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Hey all-
Just wanted some opinions/advice/etc. I go to a Top 20 medical school and was really just wondering how important activities are during your first two years of med school. I've been sort of frustrated in trying to apply for a number of positions (Free Clinic Coordinator, TAing, heading organizations, etc.)....but just haven't been selected for anything yet. Sort of the plight of being in med school, unlike college, where suddenly everyone is baller- it's hard to compete say...against someone who spent 2 years helping to run a clinic in Nigeria when you want to be a free clinic manager. Some of them were attractive because they pay well (less loans=amazing), others are attractive because I legitimately really wanted to do them. So I've been a little down about not getting to lead things, which always kept me happy in undergrad. I'm not entirely buying into the idea of doing things just for a resume boost, but I'm worried not having leadership in anything is going to make me look bad.
I'm involved as a member in a fair amount of clubs, do a lot of pre-med/under-grad/post bac mentoring programs, volunteer in the free clinic basically weekly. Do a lot of admissions stuff as well....though again, not in a leadership capacity. I'm also starting a cool summer research project that I'm excited about (and won an outside fellowship for), I take a lot of elective courses in some of the other schools at my institution. Overall, I feel like I do a lot given the amount of studying/work you have in the first two years. But, I somehow also feel like everyone in my class is somehow building a much better resume than I am. I'm still trying to get involved in other things, but was just curious as to how important in the long run activities really are in med school.
If I'm not a leader in some specialty club, TAing a class, or founding some med school program that teaches underserved high school students...am I somehow shooting myself in the foot for landing a more competitive specialty? My interests are pretty broad now, but include Hem/Onc, Neurology, and Dermatology (all non-surgical specialties) with maybe a pediatrics bent.
Just wanted some opinions/advice/etc. I go to a Top 20 medical school and was really just wondering how important activities are during your first two years of med school. I've been sort of frustrated in trying to apply for a number of positions (Free Clinic Coordinator, TAing, heading organizations, etc.)....but just haven't been selected for anything yet. Sort of the plight of being in med school, unlike college, where suddenly everyone is baller- it's hard to compete say...against someone who spent 2 years helping to run a clinic in Nigeria when you want to be a free clinic manager. Some of them were attractive because they pay well (less loans=amazing), others are attractive because I legitimately really wanted to do them. So I've been a little down about not getting to lead things, which always kept me happy in undergrad. I'm not entirely buying into the idea of doing things just for a resume boost, but I'm worried not having leadership in anything is going to make me look bad.
I'm involved as a member in a fair amount of clubs, do a lot of pre-med/under-grad/post bac mentoring programs, volunteer in the free clinic basically weekly. Do a lot of admissions stuff as well....though again, not in a leadership capacity. I'm also starting a cool summer research project that I'm excited about (and won an outside fellowship for), I take a lot of elective courses in some of the other schools at my institution. Overall, I feel like I do a lot given the amount of studying/work you have in the first two years. But, I somehow also feel like everyone in my class is somehow building a much better resume than I am. I'm still trying to get involved in other things, but was just curious as to how important in the long run activities really are in med school.
If I'm not a leader in some specialty club, TAing a class, or founding some med school program that teaches underserved high school students...am I somehow shooting myself in the foot for landing a more competitive specialty? My interests are pretty broad now, but include Hem/Onc, Neurology, and Dermatology (all non-surgical specialties) with maybe a pediatrics bent.