Are ECs more or less important for nontrads?

[ProspectiveKidd]

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Obviously clinical exposure in some shape or form is necessary, along with strong stats. However, given the additional life responsibility that many nontrads have over the typical 18-20 year old premed, is it generally viewed as OK to have fewer traditional ECs like research, clubs and organizations, etc?

 

[WedgeDawg]

Don't view ECs as box checking regardless of your situation. View them as a cluster of experiences that shapes who you are and what you want to be.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Don't view ECs as box checking regardless of your situation. View them as a cluster of experiences that shapes who you are and what you want to be.

I agree with what you are saying, but generally speaking I would assume nontrads have slightly less involvement in these type of things just because most of them probably have additional responsibilities, and so i'm just curious if that would hurt an applicant.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I agree with what you are saying, but generally speaking I would assume nontrads have slightly less involvement in these type of things just because most of them probably have additional responsibilities, and so i'm just curious of that would hurt an applicant.

They've generally had other experiences that make up their application. No one cares that you were the president of the kung fu fighting club and no one is going to care that non trad x wasn't.

 

[piii]

I agree with what you are saying, but generally speaking I would assume nontrads have slightly less involvement in these type of things just because most of them probably have additional responsibilities, and so i'm just curious of that would hurt an applicant.

You assume wrong. Many non-trads likely have more than the average traditional premed 2nd semester junior that is applying.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

You assume wrong. Many non-trads likely have more than the average traditional premed 2nd semester junior that is applying.

In what way? The most feasible to me is some clinically related job that they have held or life experience had, but I see them having far less clinical volunteering, research, etc...what is your reasoning otherwise?

 

[WedgeDawg]

In what way? The most feasible to me is some clinically related job that they have held, or life experienced had, but I see them having far less clinical volunteering, research, etc...what is your reasoning otherwise?

You will regardless still need to show adcoms that you have exposure to and demonstrated interest in medicine as a non-trad.

 

[piii]

In what way? The most feasible to me is some clinically related job that they have held or life experience had, but I see them having far less clinical volunteering, research, etc...what is your reasoning otherwise?

Well, I'm a non trad who will have 4 years between med school and undergrad. I've been collecting clinical experience, research experience, and volunteering since day one freshman year. Met many people in the same position, with like 6-8 years of ECs. More time = more experiences.

 

[Krupke]

In what way? The most feasible to me is some clinically related job that they have held, but I see them having far less clinical volunteering, research, etc...what is your reasoning otherwise?

.

Edit: oh, you said not including research. I still think they would understand and just as long as you have something that sets you apart and shows that you understand the medical field you'll be good

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Well, I'm a non trad who will have 4 years between med school and undergrad. I've been collecting clinical experience, research experience, and volunteering since day one freshman year. Met many people in the same position, with like 6-8 years of ECs. More time = more experiences.

What if previous life experiences prior to UG were not clinically or medically related? Such as the case of career changers? This is perhaps my main concern.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

You assume wrong. Many non-trads likely have more than the average traditional premed 2nd semester junior that is applying.

I agree. Obviously, it depends on the applicant. But I had 6 years between graduation and applying. And while I probably have less shadowing and clinical volunteering than a traditional applicant, I have several years of full-time research experience and have worked jobs where I've gotten a ton of direct patient contact and had a lot of responsibility.

There are also a lot of nontrads who have had legit careers before applying to med school. I would think that the experience a career changer can bring to the table would be highly valued--even if the career isn't clinical. I don't think it's accurate to say that most nontrads have fewer EC's, just that they're likely to have different EC's.

 

[piii]

What if previous life experiences prior to UG were not clinically or medically related? Such as the case of career changers? This is perhaps my main concern.

Just because I may have more med related ECs doesn't make me a better non trad, or anything. I just don't want you to generalize non trads as not having much exposure to clinical experiences. Obviously career changers have different situations. Do what you can to accumulate a solid amount of medical related ECs. If you do that, you'll be more than fine. Leverage your other experiences as a non trad to bring appeal in your app.

 

[Law2Doc]

Nontrads are expected to be more mature and hence to do a greater degree of due diligence. You are expected to look before you leap. Unlike a 20 yo college grad you aren't going to get to decide on medicine just because you have a vague sense of "helping people". You need to have more concrete experiences. So expect nontrads on average to have more clinical exposure/ shadowing and have made longer and better thought out decisions.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Nontrads are expected to be more mature and hence to do a greater degree of due diligence. You are expected to look before you leap. Unlike a 20 yo college grad you aren't going to get to decide on medicine just because you have a vague sense of "helping people". You need to have more concrete experiences. So expect nontrads on average to have more clinical exposure/ shadowing and have made longer and better thought out decisions.

Definitely. The main reason I waited on college was because I simply didn't know what I wanted to do. My job since HS has taught me a lot about myself and what is actually important to me. The shadowing and clinical exposure to different areas are what Im going to focus on primarily.

I have always been skeptical of people who just "know they want to be a doctor because they want to help people" How? ugh.

 

[Lollygag]

If you are a career changer, an adcom can't expect you to have had research or clinical experience 5 years ago when you weren't planning on becoming a doctor, especially when your career/major was not anything science related.

I think an adcom also recognizes that many nontrad students may need to work 40 hours a week to pay the bills maybe even provide for a family. So if thats you, then it's understandable that you can't spend 20 hours a week volunteering at a clinic like an undergraduate student may be able to. But as long as you get that clinical experience even just a couple hours every week or every month, then that will show your interest and commitment to medicine.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

If you are a career changer, an adcom can't expect you to have had research or clinical experience 5 years ago when you weren't planning on becoming a doctor, especially when your career/major was not anything science related.

I think an adcom also recognizes that many nontrad students may need to work 40 hours a week to pay the bills maybe even provide for a family. So if thats you, then it's understandable that you can't spend 20 hours a week volunteering at a clinic like an undergraduate student may be able to. But as long as you get that clinical experience even just a couple hours every week or every month, then that will show your interest and commitment to medicine.

Yes, that is definitely me and my situation. Im currently spending a few hours every week doing some clinical volunteering, and I planned on grabbing a job as a CNA just to get some additional exposure working directly with patients.

I feel like if I sustain this and vary the clinical setting over the next few years, that should be sufficient as far as commitment along with other parts of my app. If I'm being honest, Its daunting reading all the crap that the typical premed does, and still doesn't get in. Obviously apps are viewed holistically and I can't take that at face value, however.

 

[Goro]

Exactly.

If you are a career changer, an adcom can't expect you to have had research or clinical experience 5 years ago when you weren't planning on becoming a doctor, especially when your career/major was not anything science related.

I think an adcom also recognizes that many nontrad students may need to work 40 hours a week to pay the bills maybe even provide for a family. So if thats you, then it's understandable that you can't spend 20 hours a week volunteering at a clinic like an undergraduate student may be able to. But as long as you get that clinical experience even just a couple hours every week or every month, then that will show your interest and commitment to medicine.

 

[Planes2Doc]

I agree with what you are saying, but generally speaking I would assume nontrads have slightly less involvement in these type of things just because most of them probably have additional responsibilities, and so i'm just curious if that would hurt an applicant.

Agreed as long as you're talking about "traditional" pre-med activities. If someone didn't become pre-med until long after undergrad, it's very unlikely that they will have a long continuous volunteer commitment adding up to over 100 hours. After all, such altruism is more or less a rare trait in people, and I have met very few people that have significant volunteer commitments outside of pre-meds or other pre-professional students.

Once you're officially a pre-med, you're still expected to do ECs. You will need to fit in volunteering and shadowing. Work and family requirements don't give you a free pass on it, which is why I suggest doing once weekly hospital volunteering and sporadic shadowing. You just get a free pass on what you didn't do in college.