Extracurricular Activities

Personal attributes and skills are extremely important criteria that health-related professional schools use in evaluating applicants. These personality traits, strengths of character, and life experiences are generally not obvious from your academic credentials. Medical schools look for applicants who have demonstrated PASSION and an ABILITY TO EXCEL in whatever they do. Successful applicants often spend time in the medical environment (EMTs, hospital volunteers, etc.), demonstrate valuable personality traits (leadership, compassion, communication skills, etc.), and leave a legacy of positive accomplishments in whatever way they choose to serve their community.

Accordingly, it is vital that you engage in extracurricular activities that allow you to develop and document these types of skills and strengths. There is no specific type of activity that is best for all; i.e., you have to find what is right for you. You do not even have to leave Clark's local community. For example, participating in team sports, tutoring classmates or high school students, or being active in student organizations can be valuable.

To acquire experience in the medical environment, you might consider EMT training or volunteering at a hospital or medical clinic. Internship opportunities can be explored through Clark's Career Services Office. Volunteer opportunities and internship opportunities are listed on the Community Engagement and Volunteering (CEV) Center page. Below are links to other volunteer opportunities:

American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts
Elder Services
EMT
Family Health Services
Hospital
Pre-Vet Opportunities
Animal Clinics and Hospitals
Other Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

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Elder Services Volunteering

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EMT

To find out how to become a member of Clark EMS, visit the Clark EMS website or e-mail clarkems@clarku.edu. Clark University Police (X7575) has an EMT on staff who can tell you more about how to become a licensed EMT. Another useful site tells more about the EMT program and lists sites to take the EMT course.

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Family Health Service Volunteering

Pernet Family Health Service (scroll down to volunteer info)

Health Clinic Volunteering

AIDS Project Worcester; Internships
Family Health Center School-Based Health Center Program: Contact Sarah Rulnick, MPH, at 508-757-5350, sarah.rulnickfhcw@umassmed.edu
Great Brook Valley Medical Center: Contact Patricia_Potter@Greatbrook.org
Tapestry Health (Western MA)

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Hospital Volunteering

Worcester

Outside of Worcester

Exploring opportunities to do community service, not necessarily directly related to medicine, is an excellent way to develop interpersonal skills, demonstrate caring for others, and build a record of positive contributions. Again, Clark's CEV Center can help you identify such options. The United Way (Central Massachusetts) is also an excellent place to begin.

Several medical schools are striving to increase the number of doctors committed to serving traditionally underserved areas of the country, including rural and inner-city communities. Applicants who have served in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America may have just the experience and expertise such schools are looking for.

One other valuable way to go beyond your classroom experiences is to become involved in scholarly research. Many opportunities to explore research exist at Clark, and if this is intellectually attractive to you, it is an excellent way to identify yourself as a scholar, to demonstrate your potential as a medical scientist, to demonstrate your ability to function as a member of a team, and to establish a record of accomplishments that your research mentor can cite in his or her letter of recommendation. Click on the following links to learn more about research opportunities:
Active Learning and Research
Funding for Undergraduate Research

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Other Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

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Pre-Vet Volunteer Opportunities

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Animal Clinics and Animal Hospitals Where You May Be Able to Arrange Volunteer or Shadowing Experiences

Abbott Animal Hospital: 48 Fall River Avenue, Rehoboth, 508-336-4430
Abbott Animal Hospital: 21 E. Mountain Street, Worcester, 508-853-3350
Acoaxet Veterinary Clinic: 965 Sanford Road, Westport, 508-636-8382
All Creatures Veterinary Hospital: 20 Commercial Street, Salem, 978-740-0290
Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital: 289 Dalton Avenue, Pittsfield, 413-443-4949
Andover Animal Hospital: 233 Lowell Street, Andover, 978-475-3600
Angell Animal Medical Centers: 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617-522-7282; 171 Union Street, Springfield, 413-785-1221; 21 Crooked Lane, Nantucket, 508-228-1491
Animal Emergency Care: 164 Great Road, Acton, 978-263-1742
Animal Health Center: 2245 Providence Hwy, Walpole, 508-660-9956
Animal Health Center: 59 Lafayette Road, Salisbury, 978-462-7953
The Animal Hospital of Lynnfield: 1 Bay State Road, Lynnfield, 781-334-4161
Animal Hospital of Orleans: 65 Finlay Road, Orleans, 508-255-1194
Ashland Animal Hospital: 10 Fountain Street, Ashland, 508-881-2400
Atwood Animal Hospital: 342 Atwood Avenue, Cranston, RI, 401-942-7360
Back Bay Veterinary Clinic: 324 B Newbury Street, Boston, 617-247-2273
Banfield The Pet Hospital: 213 Hartford Avenue, Bellingham, 508-966-4365; 250 Grossman Drive, Braintree, 781-848-1521; 160 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, 617-354-1333; 5 Mystic View Road, Everett, 617-387-1143; 1 Worcester Road, Framingham, 508-370-7299; 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike, Millbury, 508-581-9019; 1385 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, 508-695-8787; 88 Shops at Five Way, Plymouth, 508-746-1135; 10 Traders Way, Salem, 978-745-2237
Barnstable Animal Hospital: 157 Airport Road, Hyannis, 508-778-6555
Bellingham Animal Hospital: 112 Mendon Street, Bellingham, 508-966-1000
Belvidere Veterinary Hospital: 215 Mansur Street, Lowell, 978-459-9051
Berkshire Veterinary Hospital: 730 1/2 Crane Avenue, Pittsfield, 413-499-2820
Billerica Animal Clinic: 888-890 Boston Road, Billerica, 978-667-2336
Black Pond Veterinary Service: Whit Acres Farm, 111 Circuit Street, Norwell, 781-659-7798
Borash Veterinary Clinic: 79 Prospect Street, Peabody, 978-531-8713
Bristol County Veterinary Hospital: 288 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, 508-336-3381
Brockton Animal Hospital: 386 Belmont Street, Brockton, 508-588-4142
Bulger Animal Hospital: 247 Chickering Road, North Andover, 978-682-9905
Burlington Veterinary Hospital: 64 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-270-0044
Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates: 230 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, 508-759-2521
Cambridge Veterinary Care Center: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617-661-6255
Canton Veterinary Clinic: 120 Tolman Street, Canton, 781-821-0794
The Cat Doctor of Bedford and Nashua: 200 Great Road, Suite 9, Bedford, MA, 781-275-5223; 24 Merit Parkway, Nashua, NH, 603-594-4200
The Cat Hospital: 139C Damon Road, Northampton, 413-586-2287
The Cat Hospital of Auburn: 209 Southbridge Street, Auburn, 508-832-0022
Central Animal Hospital: 109 Central Street, Stoneham, 781-438-6404
Clinton Veterinary Hospital: 220 Brook Street, Clinton, 978-368-8509
Commonwealth Veterinary Hospital: 2285 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, 617-332-7030
Community Animal Hospital of Shrewsbury: 15 Clews Street, Shrewsbury, 508-753-7077
Countryside Veterinary Hospital: 289 Littleton Road, Chelmsford, 978-256-9555
Cushing Square Veterinary Clinic: 133 Trapelo Road, Belmont, 617-489-4482
Dedham Veterinary Associates: 326 Bridge Street, Dedham, 781-326-2800
Driftway Animal Hospital: 53 Driftway, Scituate, 781-545-0952
East Boston Animal Hospital: 1007 Saratoga Street, East Boston, 617-567-0101
East Springfield Veterinary Clinic: 525 Page Blvd, Springfield, 413-739-6389
Emmerson Animal Hospital: 255 Freeport Street, Dorchester, 617-825-3560
Essex County Veterinary Emergency Hospital: 247 Chickering Road, North Andover, 978-725-5544
Fall River Animal Hospital: 33 Eighteenth Street, Fall River, 508-675-6374
Falmouth Animal Hospital: Route 151, North Falmouth, 508-563-7147
Family Veterinary Center: 99 Main Street, Haydenville, 413-268-8387
Firehouse Veterinary Clinic: 4 Hedges Pond Road, Plymouth, 508-888-9313
Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, 508-839-5395
Framingham Animal Hospital: 1415 Edgell Road, Framingham, 508-877-0900
Franklin Veterinary Clinic: 430 East Central Street, Franklin, 508-520-9239
Fresh Pond Animal Hospital: 15 Flanders Road, Belmont, 617-484-1555
Gardner Animal Care Center: 73 Eaton Street, Gardner, 978-632-7110
Greylock Animal Hospital: 1028 State Road, North Adams, 413-663-5365
Groton Veterinary Hospital: 171 Lowell Road, Groton, 978-448-2722
Hancock Animal Hospital: 55 Hancock Street, North Quincy, 617-773-0008
Highland Animal Hospital: 31 Wellesley Avenue, Needham, 781-433-0467
Hillside Veterinary Clinic: 9 Howe Street, Auburn, 508-832-3132
Holden Veterinary Clinic: 11 Industrial Drive, Holden, 508-829-6368
Holyoke Animal Hospital: 320 Easthampton Road, Holyoke, 413-538-8700
Huron Veterinary Hospital: 70 Beacon Street, Somerville, 617-661-9553
Hyannis Animal Hospital: 102 Ansel Hallet Road, West Yarmouth, 508-775-4521
Johnson Veterinary Hospital: 160 Winthrop Avenue, Stadium Plaza, South Lawrence, 978-794-0022
Leicester Animal Clinic: 1205 Main Street, Leicester, 508-892-9181
Lexington-Bedford Veterinary Hospital: 476 Bedford Street, Lexington, 781-862-3670
Linwood Animal Hospital: 1500 Forham Street, Lowell, 978-453-1784
Lloyd Animal Medical Center: 1995 Washington Street, Stoughton, 781-344-2500
Lower Cape Veterinary Services: 725 State Highway, Eastham, 508-255-0149
Lunenburg Veterinary Hospital: 109 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, 978-345-2623
Main Street Animal Hospital: 159 Main Street, Salem, NH, 603-893-1646
Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton: 72 West Main Street, Hopkinton, 508-435-4077
Manchester Veterinary Clinic: 66 Summer Street, Manchester, 978-526-9500
Marshfield Animal Hospital: 490 Plain Street, Route 139, Marshfield, 781-837-5005
Massachusetts Animal Center: 380 Pleasant Street, Wastertown, 617-923-1700
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital: 20 Cabot Road, Woburn, 781-932-5802
Medfield Veterinary Clinic: 51 Peter Kristof Way, Medfield, 508-359-1920
Metheun Vet Hospital: 15 Lowell Street, Methuen, 978-685-8031
Mid-Cape Animal Hospital: 3821 Route 28, Windmill Square Plaza, Marstons Mills, 508-428-2989
Middlesex Animal Hospital: 668 Main Street, Reading, 781-942-4545
Middlesex County Animal Hospital: 330 Boston Road, Billerica, 978-600-0444
Mill Brook Animal Clinic: 1183 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, 781-643-1500
Millbury Animal Clinic: 12 Nicole Drive, Millbury, 508-865-0505
Mt. Wachusett Veterinary Hospital: 160 Shrewsbury Street, Holden, 508-829-0419
Muddy Creek Animal Care Center: 993 Haverhill Street, Rowley, 978-948-2345
Natick Animal Clinic: 121 West Central Street, Natick, 508-653-5020
Neponset Animal Hospital: 961 William T. Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, 617-288-2333
New England Animal Medical Center: 595 West Center Street, West Bridgewater, 508-584-1600
New England Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness Center: 112 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, 413-525-9959
New England Veterinary Clinic: 204 Highland Avenue, Salem, 978-744-8325
North Reading Veterinary Clinic: 212 Main Street, North Reading, 978-276-3203
North Shore Animal Hospital: 1 Neptune Blvd, Lynn, 781-596-0510
Northampton Veterinary Clinic: 227 South Street, Northampton, 413-584-6309
Northeast Veterinary Hospital: 150 Main Street, Peabody, 978-538-3636
Northern Rhode Island Animal Hospitals: 152 School Street, Forestdale, 401-762-2400 and 212 Putnam Pike, Harmony, 401-949-2100
Norton Animal Hospital: 147 West Main Street, Norton, 508-285-9822
Norwood Animal Hospital: 437 Walpole Street, Norwood, 781-769-3011
Parkway Veterinary Hospital: 18 Spring Street, West Roxbury, 617-469-8400
Paxton Animal Hospital: 612 Pleasant Street, Paxton, 508-752-3100
Pioneer Valley Veterinary Hospital: 571 Bernardston Road, Greenfield, 413-773-7511
Plymouth Animal Hospital: 100 Industrial Park Road, Plymouth Industrial Park, Plymouth, 508-746-4232
Putnam Veterinary Clinic: 824 Main Street, Shrewsbury, 508-842-6498
Putnam Veterinary Clinic: 374 Boston Street, Topsfield, 978-887-3836
Randolph Animal Hospital: 400 South Main Street, Randolph, 781-963-2298
Revere Pet Clinic: 10 Pleasant Street, Revere, 781-284-2255
Riverbend Animal Hospital: 43 Russell Street (Rte. 9), Hadley, 413-587-3737
Route 20 Animal Clinic: 84 SW Cutoff, Worcester, 508-791-7765
Rutland Veterinary Clinic: 203 Main Street, Rutland, 508-886-2286
Salem Animal Hospital: 193 South Broadway, Salem, NH, 603-893-3565
Saugus Animal Hospital: 300 Broadway (Route 1 North), Saugus, 781-233-1340
Shawsheen Animal Hospital: 1415 Main Street, Tewksbury, 978-851-5558
South Boston Animal Hospital: 659 East Broadway, South Boston, 617-269-0610
South Boston Cat and Dog Clinic: 526 Dorchester Avenue, South Boston, 617-269-1225
South Coastal Animal Health: 1597 Main Street, Weymouth, 781-340-0800
South River Veterinary Service: 1537 Ocean Street, Marshfield, 781-837-9900
Spencer Veterinary Hospital: 401 Main Street, Spencer, 508-885-4848
SRH Veterinary Services: 295 High Street (Route 1A), Ipswich, 978-356-1119
Sutton Animal Hospital: 38 Oakhurst Road, Sutton, 508-234-8102
Swan Corner Animal Hospital: 164 Westford Road, Unit 10, Tyng's Tarry Office Complex, Tyngsboro, 978-649-3757
Robert J. Tashjian, VMD Animal Medical Center: 29 Prospect Street, West Boylston, 508-835-6258
Twin City Animal Hospital: 869 South Street, Fitchburg, 978-343-3049
Valley Veterinary Hospital: 320 Russell Street (Route 9), Hadley, 413-584-1223
VCA All Caring Animal Hospital: 440 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, 413-528-8020
VCA Animal Care Center of Marshfield: 4 Library Plaza, Marshfield, 781-837-1141
VCA Blackstone Valley Animal Hospital: 615 Douglas Street, Uxbridge, 508-278-6585
VCA Boston Road Animal Hospital: 1235 Boston Road, Springfield, 413-783-1203
VCA Brookline Animal Hospital: 678 Brookline Avenue, Brookline, 617-277-2030
VCA City Cats Hospital: 665 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, 781-641-3673
VCA Everett Animal Hospital: 251 Chelsea Street, Everett, 617-394-0471
VCA Hanson Animal Hospital: 705 Main Street, Hanson, 781-293-2511
VCA Heritage Hill Animal Hospital: 57 Farm Street, Medfield, 508-359-4392
VCA Lancaster Animal Hospital: 456 High Street Ext., Suite A, Lancaster, 978-368-8363
VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital: 207 Montgomery Road, Westfield, 413-568-1745
VCA Northboro Animal Hospital: 286 West Main Street, Northboro, 508-393-8339
VCA Palmer Animal Hospital: 1028 Thorndike Street, Palmer, 413-283-9782
VCA Roberts Animal Hospital: 516 Washington Street, Hanover, 781-826-2306
VCA Rotherwood Animal Hospital: 78 Winchester Street, Newton Highlands, 617-244-4367
VCA Shaker Road Animal Hospital: 108 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, 413-525-6671
VCA South Hadley Animal Hospital: 511 Newton Street, South Hadley, 413-539-9868
VCA South Shore (Quincy) Animal Hospital: 579 Adams Street, Quincy, 617-773-8247
VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital: 595 Columbian Street, Weymouth, 781-337-6622
VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital: 19 Main Street, Wakefield, 781-245-0045
VCA Westboro Animal Hospital: 155 Turnpike Road, Westboro, 508-366-1444
VCA Whitman Animal Hospital: 795 Bedford Street, Whitman, 781-447-0011
Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod: 16 Commonwealth Avenue, South Yarmouth, 508-394-3566
Veterinary Dental Services: 138 Great Road, Acton, 978-929-9200
Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center of New England: 180 Bear Hill Road, Suite A, Waltham, 781-684-8387
Ward Animal Clinic: 577 Grove Street, Worcester, 508-853-3103
Wellesley-Natick Veterinary Hospital: 359 Worcester Street, Route 9, Natick, 508-653-3420
West Side Animal Clinic: 262 Mill Street, Worcester, 508-756-4411
Weston Veterinary Clinic: 152 Boston Post Road, Weston, 781-899-5377
Westover Animal Clinic: 1361 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, 413-535-1777
Wickaboag Veterinary Clinic: 138 West Main Street, West Brookfield, 508-867-9894
Wignall Animal Hospital: 1837 Bridge Street, Dracut, 978-454-8272
Winchester Animal Clinic: 874 Main Street, Winchester, 781-729-2610
Witt Animal Clinic: 1108 Main Street, Worcester, 508-754-4530
Woburn Animal Hospital: 373 Russell Street, Woburn, 781-933-0170
Worcester Cat Hospital and Bird Clinic: 347 Park Avenue, Worcester, 508-798-0400

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Prehealth Study at Clark