Best extracurricular to stand out?

[jr doctor in sd]

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What do you all think?

Is it volunteering at a hospital? (FREE labor that shows you care)
Lab work?
clinical research?
a college sports team?


Right now i am doing a couple of things at my campus in terms of ec's but im just curious what alot of med schools want to see since as of right now i have absolutely no clinical or lab research. Then again, i did just finish my freshman year and volunteered at a hospital for over 6 mos. and i am an officer in our huge pre-med group and am in a few other clubs and i might do a sport. Thanks!!!

 

[Quix]

With the exception of sports team, most of what you list is par for the course in terms of standard medical school applicants. You'll find that a lot of the people who post here do all of the things that you list and more.

 

[Phoenix.]

Honestly? If I had undergrad to do all over again, and knew going into it that I wanted to go to med school, I'd do my best to get three things done, in no particular order:

1) volunteer at a free clinic w/lots of patient contact
2) volunteer work abroad (clinically related would be ideal)
3) research (clinical or lab) w/my name on a publication

Anyway, that'd be my recipe if I got a do-over. Regardless, I would only do things I was passionate about....it'll show in secondaries/interviews.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Cure cancer in your spare time...that'd be sure to make you stand out.

 

[quiksilver87]

time magazine person of the year...

 

[mvenus929]

time magazine person of the year...

Naw... everyone's already won that one.

 

[Jew Alcindor]

Volunteering is pretty standard. Research too, to a lesser extent.

I think a sports team is a pretty good EC. It's not an excuse for a weak application, but as far as extra non-medically related stuff it seems like one of the better ones you can do. Shows discipline, motivation, ability to work in a group setting, handle stress/pressure and that you can handle a little criticism. Are you talking about an NCAA thing or a club sport?

 

[etf]

rhodes scholarship

 

[surfstarj]

Doing a sport will be unique if you excel...i don't know how much it will actually help your application though. I guess I'll find out and report back...

 

[LikeClockWork]

Something that might make you stand out is an unusual hobby you could talk about in the "What else would you like us to know about you" essay. If, for instance, you enjoy underwater basket weaving or compete in biathalons regularly, it might make you stick in an interviewer's mind and give good fodder for conversation during the interview.

 

[mindquick]

what college do you go to? some colleges have special opportunities.

 

[surfstarj]

Something that might make you stand out is an unusual hobby you could talk about in the "What else would you like us to know about you" essay. If, for instance, you enjoy underwater basket weaving or compete in biathalons regularly, it might make you stick in an interviewer's mind and give good fodder for conversation during the interview.

 

[maestro1625]

anyone who chooses their activities based on "what will look good" should not be getting into med school.

 

[Jolie South]

hmm, let me think. . .

what do you actually like to do?

great, then do it, just get in some clinical exposure and volunteer work too.

 

[pittnative]

Depends on the medical school as well. Some look more highly on research versus hospital patient contact. Also, the UMich Admissions director (Dr. Ruiz) told me that they consider students in groups somewhat. Like I had 4 years of research through undergrad, though only about 1 year of patient contact experience so I'd be considered against other students with strong research backgrounds.

Also, pretty much everyone has the big 3 covered: Leadership, patient contact, research. Someone mentioned volunteering abroad, which more and more people are doing nowadays, and I personally felt was by far my best experience, not just for my application, but for me as a person. Living by myself in Peru, meeting travelers from all over the world, spending 3 days in Machu Picchu, and eating roast guinea pig were all great. And yeah, I worked 40 hrs/wk in a hospital that was straight out of the 1950s plus a few computers. But like I said, so many people do this now.

If you can do something unique that you're passionate about then it will greatly improve any application. As for sports, playing for a D1 varsity team in any sport is one of the hardest things to do. Traveling nearly every weekend in season, scheduling classes around practice, spending your summers catching up with class and practice. Depending on your school and the level you'd be playing at club vs. varsity then that could be a good experience.

Also, finding experiences outside of your university can be beneficial, i.e. Red Cross, or a VA hospital. A lot of university volunteer experiences are always so structured and just blah.

 

[pittnative]

anyone who chooses their activities based on "what will look good" should not be getting into med school.

Nice Signature 😉. Let's just say I was at the game and it will probably be a once in a lifetime experience...

 

[almo88]

What do you all think?

Is it volunteering at a hospital? (FREE labor that shows you care)
Lab work?
clinical research?
a college sports team?


Right now i am doing a couple of things at my campus in terms of ec's but im just curious what alot of med schools want to see since as of right now i have absolutely no clinical or lab research. Then again, i did just finish my freshman year and volunteered at a hospital for over 6 mos. and i am an officer in our huge pre-med group and am in a few other clubs and i might do a sport. Thanks!!!

I've heard that volunteering or researching over-seas looks great on an application. But, if you're doing it just to put it on an application, I would seriously think twice before going to medical school. We are supposed to gain knowledge by volunteering and researching. If you're not interested in doing either, what makes you think that you want to be a doctor?

I don't mean that in a bad way, just something to think about. Anyway, good luck with your EC's!

 

[inaminute]

can you say "dead African babies"?

 

[sle3pyguii]

Do what you want.

If you want to really know the secret,


Find a Cure-All.

 

[littlealex]

I feel like any ideas you get off of this site is already not unique.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

Honestly? If I had undergrad to do all over again, and knew going into it that I wanted to go to med school, I'd do my best to get three things done, in no particular order:

1) volunteer at a free clinic w/lots of patient contact
2) volunteer work abroad (clinically related would be ideal)
3) research (clinical or lab) w/my name on a publication

Anyway, that'd be my recipe if I got a do-over. Regardless, I would only do things I was passionate about....it'll show in secondaries/interviews.

Yeah thats the blueprint i have set out in my head right now haha...im doing #1 currently...and i REALLY want to do #2 but it seems that the money would be my biggest issue =/. and #3 ill hope for an opportunity coming up soon i have a meeting set up with some important person at my school of medicine...so maybe she has clinical or lab work i can do.

and to answer your Q jew alcindor, i would do NCAA but our school only offers the club lacrosse team..so would that look weaker or less important?

and to answer your Q mindquick, Im attending UCSD (i think you are too) and im going into my second year as an undergrad right now and im majoring in neuroscience and physiology.

and to answer your statement maestro, I am one of the most atypical pre-med students you will ever meet. I care more about collaboration than competition, I actually really ENJOY volunteering...this summer my housing contract was for 6 weeks and class was for 5 - after my class finished i really wanted to have a break but i went all 7 days after to the cancer center where i volunteer because i really wanted to and i figured im not doing anything and they could always use help. Every nurse knows my name and trusts me to do vitals, etc. for them because i go more often than any other volunteer. Patients - same story - i love talking to them about their experiences whenever we have free time and im not running around, haha. My only concern is that even though i will do what i enjoy, but i dont want what i do to be seen as one of those 'oh ok thats nice - not good enough thanks anyways' candidates.

 

[sle3pyguii]

and to answer your statement maestro, I am one of the most atypical pre-med students you will ever meet. I care more about collaboration than competition, I actually really ENJOY volunteering...this summer my housing contract was for 6 weeks and class was for 5 - after my class finished i really wanted to have a break but i went all 7 days after to the cancer center where i volunteer because i really wanted to and i figured im not doing anything and they could always use help. Every nurse knows my name and trusts me to do vitals, etc. for them because i go more often than any other volunteer. Patients - same story - i love talking to them about their experiences whenever we have free time and im not running around, haha. My only concern is that even though i will do what i enjoy, but i dont want what i do to be seen as one of those 'oh ok thats nice - not good enough thanks anyways' candidates.

There's no real way to tell whether you volunteer for the application or because you love it. People can claim to love it and say all the same things as you have, but on paper, you look exactly like the other pre-meds who apply and "love" the experience also.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

There's no real way to tell whether you volunteer for the application or because you love it. People can claim to love it and say all the same things as you have, but on paper, you look exactly like the other pre-meds who apply and "love" the experience also.

yeah i know that's what i really hate about it - the competition is to a point where alot of people dont care at all about the patients or helping out but just want it on their applications. =/ i guess the interviews will just have to prove everyone's actual intentions...though many people do lie well

 

[cleothecat]