To all interested applicants,
First of all thanks for showing interest in our program.  I remember as a freshman I had lots of questions about SCU EMS, so now as recruitment officer I figured I would put up some of the common questions applicants have been asking me, check it out:

Question:
I've read the information on this website, but I'm sort of hoping for a more personal viewpoint on the program and its advantages.

Answer:
This is my third and final year in the program and my perception of it has changed dramatically since I started.  I first started for the medical school experience thinking it would give me an edge.  Although its a great thing to put on your app for any school, I have found out that EMS has a great group of people that I really love working with.  It’s a club as well as a service so you get to meet like-minded people who are passionate about medicine.  I personally think the greatest advantage is the fun environment (you have fun) and also the great experience it gives you in medicine (great way to find out if your passionate about medicine).

Question:
I also want to know about the actual EMS-B course. Approximately how heavy is the workload?

Answer:
The course is approximately a 10 week course that meets every Tuesday and Thursday 6-10pm (usually gets out at 9) and about every other Saturday.  The workload isn't that bad, but its usually a good idea not to overload on labs those two quarters (winter and spring). 

Question::
What kind of people are you looking for when looking at applications?  What kind of people are you looking for when adding EMTs to the squad?  What kind of experience is required/recommended for this?

Answer:
I think first of all we are looking for people who really enjoy being an EMT and are passionate at being good at what they do.  We also look for a "people person", medicine has a considerable social aspect (making patients feel good) so we use interviews to get to know you.  For experience we like to see stuff that shows responsibility and passion, stuff like volunteering in a hospital and being a lifeguard is always a plus.

Question::
I am interested in the program right now, but since I am only a freshman, I want to make sure that it is right for me.  Is it unusual for a freshman to
enroll in the course?  Should I wait until next year?

Answer:
There is an application process to get into the course, also you must remember that this class does not hold any SCU credits (your grade will not effect your GPA).  We have many freshman that join your class in the winter, and we actually encourage it because it means that you will have more experience as an EMT providing better patient care.  However, we also have many sophomores and juniors that join our program.  We don't discriminate but upperclassmen tend to have a higher acceptance rate because they tend to have more relevant experience and more refined interviewing skills.

I hope this was helpful for all of you, if you have any more questions be sure to email or call me.  Also, I am available if you guys want to meet up.
Still have Questions? Click here and use the form at the bottom of the page

Email: Jbuenrostro@scu.edu 
Phone: (650) 722-1081

Good luck guys,
Jason Buenrostro
08-09 SCU EMS Recruitment Officer