Balancing ECs

[HH Holmes]

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I've always been interested in many subjects other than medicine, so I have not solely focused on medically related extra curriculars. I know many experienced and qualified people on the boards recommend non-medical experience to supplement clinical stuff, but my ECs are mainly outside the realm of medicine:

*In a considerably selective undergrad leadership development program (350 apply, 25 accepted, hefty scholarship)
*My fraternity - Pledge Educator (running for president in winter)
*Inter-Fraternity Council - VP of Judicial Affairs
*Undergrad Student Gov't - Fraternal Senator
*Work in Student Leadership/Community Service Office ~15 hrs/wk
*Fall 2012 will be shadowing ER doc 8 hrs/wk for a for-credit internship (case report/research included in this)
*Summer 2013 plan on shadowing surgeon (have shadowed previously in HS) while studying for the MCAT

Should I be part-taking in more clinical exposure or should I just genuinely focus on what I like to do?

 

[CaliGirl14]

Nope. Do whatever you want to do/like to do. Just don't bite off more than you can chew.

 

[Dence]

I would think more clinical exposure could help you out. Summer is a great time for that because there aren't as many fraternal things to deal with. I'd suggest looking for a volunteer program that would allow you to have some patient contact.


And if you end up using Pledge Educator in applications you may want to change it to New Member Educator (I know, it sucks) to remove some of the connotations people associate with the word "pledge". Over the last few years my school has been making a half-assed effort to promote the use of "new member" rather than "pledge"; I'm sure other schools are doing similar things.

 

[HH Holmes]

And if you end up using Pledge Educator in applications you may want to change it to New Member Educator (I know, it sucks) to remove some of the connotations people associate with the word "pledge". Over the last few years my school has been making a half-assed effort to promote the use of "new member" rather than "pledge"; I'm sure other schools are doing similar things.

Great point. Just so used to 'pledge' that it comes naturally.

 

[plumhill]

You need enough medical ECs to show that you understand what the field is like and why you believe it is right for you. But having involvement in stuff outside of medicine is good too. Just make sure your grades aren't suffering due to your involvement in activities, and maybe get some more clinical volunteering in.

 

[HH Holmes]

You need enough medical ECs to show that you understand what the field is like and why you believe it is right for you. But having involvement in stuff outside of medicine is good too. Just make sure your grades aren't suffering due to your involvement in activities, and maybe get some more clinical volunteering in.

I totally agree, just I am just not interested in cleaning beds, stocking supply carts and running labs (the same stuff I did volunteering in high school, around 300 hours over two years). Not that it is a 'waste of time', I just feel that expanding my leadership skills, improving my college campus and shadowing when I feel that there is insight to gain is much more helpful and meaningful than the typical 'volunteer-in-an-ER' it seems everyone has on their resume nowadays.

I did go on two medical service trips to El Salvador in high school, and I would go again. but the NGO who runs the trips (local family friends) always schedules during non-peak dates which happen to be right smack in the thick of classes.

My GPA is high, and I plan on using SN2ed 3 month MCAT guide next summer with ~10 hrs/wk of shadowing a surgeon, unless another opportunity comes up.

 

[plumhill]

There is a reason that volunteering-in-an-ED/clinic/etc is a typical volunteer activity...it gives you insight into what it's like to be in a hospital setting, interacting with patients! It's great that you did that sort of work in high school, but ultimately you have to prove to adcoms that you know why you want to be a physician, and you know what the environment you'll be working in is like. The work you did in high school, unless VERY impactful, won't really count on your application. You have to show that you continued your dedication to the health field even in college, and that you didn't just do a minimum set of hours and then go on to more glamorous things. I'm not discounting everything that you're doing right now--you've got a fairly impressive ECs list--but ultimately, you have to prove that you know what it's like to work/volunteer in a medical setting. If you think you can do that with the limited collegiate experience you'll have, then that's great! Just know that you'll be up against candidates who've spent upwards of 300-500 hours doing clinical volunteering, and they may convey their understanding of the health field in a much more mature and informed manner.

 

[HH Holmes]

There is a reason that volunteering-in-an-ED/clinic/etc is a typical volunteer activity...it gives you insight into what it's like to be in a hospital setting, interacting with patients! It's great that you did that sort of work in high school, but ultimately you have to prove to adcoms that you know why you want to be a physician, and you know what the environment you'll be working in is like. The work you did in high school, unless VERY impactful, won't really count on your application. You have to show that you continued your dedication to the health field even in college, and that you didn't just do a minimum set of hours and then go on to more glamorous things. I'm not discounting everything that you're doing right now--you've got a fairly impressive ECs list--but ultimately, you have to prove that you know what it's like to work/volunteer in a medical setting. If you think you can do that with the limited collegiate experience you'll have, then that's great! Just know that you'll be up against candidates who've spent upwards of 300-500 hours doing clinical volunteering, and they may convey their understanding of the health field in a much more mature and informed manner.

I agree with you on everything but the last part. If someone has spent 300-500 hours (which I already have -- won't be marking it down b/c it was HS involvement), I feel like it is due to the fact that they believe it's part of some imaginary list of *required* things needed to get into medical school.

I believe there's a similar thread regarding volunteering that's pretty active in the Pre-Allo subforum right now, and I agree with one of the posters that 100, 200, 500 and 1000 hours does not prove one's sense of altruism or empathy, nor does it nearly show the 'real world' of medicine like shadowing does. Although I learned a lot during my two years of volunteering back before undergrad, I learned exponentially more about not only the hard science of medicine, but rather the art of talking to a patient, interacting with families and running a successful team -- which I believe, and I think others will agree, is a lot more important than some pre-med learning some textbook items such as terminology/abbreviations and watching a tech put in a catheter.

I'm in no way bashing volunteering, because it solidified my choice to pursue medicine, but I think a lot of pre-meds 'overdo it' and don't focus on what they truly enjoy. I respect your opinions and truly do appreciate your input!

 

[semicharmed]

I don't think you need that many crazy hours. As long as you've experienced clinical shadowing for more than a week, I think there' a high curve of diminishing returns (1000 hours is ridiculous). In my experience, these individuals don't get to the schools they want to get because they sacrificed other things they were passionate about.

Diverse applications=more unique=more competitive. Just make sure it all ties together somehow. If it's completely random then you will confuse the adcoms and they won't be able to "nail your theme down."

If you follow your heart/interests, it won't be random. It just might be trickier for you to reflect and analyze the common connection. But it's there. Otherwise you wouldn't have done the activities to begin with 🙂.

 

[Ironmandoc]

Nope. Do whatever you want to do/like to do. Just don't bite off more than you can chew.

I agree. They like applicants who have a wide range of interests and can handle school, work, personal, etc

 

[NickNaylor]

Protip: the activity itself isn't all that important. Your ability to clearly explain why that activity was important to you and how it plays into your decision to become a physician is what's most important and will speak for itself. If you have 200 hours of shadowing yet come across as someone that doesn't know anything about medicine (either in the app or, more likely, in your interview), you might as well not even have those hours.