Hi. My daughter is a junior and wants to become a physician’s assistant. She has an opportunity to volunteer at a hospital this summer or work as a camp counselor. I am not sure if she should volunteer at the hospital and not sure if the hours she volunteers there would count toward hours for applying to physicians assistant school. Any advice would be appreciated!Thanks,
Ba-Nhi S.
Hi, Ba-Nhi!
If she’s choosing between these two options, we suggest that she volunteer at the hospital. The camp counselor position may pay more (if it is a paid position) but if she wants to become a physician’s assistant in the future, or otherwise work in the medical field, every opportunity to work in a medical environment is one she should strongly consider. Think of it as an exclusive preview of a possible future that she is fortunate to have. It will give her insight into the medical field so she can determine whether or not this path is the one she wants to take in college. After all, there is always the chance that once she does experience what the medical field is like she could think, “No, this isn’t for me after all,” and redirect. This is totally fine, but having the opportunity to do so before college would save time and money. If it does turn out to be the area she wants to build a career in, though, starting now with volunteer work can only help her along in her journey. Having actual healthcare/medical experience will help her have a stronger resume and will set her apart when it comes to college application time. We vote hospital volunteering!
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