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Community Service

Community Service is an important part of the preparation for a career in the health professions. Health professionals are usually strongly linked to their community, and most show their commitment to the community through volunteer work. Professional schools want to see that you have a genuine interest in helping to better the lives of others in your community. They will often ask you specific questions on applications about your service commitments. It is also an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to serve in a leadership role.

Consider volunteering at these local organizations:

The Student Community Services at Cal Poly located in University Union, Room 217 also offers a number of programs where you can volunteer. The time commitment varies from 1-2 hours per week to monthly activities. Some of these programs through Student Community Services are listed below.

Student Community Services Program Information

  • Best Friends - matches students with developmentally disabled individuals for friendship and support.
  • Beyond Shelter - serves the needs of the hungry and homeless in SLO county.
  • Poly Paws - serves the community through pet therapy at SLO hospitals and care centers in conjunction with Woods Humane Society
  • Raise the Respect - is dedicated to creating understanding between different student populations on campus.
  • Rotaract - is sponsored through he Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo. A service club for young college age men and women, the program is part of a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world.
  • Senior Services - establishes a relationship between student volunteers and senior citizens in the SLO community.
  • Students for Health and Well-Being - promotes good oral hygiene, nutritious eating habits, and a healthy lifestyle.
  • Youth Challenge - volunteers spend time getting to know the adolescents in the Juvenile Services Center.
  • Youth Program - gives volunteers a wide range of opportunities with children, including gardening, sports and education.

TIP: It is better to commit to one or two long-term volunteer experiences than to jump around from place to place. Professional schools want to see a real commitment, not a few token experiences.

Health Related Experience

Professional schools are particularly interested in your health-related experience. By working or volunteering in the field, you will display a deeper understanding of the responsibilities, duties, and issues related to your field. Professional schools also want to see that you are able to deal effectively with patients and work well on a team of professionals. Clinical experience with direct patient contact is an important aspect of your application.

Some careers such as physical therapy, physician assistant, or veterinary science have specific mandatory hours of experience as requirements. Other programs will consider a variety of health-related experiences. The experiences you choose should have an interest to you in terms of your life goals and be personally satisfying. They are your opportunity to gain depth and knowledge about yourself.

The health professions peer advisors can discuss opportunities for gaining career related experience.

Some health-related positions that students have worked in include:

  • SCRIBE Program through local hospitals - currently available at Sierra Vista Regional Hospital and French Hospital
  • Emergency Medical Technician -training offered through Cuesta College
  • X-ray Technician
  • Lab Technologist
  • Phlebotomist -training offered through Cuesta College
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - offered through Cuesta College
  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) - Back Office
  • Student Pathology Assistant
  • EKG Monitor - offered through Cuesta College
  • Home Health Aide/Care giver
  • Physical Therapy Aide - various local PT clinics
  • Psychiatric Technician - Atascadero State Hospital

Note: Most of the above positions require additional training and certification. Contact Cuesta Community College or Allan Hancock College for more information. You can earn EMT certification, CNA, CMA, Phlebotomy license through Cuesta College. Private healthcare trade school information can also be found at the website called Medical Training.

Some local non-profit agencies actually hire students as health educators and clinic assistants, especially if you are bilingual. Check the Economic Opportunity Commission or the Communty Health Centers of the Central Coast websites. Also, Cal Poly Career Services ,the local newspaper, the Tribune, SLOJobs, Central Coast Help Wanted and SLO Craigs List are all good sources for locating part-time health profession jobs that you might be qualified for.

Many organizations offer health-related experience for college students in the summer months or throughout the year. Check out the links below for program information.

SCM 363 -Public Health Internship Course - 2 units CR/NC grading

If you are interested in gaining public health experience, please consider signing up for the SCM 363 Internship Course. This is a 6 hour internship per week offered through the Public Health Department. Possible Internship positions exist with the following programs: Tobacco Prevention, HIV/AIDS Program, Epidemiology, Communicable Disease Prevention, Bioterrorism Response, Public Health Laboratory, Environmental Health, Child, Health and Disability Program, Women, Infants and Children Program, Teen Pregnancy/Parenting Program, and Childhood Obesity Prevention. If interested, please submit the application and statement of interest to: healthprofessions@calpoly.edu or drop off in person to the CSM Advising Center in 53-219 by the deadline listed on the application. Offered Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Spaces are limited. Note: Not all programs may have a position available each quarter.

SCM 363 Application Quarter Deadlines:
To participate in the SCM 363 internship in the following quarter listed below, the application is DUE to Bldg. 53-Room 219 by the deadline specified.

Fall -April 1
Winter -November 1
Spring-March 1

National Health Related Experience

International Health Related Experience


Research Experience

Conducting or assisting with research can also strengthen your application to professional school. By participating in research, you are showing an admissions committee that you possess intellectual curiosity and motivation. Your faculty advisor or your major department is probably the best source to learn about research opportunities both on and off campus.

Don't know who your faculty advisor is in the College of Science and Math? Contact the College of Science and Math Advising Center at (805) 756-2615 or stop by 53-219.

While your senior project will also serve as a research opportunity, it may not be conducted in time for the application process to many professional schools. Therefore, you may want to consider engaging in research in your sophomore and junior years. Some faculty conduct research over the summer. Contact your major department in Fall or Winter quarter to find out about summer research opportunities.

There are many excellent off-campus research opportunities, many of which provide you with stipends or scholarships. Check out the following research opportunities listed on the Health Professions Links page.