🔍 Finding Clinical Opportunities as an Undergrad (Without Losing It)
Welcome Back!
As most pre-meds know, the AMCAS application opened just four days ago on May 1st—marking the official start of what’s sure to be a long, nerve-wracking journey toward finding out if we got into medical school. The stress and jitters are real for current applicants (myself included). And if you're not applying this cycle, consider yourself lucky—your summer won’t be defined by refreshing your inbox and overthinking secondaries.
That said, whether you’re applying this summer, next year, or two+ years from now, the end of the academic year and the start of summer is go time for pre-meds. It’s the season when many of us dive into research, clinical work, or other hands-on experiences.
While your non-pre-health friends may be chatting about beach plans and celebrating the end of finals, we’re gearing up for a different kind of challenge. And that’s okay. Using your summers wisely is key on the path to med or PA school. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t relax, travel, or take time off—but it does mean your summer mindset might look a little different. This is your chance to commit to the kinds of experiences that are hard to fully pursue during the school year. So make the most of it—this is where the real growth happens.
🧠 So…Have You Been Here?…
You need clinical hours for Med or PA school, but it’s 2 am and you're Googling “hospital volunteering near me”... again. 😩
Don’t panic—we’ve got a game plan. ✅
🩺 What Even Is Clinical Experience?
Clinical = direct patient interaction 👀🗣️
Common examples:
Hospital or clinic volunteer 🏥
Medical scribe ✍️ (this is arguably more interaction with providers than patients)
EMT 🚑
Phlebotomist 🩸
Physical Therapy Assistant 👨🏾🦽➡️
Certified Nursing Assistant 💉
Hospice volunteering 🕊️
Shadowing a physician 👨⚕️ (some debate if it "counts" fully, so clarify)
Notice I didn’t include becoming a medical assistant, even though it’s also a great way to get clinical experience. BUT it often requires costly certification and/or your ability to work full-time (usually on weekdays), which is not feasible for most full-time college students. I’d recommend becoming an MA during your gap year if you have the time!
🏫 Start on Campus
Student-run clinics 👥
Pre-health orgs = built-in network; reach out to alumni physicians, even parents of classmates who are doctors 🧬
Campus job boards or service centers; Indeed, ScribeAmerica, & Handshake are also good platforms 💼
Pre-health advisor = underused goldmine 🙋🏽♀️ (if your college does not have a pre-health advising office, then lean on your career center)
📧 Cold Emailing Doesn’t Have to Be Cringe
How to send a solid cold email 🔑
Use your .edu 📩
Keep it short & sweet 🍬
Attach your resume and cover letter📎
Follow up (politely!) ⏰
Bonus: here’s a sample email template 💌 (courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison)
🏘️ Use Local Resources
Community hospitals = hidden gems 🏥💎
Urgent care centers and primary care clinics 🩹 (don’t be afraid to reach out to your own doctor or your parents’ PCP)
Hospice orgs or nursing homes 🛏️
Nonprofits (Red Cross, Planned Parenthood) ❤️🔥
In my college town, I applied to ScribeAmerica since it’s a good way to get your first scribe job with no experience. Most scribe job listings on Indeed and other platforms prefer at least 1 year of experience, unfortunately 😕)
💰 Paid Clinical = Win-Win
Medical scribe = front-row seat to patient care 🎟️ (I’m biased, but I think scribing is an excellent way to get close to physicians)
CNA & phlebotomy training 🧪
Research with a clinical angle 🔬 (I’ve worked on some clinical research in the PT department, which involved young patients, so even if it’s outside a hospital setting, you’re still getting direct patient interactions!)
Look for local programs or summer gigs ☀️
⚖️ Avoid Burnout
2–4 hours/week is enough to start if you’re volunteering, but if you do a paid clinical job, often times part-time work is 12-23 hours/week ⏳
It’s okay to not do everything 😅 (try your best not to have just multiple short-term experiences and aim to have at least one long-term experience too)
Focus on meaningful over impressive 🧘♀️ (also don’t stay at a clinical job you absolutely hate, it will harm your mental health and will leave you little to reflect on)
Reflect on your experiences as you go 📓 (write thoughts and any cool experiences in your phone’s note app)
✨Takeaways
This process takes time—don’t compare your path to others 👣
You’re showing up for real people. That is clinical experience 💯
💌 Need help with your cold email? Want a resume eye? Email me—I got you (beza@prehealthscaries.com)