sociology major looking for EC advice/comments?

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

hey guys I am a rising sophomore who is majoring in sociology but plan to apply to med school. During my freshman year of college I really didn't do much in terms of ECs for med school because I was unsure about my path. however, late in the year I figured out I wanted to apply to med schools and I set up couple of ECs over the next 2 years that I plan to have. Could you guys look over the list and just give me your thoughts if it constitutes as something substantial in terms of med school admission?

Clinical:
Working as an ER Scribe for the next 2 years (already secured this, this is 12hrs/week commitment/ 860 total hours over 2 years)
Working as a surgical tech (secured this also, part time job. only on weekends. 5hrs/week/ 140 total hours over 2 years)
Shadowing (will have about 100-150 hours total over 2 years. between 6-12 specialties including primary care)

Volunteer:
Volunteering in a Hospice Program (2 hrs/week/ 140 total hours)
Volunteering in hospital through school program (3 hrs/week/ 210 total hours)
2-3 International mission trips (secured 1 during winter break in Africa. setting up clinics)

Leadership:
Leadership position in 3 organizations (all happen to be related to medicine/science. including student government)

Research
2 years of research in neuroscience lab, microbiology lab and nephrology lab (started this already and I will at least be allowed to propose and carry through my own project in each of these labs. unsure if any publications. maybe review articles)

do you guys believe that this is a good basis of ECs to carry on through my next 2 years? I dont really plan on adding any more ECs because I want to show commitment and I am also passionate about these and don't have time to add more.

thank you so much for taking to time to read this and help me out!

oh i'm also a tour guide for my university and i've done that last year and if i get selected again i plan to continue that as well. sorry for adding on!

bump. anyone?

Thread moved to "What are my chances"

Sounds like you're trying to do too much. I don't think it looks as good as you think you work in 3 different research labs. It's better to work on one lab and make the most out of it. The only times you should work in other labs is if it's a summer REU or you left the one you work on during the year. Don't fall into the trap of quantity over quality.

3 international medical trips? If these are those 1-2 week programs, they are completely useless. I'd avoid them. You can better spend that money and time doing something like Habitat for Humanity.

What's the point of hospice AND hospital when you're an ER scribe and surgery Tech? Too much overkill. It's better if you spent time volunteering in some non-clinical setting, volunteer in a Hospital and do only one job (ER Scribe or Surg Tech).

Shadowing is good, but it's not a point that'll make your application amazing. It's more about exposure to the field. They know you're not doing anything. Personally, anything over 80 hours (already twice the average) is simply a waste of time.

Three organizations? Why? You'll be dividing your time too much when you can accomplish a lot in 1 or 2. Personally, I'd stick to student government and one more. Again, quality over quantity.

I'm not an ADCOM, but if I were, this would give me the impression that you're more interested more in how these experiences benefit your CV rather than getting something out of them.

Originally Posted by TriagePreMed

Sounds like you're trying to do too much. I don't think it looks as good as you think you work in 3 different research labs. It's better to work on one lab and make the most out of it. The only times you should work in other labs is if it's a summer REU or you left the one you work on during the year. Don't fall into the trap of quantity over quality.

3 international medical trips? If these are those 1-2 week programs, they are completely useless. I'd avoid them. You can better spend that money and time doing something like Habitat for Humanity.

What's the point of hospice AND hospital when you're an ER scribe and surgery Tech? Too much overkill. It's better if you spent time volunteering in some non-clinical setting, volunteer in a Hospital and do only one job (ER Scribe or Surg Tech).

Shadowing is good, but it's not a point that'll make your application amazing. It's more about exposure to the field. They know you're not doing anything. Personally, anything over 80 hours (already twice the average) is simply a waste of time.

Three organizations? Why? You'll be dividing your time too much when you can accomplish a lot in 1 or 2. Personally, I'd stick to student government and one more. Again, quality over quantity.

I'm not an ADCOM, but if I were, this would give me the impression that you're more interested more in how these experiences benefit your CV rather than getting something out of them.

That you are really motivated to do all these ECs is so good, I admire the energy you have to focus! Also, I could not agree more with the above post. The most meaningful volunteering are large projects that develop into different things over time.

Instead of three trips setting up clinics, which you have no training for, why not make a longer trip over a summer and do something you are more qualified for...

As for the clinical commitments, what ever works best for you, and think about your study schedule with pre-reqs also.

Research in three labs, unless you are working on a collaborative project, is really not good for the scientific though process. Unless your projects all share some very similar biology or physiology...

I think it is a really good rough draft for you 2 year plan, but something is not in balance yet...

I really appreciate you're replies. I think you guys are right in that I might have too much "quantity". I think the reason for this is because towards the end of year I kind of panicked because I didn't have much EC and just applied and tried getting any positions I could secure. However, I am left with a few concerns/questions that I was hoping you guys (or anyone) could comment on?

the three labs I got into are under PI who are in the medicine faculty of my school. So it is something that I am hesitant to give up easily because it seems so far that I could get good recs from them and maybe they help out applying to my university's med school. but I was wondering what things you guys look for in labs? Personally I know that I can get involved in all 3 deeply and work on a project. however I also know that 2 of the labs churn out more pubs than the other. so is that something I should consider?

and I want to thank you guys for getting me to think about those international trips. they were going to be the 1-3 week type during the summer where it was simply following guidelines rather than doing something. I really think doing something non clinical volunteering with that time would be more beneficial. thanks for the thought.

at this point I still plan to do the ER scribe + surg tech because I really think I will have a meaningful experience from them that I could talk about in my PS and/or interview. as mentioned right above, I think yall are right in terms of the getting in some non-clinical volunteering. I will aim to add that. then I will spend this summer (or what's remaining) deciding upon 1 lab that I like the most. as far as leadership goes I think I am content with what I have because I am already committed to them and backing out would reflect bad upon on me in the community. but I appreciate the comment of trying to get involved more within one than having many. do you feel like this would be more "balanced"? I would like to think that I have the clinical experience that med schools value, along with the hospital volunteering and non-clinical volunteering to show my interests in science/medicine + other things. and then the leadership personifies some qualities they like in students. and the research over 2 years would be something meaningful. do you think that sounds right?

again I thank you all for taking the time and replying. I'm kind of new to the whole med school process and having help along the way is great!

You cannot. Physically cannot put your all into 3 labs at one time in addition to the 25 hours/week of ECs you have described AND maintain great grades AND study for the MCAT.

Turn down 2 labs. Pick & choose what you're actually interested in!

thanks. my train of thought was that since I am a sociology major I want to show adcoms that I do have the ability and expereince with hard sciences. I was thinking showing this across 3 differenet hard sciences dicipliens would mean something. I would have taken 1-2 upper level bio classes before I graduate but I thought doing this wouldn't make them question my "science"? kind of stupid right? haha

Consolidate your commitments. Develop a theme and mold your ECs around that. Then add one or two oddballs things to make you unique.

...and, remember that it's your grades and MCAT that get your foot in the door in the first place. Nobody cares about a 3.5/27 sociology major with amazing ECs. But a 3.8/32 sociology major with good ECs has a good shot. Good luck.

"overloading on sciences on the side is simply counter-productive"

don't med schools usually advice taking upper level sciences?

Originally Posted by nad7vx

"overloading on sciences on the side is simply counter-productive"

don't med schools usually advice taking upper level sciences?

Yes, but you don't need to go beyond what's recommended (Biochem, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbio, Genetics, & Immunology.). Don't feel forced to get a minor or do something crazy like PChem.

Originally Posted by nad7vx

"overloading on sciences on the side is simply counter-productive"

don't med schools usually advice taking upper level sciences?

Most times I talk with admissions about the courses I have taken, up div sci ugrad classes are meant to help in med school studies, rather than make schools more likely to accept. Do not worry too much about that

thats sounds reassuring. thanks

ok so i had time to look at the pre reqs for some of the courses you mentioned are recommended (Biochem, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbio, Genetics, & Immunology). The only one of them I can possible take in Anatomy and then Physiology. other than that I can't take biochem or the others because biochem at my school requires 2 upper level bio + orgo. this is something i won't have done in time for medschool. Do you think this will hold me back?

Originally Posted by nad7vx

ok so i had time to look at the pre reqs for some of the courses you mentioned are recommended (Biochem, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbio, Genetics, & Immunology). The only one of them I can possible take in Anatomy and then Physiology. other than that I can't take biochem or the others because biochem at my school requires 2 upper level bio + orgo. this is something i won't have done in time for medschool. Do you think this will hold me back?

For the schools that have it as a requirement, yes.

You sound like me 4 years ago. I also graduated with a socy degree, now in med school. choosing to major in soc was definitely one of the best decisions I made as an undergrad. But embrace it. don't be the sociologist just to look different to med schools (which it was you're presenting yourself as, even if this isn't the case). Take on some non-science activities, and give up about 3/4 of your science EC's. not neccesary.

Ok. take a second and just think about what the next two years are going to project for you. There will be no time for fun, much less sleep. schools will definitely notice this and in a counter-intuitive way, you're going to not seem well-rounded by taking on so many different things. Filter some out, add some things in accordance to your sociology-humanitarian-help-the-homeless type of philosophical theme, and make sure you have plenty of time ti ace your classes and kill the MCAT. this is going to take more time than you think.

Another point: EC's aren't all that important to be honest. In the end, it all comes down to your GPA (being a socy major usually helps boost this) and your MCAT breakdown. EC's are more of a buffer if you're border-line enough and if you're not on the border, it's not going to make a difference if you take on 2-3 activities (they like community service type work) or 20 different commitments to the fullest. the numbers are where you need to be cautious, and it looks like you might be setting yourself up for a mental breakdown. avoid it.

best of luck. enjoy your major. you're gonna miss it when you're in med school!

while I am inclined to do non-science ECs my premed advisor tells me that med school look for physicians and our ECs should reflect that we have experience being a physician. do you agree with this?

Originally Posted by nad7vx

while I am inclined to do non-science ECs my premed advisor tells me that med school look for physicians and our ECs should reflect that we have experience being a physician. do you agree with this?

No, not at all. That's absolutely horrible advice. Medicine has enough "science and science only!" type of people. Medicine needs people with several interests and well rounded so they can add to the conversation. Never forget that medicine is as much of a science endeavor as is a humanistic one.

wow really? i had to say no to couple of volunteer activties my school offered for sociology majors because I thought med schools rather see more science things from a kid whose not screaming science from the app. so you guys think I can try doing activities for my socio major, even though it means it could take a hit on shadowing and other clinical volunteering?

Don't worry about trying to cram in shadowing. it's overrated. and admissions peopl know it. If you have surg tech experience, shadowing will be a waste of time. get your clinical experience, but make sure it's not a BS activity. Research is a good idea if you can get your name on a paper. Any thing non-science that shows you want to help people and all that stuff will look favorably. And it seems like you're passionate about it, so go for it. Do what you enjoy. Like I said, as long as your numbers are good enough, you're solid.

Having been a socy major was a huge plus for me mainly because I was able to use it as a defining element of my character- which is the point of interviews. The good thing about this kind of major is that it's centered on a totally self-less humanistic philosophy, and at the same time, it perfectly complements medicine in practice- the study of people in form and function. Try to really take advantage of the perspective you get from this kind of courseload. I used a lot of my independent papers to learn about healthcare policy on all fronts and this kind of knowledge will be priceless for any interview. Admissions people want to know youre well-informed as well as well-rounded. They know a lot of pre-meds spend way too much time bulking up the resume instead of participating in activism or reading up on government policies for fun. So use this to your advantage while you can.

I think that's all i've got for you for now. Best of luck. and HAVE FUN

thanks for your response. it's kind of surprsing see two socy majors on here. i'm the only socy premed at my school so it's comforting knowing there are others out there. i was wondering if you personally knew more about medical sociology? i know that it is a concentration within socy but having been a socy major how would you go about trying to get exposure to the medicine aspect of socy? i only ask that because having taken intro socy I grew an inclination towards medical sociology.

"If you have surg tech experience, shadowing will be a waste of time. get your clinical experience, but make sure it's not a BS activity"

little confused here. i thought surg tech IS a clinical experience. am i missing something here?