I'm currently a junior. I got accepted into the Camp Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) program, it's a five-day program where I shadow physicians and nurses, and I'll also be able to watch surgeries. I also got into the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program. I also get to shadow doctors and watch surgeries in that program, just like Camp CHLA, but this program is for 2 weeks. I got into Kaiser Permanente's Summer Youth Employment Program, I was told that it was more of an administrative program. It's a 6 weeks paid internship. I won't get to shadow doctors or nurses or anything like that, but I'll be introduced to different healthcare careers in a specific department. So in the application, I put that I wanted to get assigned to the cardiology department but out of all the participants, there's a small chance I'll be put in that department since only 2 or 3 participants get assigned to their desired department. And I was told that some participants have gotten put into places like the cafeteria, serving food. If I choose the Kaiser Internship I won't be able to do the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program and Camp CHLA, which are shadowing programs, and that really something I'm looking forward to. But I feel like doing the Kaiser internship will help me a lot, in terms of standing out in college applications because of how popular Kaiser is and is one of America's leading healthcare providers and nonprofit health plans. I'm looking into applying to BS/MD programs, I know they're really competitive, but which program should I choose that'll help me stand out? Kaiser paid internship or Camp CHLA and Eve and Gene Black program? What do you guys think? What, should I do?
You seem to have a lot of excellent programs available for you to choose from! I understand your concern about how the programs you've been accepted into will impact your chances of enrolling in a BS/MD school, but all of the ones you've been accepted into look like they'd be advantageous to your future in medicine. The Eve and Gene Black summer programs and Camp CHLA would be ideal if you're interested in shadowing medical professionals. You would probably gain useful experience and exposure from these classes by watching surgical operations and learning about other medical specialties. Additionally, they could demonstrate to admissions panels your passion in medicine and your commitment to working toward your objectives. On the contrary, the Kaiser internship seems like it would be a valuable experience for you. Even if you don't get assigned to the cardiology department, being able to explore different healthcare careers and gain administrative experience could be beneficial. That would be an outstanding way to learn more about the administrative side of the healthcare sector. Additionally, the fact that it is a paid internship at a reputable healthcare provider will attract the attention of admissions committees. The choice is ultimately up to you and what you believe would be best for your objectives and interests. It's critical to assess the benefits and drawbacks of each program to choose which will give you the most worthwhile experience. Wishing you luck with your choice!
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