Alpha Epsilon Delta

[BDNF]

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Hey guys,

do you know what the pros and cons are of joining the pre-med honor society AED?

They make you pledge, and do stupid stuff, so that you can be in this "honor society"

The only benefits are getting old tests and advice?

Does at actually look good on your resume/medschool app?

Thanks a bunch,

John

 

[NCF145]

Hey guys,

do you know what the pros and cons are of joining the pre-med honor society AED?

They make you pledge, and do stupid stuff, so that you can be in this "honor society"

The only benefits are getting old tests and advice?

Does at actually look good on your resume/medschool app?

Thanks a bunch,

John

I didn't join it. I though it was a waste of time. The standards for being accepted into this organization are not high enough for an adcom to be impressed. It is easy to get advice on tests and classes without being in this org. or any for that matter. The only good thing that could come about joining this org. is to get yourself into a leadership position and the volunteering that goes along with it. However, it is very easy to do the latter without joining. But this is just my opinion. I'm sure there will be many people (some current and former AED members) who will vehemently disagree with me. But hey, it's SDN so I have come to expect that with any post that offers any sort of personal opinion.

 

[tennisguy896]

This general topic has been talked about a lot on SDN, and the general conensus was that phi beta kappa is the most worthwhile- and the others won't really impress anyone.

 

[blackrsx]

be sure to join all of those organizations, they show the adcoms that you really have a drive to be in the medical field

I'm in:
Golden Key
Phi Kappa Phi
AED
BBB
a local pre-med group
National Scholars

In fact, I used half of my activities slots in my AMCAS app to list these wonderful organizations

My friend is in one or two more of those, that would explain why he got the interview at Duke and I didn't. So don't forget, the number you join is directly proportional to the number of interviews you'll get. Join as many as you can, I regret skipping on a few because the others had taken most of my money already. 🙁

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

My friend is in one or two more of those, that would explain why he got the interview at Duke and I didn't.

Really? Well, I'll say...



Honestly, I don't see the point in joining orgs unless you're truly interested in them and you plan on actively participating.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

be sure to join all of those organizations, they show the adcoms that you really have a drive to be in the medical field

I'm in:
Golden Key
Phi Kappa Phi
AED
BBB
a local pre-med group
National Scholars

In fact, I used half of my activities slots in my AMCAS app to list these wonderful organizations

My friend is in one or two more of those, that would explain why he got the interview at Duke and I didn't. So don't forget, the number you join is directly proportional to the number of interviews you'll get. Join as many as you can, I regret skipping on a few because the others had taken most of my money already. 🙁

Ya this is actually true... I know a guy who only had these activities and study abroad and volunteering and NO RESEARCH and interviewed at Harvard, Yale, and Duke and he has subpar stats... I guess they just really want to see that you are interested in medicine. It sux but its true

 

[tennisguy896]

A dean at a top 20 told us during a visit that we shouldn't "waste space" on the amcas by putting one honor society per slot (he recommended we put them all in one)- he said adcoms know why people really join honor societies so they don't care so much about how many you are in as much as what you do within those clubs.

 

[gujuDoc]

I didn't join it. I though it was a waste of time. The standards for being accepted into this organization are not high enough for an adcom to be impressed. It is easy to get advice on tests and classes without being in this org. or any for that matter. The only good thing that could come about joining this org. is to get yourself into a leadership position and the volunteering that goes along with it. However, it is very easy to do the latter without joining. But this is just my opinion. I'm sure there will be many people (some current and former AED members) who will vehemently disagree with me. But hey, it's SDN so I have come to expect that with any post that offers any sort of personal opinion.

I was in AED but I agree with the above mentioned. Student organizations are a stupid waste of time most of the time. Except I like one of the neuroscience groups we have on campus because they discuss research topics as well. Other then that the rest are more a way for networking with other premeds and a lazy way of finding volunteer opportunities by people who don't want to find their own volunteer opportunities. It is also the easy way out to finding shadowing opps without having to do the work yourself to find such opportunities. That's what it was like when I was an officer of the organization as their shadowing coordinator. I go into the meetings some time just to see what's going on with them because I was involved with it but don't think its necessary nor really a big deal on your app. I think its more important to have volunteerism of both medical and nonmedical variety and research and shadowing at some schools.

 

[MadHopsMD]

what's with americans and fraternities?

 

[BNSN]

I'm not in AED, and I don't plan to join.

Seems like a waste of time to me.

 

[DrBowtie]

what's with americans and fraternities?

AED isn't a fraternity.

 

[MadHopsMD]

I'm not in AED, and I don't plan to join.

Seems like a waste of time to me.

having someone elses picture...is that allowed? that's creepy man.

 

[MadHopsMD]

AED isn't a fraternity.

blah, i just wiki'ed the differences...thanks

 

[yankees#1]

A dean at a top 20 told us during a visit that we shouldn't "waste space" on the amcas by putting one honor society per slot (he recommended we put them all in one)- he said adcoms know why people really join honor societies so they don't care so much about how many you are in as much as what you do within those clubs.

I was told the same thing, and did that. I was only in BBB, Psi Chi, and a local pre-med group. I've been accepted to two schools so far, so obviously they don't care that much about it. I think it shows more interest if you take the initiative to search out volunteer and research opportunities on your own, not just as part of a group activity that someone else has planned for you.

 

[AZhopeful]

i've been in AED, and it often is a bit of a waste. i have often heard from advisors and club members themselves that this is obviously not something that should be the flagship of anyone's Amcas activities(although for a few desperate or lazy people they try to make it that).

there are a few small benefits:
every meeting has a guest speaker, which are often Drs, adcoms, med students, residents, etc. the 'lectures' get really candid in the QA sessions- this is the most beneficial part of AED to me. it's also about the only beneficial part for me.

oh, and i disagree w/ joining tons of student clubs. like someone else mentioned, i think so many of these(like much of AED) are a waste. i've had the best experiences with programs that have nothing to do with being affiliated with the universities or students.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

be sure to join all of those organizations, they show the adcoms that you really have a drive to be in the medical field

I'm in:
Golden Key
Phi Kappa Phi
AED
BBB
a local pre-med group
National Scholars

In fact, I used half of my activities slots in my AMCAS app to list these wonderful organizations

My friend is in one or two more of those, that would explain why he got the interview at Duke and I didn't. So don't forget, the number you join is directly proportional to the number of interviews you'll get. Join as many as you can, I regret skipping on a few because the others had taken most of my money already. 🙁

I can't be the only person who thought that the above post was a joke.

And in the event that I am, speaking as a med student, it is.

 

[MinnyGophers]

I can't be the only person who thought that the above post was a joke.

And in the event that I am, speaking as a med student, it is.

ahahah I read it at first and was like It has to be sarcasm..... or at least, I hope it is

 

[Writer1985]

I think a lot depends on what your local AED chapter does. I'm involved with mine; we have the usual guest speakers, but we also provide some unique volunteering opportunities with the Salvation Army, etc. There may also be members-only benefits like discounts on MCAT review courses or connections with community physicians. I wouldn't write it off as a completely worthless activity, but it's true that a lot of people just join to pad their resumes.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

at least Iwy and MiniGophers aren't dense 😍

 

[braluk]

This is sad, when I saw the title- I thought "AED" , automated external defibrillator *sigh*

 

[szhao]

lol, werd hehe, anyways if you want have the time or money if required, then go for it, if you don't forget it.

 

[63768]

I can't be the only person who thought that the above post was a joke.

And in the event that I am, speaking as a med student, it is.

LOL. that blackrsx is quite the kidder. (and yes i do know him)

This is sad, when I saw the title- I thought "AED" , automated external defibrillator *sigh*

dude. i swear i thought the same thing. i read the title but once i started reading the thread, i saw AED and was like wtf why are they talking about a defibrillator in relation to a honor society.

 

[blackrsx]

I can't be the only person who thought that the above post was a joke.

And in the event that I am, speaking as a med student, it is.

It is, apparently here in uptight doctor-land people don't get jokes unless you riddle your post with emoticons/smilies.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

It is, apparently here in uptight doctor-land people don't get jokes unless you riddle your post with emoticons/smilies.

Haha, I think I've met so many crazy premeds that actually think that way that I've started to accept even the most ridiculous statements as true. Good one though, sure got me.

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

It is, apparently here in uptight doctor-land people don't get jokes unless you riddle your post with emoticons/smilies.

dude... u need to get a life and leave these poor, defenseless premeds alone... im going to start a petition for no more sarcasm on sdn

 

[BDNF]

I read all your comments. It seems that the only con to joining is that its a waste of time. I minus well. We don't have any of those other organizations on my campus. So If I join 1 honor society, then it should be ok.

I was just worried that they'd actually look down upon you for joining?

 

[CTtarheel]

find out more about your school's AED chapter before joining. Some are very active and can get you connections for shadowing etc. and save you lots of work in getting quality volunteer activities. Some are absolute wastes of time that just have a few random meetings. I'd attend an interest meeting to see what your AED chapter can offer you, and then decide whether or not its worth your money.

 

[gujuDoc]

dude... u need to get a life and leave these poor, defenseless premeds alone... im going to start a petition for no more sarcasm on sdn

I kinda figured that he wasn't being serious in that post. However I do know someone who did list all his different leadership roles and positions within one organization as different activities rather then grouping it in as one activity.

 

[drsus94]

be sure to join all of those organizations, they show the adcoms that you really have a drive to be in the medical field

I'm in:
Golden Key
Phi Kappa Phi
AED
BBB
a local pre-med group
National Scholars

In fact, I used half of my activities slots in my AMCAS app to list these wonderful organizations

My friend is in one or two more of those, that would explain why he got the interview at Duke and I didn't. So don't forget, the number you join is directly proportional to the number of interviews you'll get. Join as many as you can, I regret skipping on a few because the others had taken most of my money already. 🙁

Hey! How did you put AED on your application? I can't decide if it should be extracurricular or healthcare experience because we did a lot of volunteer work at a local nursing home

 

[gyngyn]

Hey! How did you put AED on your application? I can't decide if it should be extracurricular or healthcare experience because we did a lot of volunteer work at a local nursing home

This thread is from 11 years ago...