Get Out There!

Welcome back!

This week is all centered around my personal extracurricular experiences throughout my undergraduate career and after! In my personal opinion, and from what I have heard from other doctors and admissions reps, volunteer and clinical experience is a critical portion of your application. I think that the experiences I have had the opportunity to live through and be a part of have shaped me into who I am, developed a deeper passion for forensic science in particular, and ultimately have the ability to set me apart from others.

Volunteering (September 2020 - April 2022):

During my freshman year of undergrad, I was able to create a strong relationship with the lead forensic science professor, and ultimately, she helped me obtain a volunteer position at our local Medical Examiner's office. I started volunteering in the autopsy suites (in the examinations division of our department) in September 2020. During this period, I helped to locate and retrieve bodies by case numbers, operated a pallet jack to retrieve and rerack the cases, fingerprinted the decedents, kept the stations organized, cleaned the stations, mopped the freezers and autopsy suite, and assisted the forensic photographers in any ways that I could. I stopped volunteering in April 2022 in order to take a paid internship.

Interning (May 2022 - May 2023):

Starting in the beginning of May 2022, I became a paid intern. During this period, I still completed the same tasks as I did when I was volunteering, but I was also able to learn many new skills! I was in charge of eviscerating the heads and necks of decedents, drawing specimen samples for toxicology (including blood, liver, vitreous humor, and spleen), and suturing. The paid internship ended in October 2022, but I was able to stay on as an unpaid intern and continue growing in my position and the field. I ended my internship opportunities in May of 2023 as I was hired as a part-time forensic technician.

Part-time (June 2023 - Present):

I began working as a part-time forensic technician in June 2023. During this period, I still continued completing the tasks listed in the volunteering section, as well as the interning section, but I was now able to further grow and learn more skills. I am now trained in full-body evisceration, taking autopsy photos, taking notes for the doctors I am working with, learning and utilizing the computer software that is used to input all of the exam information electronically, and packaging and collecting evidence. I am still working as a part-time technician now.

Throughout my volunteering, interning, and part-time journey, I was in undergrad, taking classes, and being a resident assistant, now that I have graduated, I am studying for the MCAT and preparing for medical school. This has led to a very busy, and sometimes hectic schedule, but I would not change these experiences for the world. I have been able to learn first-hand, things that most people do not get to see, I have met some of the most incredible people who have become my closest friends and have consistently supported me, and I have seen my passion for this field grow exponentially. With all this being said, experience is huge, especially in the field of forensic science. Get out there and believe in yourself!

Next topic?

• Mentorship and connections
• MCAT studying and tips
• Other (let me know in the comments!) :)