce you and get you a spot.

You mentioned two different career options. That’s great especially since you have plenty of time to take on opportunities to see what is the best path for you.

4. Google entry level positions in your career of interest and see what the results are.

5. Search on indeed, or any job board of your preference, for your career interest, and filter for entry level to see what type of positions pop up.
   I think behavioral technician is one for clinical psych.

Paid positions might require training and certification. So look into volunteer options first beforehand to see if those positions are of interest to you.

Volunteer opportunities are usually available at most hospitals and clinics.

8. Call the hospital volunteer department and ask if they have positions available

9. Show up to a clinic with resume in hand and ask if they have opportunities for you to volunteer.

10. Visit in person the university’s pre med and psychology department and ask what opportunities they have available.

11. Search online volunteer boards like volunteer match .com

I gave a lot of options. Just pick one and go from there. No need to do all of them or get bogged down in how to do it. Asking friends and premed departments is easiest for most.

[uneven crown]

Thanks so much this is great! I’m in Philadelphia and most of the people here are gatekeepers/cutthroat so I doubt I would get anything out of my friends.