Hey ya’ll. So I’m a recently certified EMT from NJ and was wondering whether those that are in high school or, specifically, those in college for pre-med, can tell me a little about how being an EMT might have affected your acceptance to college? I’m a hard-working junior in high school and am wondering how being an EMT may affect my (possible, ofc) acceptance to ivy leagues.
I don’t know if that question makes any sense, but lmk if it doesn’t and I’ll clarify 
thank you!
This kinda works for me - I was an EMS Explorer for over 2.5 years back home in Texas at one of the best EMS agencies in the nation, and honestly it shaped a lot for me.
Some clarifying questions I thought may help you: what opportunities do you have to get on a truck? Does your local department have some sort of youth/Explorer program? Frankly, many people applying to these top institutions have roughly the same credentials: many are EMTs, CNAs, have experience as scribes and more. What you get out of being an EMT is not a boost in a resume for your applications, but the experiences you have working with people in their worst moment.
EMS in itself is quite a demanding and complex field - you don’t know what will be thrown at you next. I recall a rideout I was on where the calls we got scaled from abdominal pain to a cardiac arrest. This variety of calls offers opportunities to talk to people from all sorts of backgrounds who have experienced so many unique things. Oftentimes, depending on where you are, you’ll be in the back of the truck with them for 30-something odd minutes. You’ll usually strike up a conversation, make some small talk, or talk about someones life journey. It both helps lighten the mood, and also makes the drive go by faster.
I tied my experience in EMS with my college essays - I wrote my CommonApp Personal Essay on my interactions with these same people, and how it influenced how I worked with people I knew personally, and how it helped broaden my view of the world. And certainly, being an EMS Explorer was the biggest part of my application, but I didn’t do it just for college admissions.
To reiterate, what you get out of becoming an EMT isnt just something you write on paper. Its the experience you get, the interactions you have, with the people you care for. Those are the biggest rewards of being an EMT and working in EMS. The certifications impact on your college chances is low, but what you get out of it will have the biggest impact of all.
Hope this helps!
I’ll bite. Being an EMS worker is a very fine EC. But without knowing your GPA, SAT or ACT score, class rank, letters of reference, etc, it’s impossible to say whether you are a candidate for admission to the Ivy League schools.
I will give my opinion…working EMS will not get you accepted to elite schools unless you are otherwise qualified to be admitted.
And saying you are premed won’t matter.
If you are a practicing EMT - and building tenure and responsibility - it will look great to colleges that consider extra curriculars.
Short of being a world class athlete or something else to that level, an EC alone is not going to gain you admission to any school. But if you have passion for what you’re doing, it’s a great addition to your life and overall portfolio.
Thank you for the response! I have a fairly good profile other than EMT of course (why would I be writing this post anyways) - think 4.7W (school doesn’t do unweighted), ISEF grand award winner, 1600 sat, 36 act.
I was just wondering whether being an EMT might allow me to put my leg through the door after AO’s look at my stats. Maybe it’ll make me look a little unique, but I’m unsure. Thanks for replying, though!
Thank you! Your response was very meaningful, and yes, I feel the same way. I haven’t always been an extroverted person all my life. I think being able to volunteer at the hospital, helping patients in the back of the ambulance and working to get my EMT license has definitely shaped who I am today.
Thanks again for your response!
I agree, an EC alone won’t admit or reject me, but I think it definitely shaped me as a person.
Then sounds like a great essay topic too.
Whether you were in band, a sport, had a job, etc - all things are excellent. Bonus if it brought you passion and purpose as it seems it has.
Good luck in your apps. You’ll find the right school for you, Ivy or otherwise.
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