Are these EC's good or am I missing something?

[chemdoctor]

Volunteering at Hospice
volunteering at an Alzheimer's clinic
volunteering at a soup kitchen
volunteering at a children's orphanage
lifeguarding (mostly during the summer)
water safety instructing (mostly during the summer)
alzheimer's association walks and charity events
stuff for clubs at the college I attend (VP and P of two different clubs)
Tutoring Chemistry and Math
Shadowing

I really enjoy doing these things and was wondering if there is something I am missing? I already have a bunch of shadowing but does everything seem at least decent thus far? There isn't really anything else I do but I write my own stories.

NOTE: I don't know how many hours I have of each thing but hoping to have over 250 of each by the time I apply. still a sophomore graduating early so I've still got loads of time.

Am I missing any big parts such as clinical or nonclinical volunteering?! I mean of course there IS clinical and nonclinical within the ECs I have mentioned but I don't know what else to really add.

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[Catalystik]

Volunteering at Hospice
volunteering at an Alzheimer's clinic
volunteering at a soup kitchen
volunteering at a children's orphanage
lifeguarding (mostly during the summer)
water safety instructing (mostly during the summer)
alzheimer's association walks and charity events
stuff for clubs at the college I attend (VP and P of two different clubs)
Tutoring Chemistry and Math
Shadowing

I really enjoy doing these things and was wondering if there is something I am missing? I already have a bunch of shadowing but does everything seem at least decent thus far? There isn't really anything else I do but I write my own stories.

NOTE: I don't know how many hours I have of each thing but hoping to have over 250 of each by the time I apply. still a sophomore graduating early so I've still got loads of time.

Am I missing any big parts such as clinical or nonclinical volunteering?! I mean of course there IS clinical and nonclinical within the ECs I have mentioned but I don't know what else to really add.

-Research?

-We can't answer the question re clinical vs nonclinical adequacy without knowing your role at each site.

-Be sure your shadowing includes a primary care doc.

-And, include the writing as a Hobby or Artistic Endeavor, depending on how wide your audience is.

 

[chemdoctor]

-Research?

-We can't answer the question re clinical vs nonclinical adequacy without knowing your role at each site.

-Be sure your shadowing includes a primary care doc.

-And, include the writing as a Hobby or Artistic Endeavor, depending on how wide your audience is.

Yeah gonna be doing research next semester probably. It prob won't be anything ground breaking but it'll be good for the experience. And it's research in stuff I really like. My shadowing is manly an orthopedic surgeon. So I'll prob have to look into more primary care.

So at Hospice I just kinda bring coffee, talk to some patients, read stories to little children, etc. I'll sometimes play with the kids or even help roll patients out while they're in wheelchairs etc. same thing goes at Alzheimer's association. I serve food and help with food drives at the soup kitchen, at the orphanage I help play with kids and talk to them etc. and just some volunteering here and there.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Yeah gonna be doing research next semester probably. It prob won't be anything ground breaking but it'll be good for the experience.
2) And it's research in stuff I really like. My shadowing is manly an orthopedic surgeon. So I'll prob have to look into more primary care.

3) So at Hospice I just kinda bring coffee, talk to some patients, read stories to little children, etc. I'll sometimes play with the kids or even help roll patients out while they're in wheelchairs etc. same thing goes at Alzheimer's association.
4) I serve food and help with food drives at the soup kitchen,
5) at the orphanage I help play with kids and talk to them etc.
6) and just some volunteering here and there.

1)
2) Good plan.
3) Talking to the patients and transporting them would be "clinical" volunteering. Maybe figure out what percent of the time you engage the hospice patients one-on-one and come up with an hour total. If you are engaging Alzheimer's patients at the association's office rather than in a clinical environment, it's probably not "clinical." Fund raising walk and events are definitely not clinical.
4) Hands-on service to those in need is most important to your application. Again, figure out what percent of the time you do that vs food collection and indicate this in the description of the activity.
5) Sounds good.
6) ?

 

[chemdoctor]

The Alzheimer's thing is where I interact with Alzheimer's patients. It's kinda like a hospice for them. I listen to them, play games with them etc. it's actively interacting.

Yeah the fundraising walks are for the Alzheimer's association and it's just charitable stuff.

The other volunteering is just random crap for clubs at the college I attend.

 

[buckoh24]

-Research?

-We can't answer the question re clinical vs nonclinical adequacy without knowing your role at each site.

-Be sure your shadowing includes a primary care doc.

-And, include the writing as a Hobby or Artistic Endeavor, depending on how wide your audience is.

Is it a red flag to not shadow a Primary Care doc? I did endo, ortho, gen surg, and immunologist which arent technically primary care but specialties in primary care....and have gotten little love so far.

 

[Catalystik]

The Alzheimer's thing is where I interact with Alzheimer's patients. It's kinda like a hospice for them. I listen to them, play games with them etc. it's actively interacting.

Is this an inpatient unit or an Alzheimer's day care facility?

 

[Catalystik]

Is it a red flag to not shadow a Primary Care doc? I did endo, ortho, gen surg, and immunologist which arent technically primary care but specialties in primary care....and have gotten little love so far.

It depends on what each school wants to see. I wouldn't call it a red flag. If your application is meant to appeal to less-selective schools that aim to produce primary care docs, you'd be well advised to get office-based, longitudinal primary care experience. For highly-selective, research-focused schools, it's of lesser importance. That said, some specialists act as primary care docs, taking responsibility for over-all care of their patients. Endocrinologists and oncology docs often do this, so in some adcomms' eyes you'd be covered (depending on how you've spun the experience on you Application).

And Ortho and Gen Surg are not primary care subspecialties.

 

[chemdoctor]

Is this an inpatient unit or an Alzheimer's day care facility?

Daycare facility.

 

[Catalystik]

Daycare facility.

Strictly speaking, the clients of the facility are not "patients." They are adults who can't be trusted to stay safe at home on their own. Children in daycare are there for the same reason and caring for them isn't considered clinical in nature either.

That said, adcomms will consider this to be a very valuable experience. If you spin it right, some might view it as clinical. It's best to designate it as Not Medical/Clinical and let each reader make up their own mind based on your narrative description.

 

[chemdoctor]

Strictly speaking, the clients of the facility are not "patients." They are adults who can't be trusted to stay safe at home on their own. Children in daycare are there for the same reason and caring for them isn't considered clinical in nature either.

That said, adcomms will consider this to be a very valuable experience. If you spin it right, some might view it as clinical. It's best to designate it as Not Medical/Clinical and let each reader make up their own mind based on your narrative description.

Oh dang. Thank you for the output. I guess I should find a way to get in some clinical volunteering where I'm interacting with patients then. I mean I want more than just Hospice. I get a little bit when I shadow. I just don't wanna do hospital volunteering Bc it's such a generic thing not to mention, you're not always INTERACTING with patients. Maybe I can find an Alzheimer's Clinic near by. What else do you think I should improve upon?

 

[Catalystik]

Oh dang. Thank you for the output. I guess I should find a way to get in some clinical volunteering where I'm interacting with patients then. I mean I want more than just Hospice. I get a little bit when I shadow. I just don't wanna do hospital volunteering Bc it's such a generic thing not to mention, you're not always INTERACTING with patients. Maybe I can find an Alzheimer's Clinic near by. What else do you think I should improve upon?

An Alzheimer's inpatient unit would be perfect. Or for more variety, a skilled-level nursing home. Or a local free or low-income clinic, VA facility, or family-planning clinic.

Otherwise, you're good to go, assuming you attend to the other issues we've already discussed.

 

[chemdoctor]

An Alzheimer's inpatient unit would be perfect. Or for more variety, a skilled-level nursing home. Or a local free or low-income clinic, VA facility, or family-planning clinic.

Otherwise, you're good to go, assuming you attend to the other issues we've already discussed.

Wow thanks! I know there is an assisted living facility near my house that specializes in treating patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's. Do you think that would be a good fit?

 

[Catalystik]

Wow thanks! I know there is an assisted living facility near my house that specializes in treating patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's. Do you think that would be a good fit?

With your experience, I'm sure you'd be qualified.

 

[chemdoctor]

With your experience, I'm sure you'd be qualified.

With your experience, I'm sure you'd be qualified.

I have some other questions. Would I be able to PM you?

 

[Catalystik]

I have some other questions. Would I be able to PM you?

Sorry, my PM box is closed.

 

[chemdoctor]

Sorry, my PM box is closed.

Ah OK that's fine. So I'm thinking of sticking to the stuff listed above. I should have over 250 hours by the time I apply.

 

[Catalystik]

Ah OK that's fine. So I'm thinking of sticking to the stuff listed above. I should have over 250 hours by the time I apply.

For each one, for each category, or in aggregate?

 

[chemdoctor]

For each one, for each category, or in aggregate?

For each individual thing. I'm a couple years away from applying and started over the summer.

 

[Catalystik]

For each individual thing. I'm a couple years away from applying and started over the summer.

That would be far more shadowing than you'd need.

 

[chemdoctor]

That would be far more shadowing than you'd need.

Lol I meant the hospice and children's village stuff. I think I already have 100+ shadowing hours. But I'll get maybe 100 of shadowing in primary care...

 

[Catalystik]

I'll get maybe 100 of shadowing in primary care...

Aiming for 40 is fine, considering you already have specialist hours to include. But if you're having fun, and don't need the time for other endeavors, keep it up.

 

[chemdoctor]

Aiming for 40 is fine, considering you already have specialist hours to include. But if you're having fun, and don't need the time for other endeavors, keep it up.

Thank you. Another question is, what are your thoughts on having a bad semester? I went through some personal **** this semester... Grades dropped a bit. My cGPA is still above like a 3.68 and I have a few more semesters

 

[Catalystik]

what are your thoughts on having a bad semester? I went through some personal **** this semester... Grades dropped a bit. My cGPA is still above like a 3.68 and I have a few more semesters

For AMCAS, your GPAs are displayed year-by-year, not term-by-term, so a GPA dip won't be so obvious if the rest of the year looks good.

And, it's best to have a bad term early on. You don't want to apply with a significant downward trend. If you can keep it together from now on and still apply with a GPA of 3.68 or higher, you'll be fine, assuming your BCPM GPA is decent as well.

 

[chemdoctor]

For AMCAS, your GPAs are displayed year-by-year, not term-by-term, so a GPA dip won't be so obvious if the rest of the year looks good.

And, it's best to have a bad term early on. You don't want to apply with a significant downward trend. If you can keep it together from now on and still apply with a GPA of 3.68 or higher, you'll be fine, assuming your BCPM GPA is decent as well.

Sounds good. I hope I do well haha. I mean I won't fail anything but I got a C- and maybe some more C's and B's. But I've looked into counseling and am looking at doing better.

 

[Catalystik]

Sounds good. I hope I do well haha. I mean I won't fail anything but I got a C- and maybe some more C's and B's. But I've looked into counseling and am looking at doing better.

If by the end of break you don't feel you are recharged and ready to excel, it would be better to take a leave of absense from school and continue getting yourself back together than to further muck up your GPA.

 

[chemdoctor]

If by the end of break you don't feel you are recharged and ready to excel, it would be better to take a leave of absense from school and continue getting yourself back together than to further muck up your GPA.

You're right. I don't think it'll be THAT bad but just in case. I just need this Christmas break to recharge a bit. It's getting better for sure. I'm in FL so... Lucky state huh?

 

[Catalystik]

You're right. I don't think it'll be THAT bad but just in case. I just need this Christmas break to recharge a bit. It's getting better for sure. I'm in FL so... Lucky state huh?

Very lucky. And more sun can recharge more than solar batteries for some folks.

 

[chemdoctor]

Very lucky. And more sun can recharge more than solar batteries for some folks.

Yeah. Thanks for the advice. I think I should (hopefully) be fine for my FL schools. Provided my MCAT is a 510+ and my LORs are good.