Post Your Best EC

Ooh, good thread. What's yours?

I am a non-trad student, so I think that puts me at a slight advantage. I have been a paramedic and/or worked in one of the busiest ED'd in the country for the past ten years. Since I have lots of friends who are doc's, my letters LOR's are pretty decent as well.

Clinical research in the ED, because it shows that I actually know what I am getting myself into.

It may not be out of the ordinary or awe-inspiring, but if I had to choose one EC, it would be my role as president of the student-run community service organization at my college. It is tied with research as the single most important and enjoyable experience of my college career, and I think it says alot about me as a person and about the kind of doctor I want to be. It was great because the experience allowed me to hone my leadership skills, to volunteer my time on a regular basis, and to try out all different kinds of community service. The people I served, and the people I served with will always be special to me. One woman in particular, who I met when she came to speak on World AIDS Day, touched my life in ways I can't really explain; she was the inspiration for my personal statement, as well as my current volunteer position as a victim's advocate. I sound all cheesy and weepy, I know, but that experience was just awesome for me.

Main researcher of a research forum devoted to developing a regional research and health care policy agenda. I did all the research for the members of the board and presented to them. Some of the members include:

Senator Kemp Hannon (NY State Health Committee)
President and VP of New York State Medical Society
President of the LIJ North Shore System (If you are from NY (Long Island) you would know what I am talking about)
CEO of Viatra
Presidents of County Medical Societies
Dean of NYCOM
Assistant Dean of NYCOM
Professors from NYMC

My second would be from this fall. I am planning, implementing, and evaluating a community program for a very large home health care agency. I am responsible for all data collection as well as actually implementing the program.

Great question, and a little more complicated than it appears at first glance.

The EC that every interviewer has asked me about is being a science fiction and fantasy research assistant, so I'm guessing that's the one that makes me stand out the most, even though I don't think it's all that interesting. And to think I listed it as an afterthought!

I volunteered as an EMT for 1.5 years so far in my university's EMS program. There weren't very many of us so we all worked the 5pm to 830am shift a lot. Did that, organic research, TA-ing/tutoring and 25 units of upper division bio and chem with one history course on Ireland. Ironically, I finally got that 4.0 that quarter.

Ack! I don't have time for EC's! I guess I better find some... but I work full time. And go to school full time. When the heck do I do EC?

non-medically related: I restored a 1969 Firebird during my freshman/sophomore years (before I decided to be really focused in school)

work experience: worked throughout college (Lenscrafters, research).. now am working in biotech (Genentech)

medically related - some volunteer work, not too extensive



probably either of the top 2 are my best ECs.. wish I had more clinical experience but oh well!!

I have achieved a perfect season with every team in Madden 2006.

I will now be moving on to NCAA 2006.

In school: I worked as a volunteer medical assistant for a doctor for 8 months.

Out of school: I work full time as a Bone Marrow Transplant Study Coordinator (clinical research)

Volunteer EMT: 14years (1 year Sergeant, 1 year 1st Lieutenant, 5 years Crew Chief, 7 years squad trainer)

Executive Council Member: National Society for Non-Traditional Pre-Medical and Medical Students.

Even as a non-trad, compared to all of you (who are AMAZING, BTW) here are my best EC's:

1. I won my fantasy baseball tourney 2 years running under the call name "konerkosbaby"
2. I am slated to win my fantasy football tourney this year -- who knew that the Bears and the Colts defense would be so fruitful?
3. But, probably my dissertaion research studying eating disorders in Milan, Italy will stand out the most.

Uhh...may I ask how old some of you are?

Volunteer EMS and firefighting- 8 yrs (including several as a supervisor, lieutenant, captain and/or operations officer)
Primary investigator for research project
Author of several journal articles (in progress) and coauthor of three others.

I'm 25 by the way.

Asherlauph said:

Ack! I don't have time for EC's! I guess I better find some... but I work full time. And go to school full time. When the heck do I do EC?

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I know it's hard, but you HAVE to find time for EC's or you will not get into med school. I also worked full time (40-50 hours/week) and went to school full time, so I understand how difficult it is. I thought it was impossible to make time for EC's until I did it. I managed to start up and run a student organization with about 150 members (probably my most time consuming), do some volunteer work (a lot of it through the student organization- kill two birds with one stone- and it was really fun), shadow a surgeon (you really need to do something that exposes you directly to patient care if your job doesn't do that) and my full time job was research (so that kind of helped since I had great research experience and it was my way of paying for school). The best way is to try to combine things. Ex: The student organization I ran- leadership (I was really involved in planning events and I could talk about it in interviews) and volunteer work (things I set up for our members to do- some one day events, some long term). You'd be surprised at what you can manage to pull off once you set your mind to it. You have to develop really good time management skills (which you will need in med school), but it can be done. Just force yourself. Start committing to do things and you will do it because you said you would and that will force you to get involved. Once you start, it will be easier. Good luck!

TheDarkSide said:

Great question, and a little more complicated than it appears at first glance.

The EC that every interviewer has asked me about is being a science fiction and fantasy research assistant, so I'm guessing that's the one that makes me stand out the most, even though I don't think it's all that interesting. And to think I listed it as an afterthought!

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Really? I'm a science fiction and fantasy nut. Were you a research assistant to a writer or what? That is interesting.

rushed all of halo 2 on legendary

can spin frisbees, trays, notebooks, pillows, whatever

solved rubik's w/o cheating and coming up w/ my own method, which i have named the "jig-jug method to solving rubik's cube"

C.P. Jones said:

rushed all of halo 2 on legendary

can spin frisbees, trays, notebooks, pillows, whatever

solved rubik's w/o cheating and coming up w/ my own method, which i have named the "jig-jug method to solving rubik's cube"

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WINNAR!

I was the first female coach of a men's collegiate sports team (I think of any sport, but def of my sport). At an interview someone was asking about why I was successful and I said (no joke), "I guess I'm just good with men". Four years of fighting stereotypes, and I said that. Gaaah.

I also think that job was the major contributor in everyone thinking I'm a dude on this forum (even without the avatar username confusion).

unfrozencaveman said:

I was the first female coach of a men's collegiate sports team (I think of any sport, but def of my sport). At an interview someone was asking about why I was successful and I said (no joke), "I guess I'm just good with men". Four years of fighting stereotypes, and I said that. Gaaah.

I also think that job was the major contributor in everyone thinking I'm a dude on this forum (even without the avatar username confusion).

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What sport was it, if you don't mind me asking?

water polo

QofQuimica said:

Lots of threads discuss what are good ECs for pre-meds, how much do med schools care about ECs, etc. And I've met some fellow applicants who have done all kinds of neat things, but I'm guessing that I don't even know the half of it. If you had to pick one activity from your AMCAS to convince the med schools that you are an applicant that stands out from the rest, which one do you have the most passion for or think is the most interesting, and why?

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Radio Station On-Air Host/Personality 91.1 FM "The One"

The only EC that every interviewer has asked me about.

The one that probably helped me to get in the most: years of business experience, especially working in Europe.

The one that is also mentioned that ended serving as the catalyst for my personal statement: volunteer medical trip to Honduras.

Also, I'd try to mention that I knew Q as often as reasonably possible in essays and interviews. Technically "knowing Q" doesn't count as an EC, I suppose...

The best thing I have on my app is clinical experience. 4 going on 5 years of triple duty as pacs admin, 3d visualization specialist, and xray technician.

I have a black belt in pudding.

Probably a tie between an running as an emergency medical tenchnician, group tutoring (class) organic chemistry, and undergraduate research.

Also, I literally fed the poor with my bare hands.

Best EC...Global exploration and the pursuit of universal truth...(collected a world record along the way)...

Non-Med EC : I wrote a book. A collection of fictional short stories Its being presented in April! So Excited!

Med EC : Volunteering in the oncology unit at the Children's Hospital. oh, loved it, loved it, loved it.

Highclimber said:

Best EC...Global exploration and the pursuit of universal truth...(collected a world record along the way)...

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Really??!! What's the record?

1. Started and ran own business for 10 years.

2. Recently worked my way into a great lab and might get published before next year (when I will apply).

3. Called in and destroyed Alan Colmes on his own radio talk show while slamming Michael Moore in the process!

#3 was the best!

sunny123 said:

I have a black belt in pudding.

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You're no match for my kung-pow chicken.

TheDarkSide said:

Great question, and a little more complicated than it appears at first glance.

The EC that every interviewer has asked me about is being a science fiction and fantasy research assistant, so I'm guessing that's the one that makes me stand out the most, even though I don't think it's all that interesting. And to think I listed it as an afterthought!

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I'd be intrigued if I were an interviewer. That is one of those jobs you don't even realize exists, and it sounds pretty cool.

But yeah, my app has a pretty big mix of medical and non-medical, and really just some off the wall stuff in it, and I've found that the more unrelated to medicine it is, the more interest people have in talking about it.

Not necessarily an EC, but I asked Dick Cheney if the hospital I used to work at was now an "undisclosed location"

1. The EC I talk about at every interview (since it's the subject of my personal statement) is the summer I spent volunteering on a locked ward for sex offenders at a psychiatric institution.

2. My summer working as a clinical assistant in a surgical practice was pretty great too.

3. And as for leadership experience, I founded and managed a science program house on my campus.

I don't think I can pick just one since they were all great for different reasons!

Risa, you have the most outrageous application profile *ever*. Congrats!!!!

started/served as president of habitat at my undergrad

worked as an orderly for 3 years

mentored kid in elementary school

autocross/work on my bimmer in free time

little_late_MD said:

I have achieved a perfect season with every team in Madden 2006.

I will now be moving on to NCAA 2006.

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I like this answer best.

Mom to two children while going back to school full-time

Paramedic for 10 years, volunteer firefighter for 5 before that.

Trained as a classical concert pianist for 12 years.

Trained as a professional dancer for 10 years (but not really good enough to make a career out of it). That was, of course, 20 years and 50 pounds ago. Boy was I skinny.

Depakote said:

WINNAR!

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hahahaha...what more do i need to do to get into med school!

ShyRem said:

Mom to two children while going back to school full-time

Paramedic for 10 years, volunteer firefighter for 5 before that.

Trained as a classical concert pianist for 12 years.

Trained as a professional dancer for 10 years (but not really good enough to make a career out of it). That was, of course, 20 years and 50 pounds ago. Boy was I skinny.

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Damn ShyRem, compose any operettas in your spare time?

You also forgot to add that you are the woman behind SaraLee!!

I've managed to wear my underwear on the outside of my pants.

Caveman-- thanks And by the way, I love that sketch!

Bernito-- I saw a guy dressed as Quailman on Halloween, and it basically made my year. Rock on.

1. drank beer
2. drank captain n coke
3. drank beer
4. smoked cigarettes
5. bonged beer

Spent a summer in Africa teaching public health. Learned another language, got some medically related experience, and got to eat goat stew- yummy in my tummy

ps-Fictional Girl, I think the book of fictional stories is the coolest thing yet....