Hey guys, I have a quick question about medical acceptance. I'm a prospective pre med student, to med school, but I don't really feel like it would be possible for me to do a lot of the things listed here like take on multiple leadership positions or start my own club. I'm really socially anxious and have a lot of difficulties taking charge and feeling comfortable in social situations. I do have a leadership position at a small health related club, but I can't really imagine doing more than that. If I did research with pubs, lots of clinical hours, non-clinical volunteering, and maintained a high gpa, could I still get into DO schools without heavy club/leadership participation? I'm also kind of lost on what no clinical experience I should be looking for, and how to make it meaningful.
Can I get into med school without significant extracurriculars?
- Thread starter dhdb
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N=1, but I was never involved in any clubs throughout college and only had one leadership role managing a small team for my job, and I have multiple DO interviews. So I think you'll be fine as long as you can speak about teamwork experience somewhere on your app.
As for non-clinical experience, think about what kinds of populations you like to work with. Try for something where you're working face-to-face with the people you're helping (some good examples might be a nursing home, mentorship program, best buddies, etc). Just do something you find personally rewarding and can speak about passionately.
Also - as someone who struggles with social anxiety and taking charge, you're going to have to overcome that sooner or later. Best to throw yourself into those scary situations now so you can be cool and confident come interview day.
This was very long-winded but hopefully it was helpful!
As for non-clinical experience, think about what kinds of populations you like to work with. Try for something where you're working face-to-face with the people you're helping (some good examples might be a nursing home, mentorship program, best buddies, etc). Just do something you find personally rewarding and can speak about passionately.
Also - as someone who struggles with social anxiety and taking charge, you're going to have to overcome that sooner or later. Best to throw yourself into those scary situations now so you can be cool and confident come interview day.
This was very long-winded but hopefully it was helpful!
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At my school, leadership is not something we look at, nor require. What we do want is exposure to patients, shadowing, and some evidence of your altruism that's off campus.
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You don't need research for DO schools either,
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I don't think you need to show significant leadership position in clubs in order to get in to medical school. However, I will tell you that leadership came up quite a few times during my med school inteviews and my residency interviews because of something I have on my CV that I earned while in high school for goodness sake, LOL. I had no idea that leadership achievment would bennifit that much. Learn to be a good leader. Emotional intellegence and soft skills will help you where ever life takes you. GL.
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You don't need leadership positions at your school, but frankly if the idea of running a small club is mind boggling and brings up severe anxiety for you, maybe rethink medicine.
You're going to be telling people they've got cancer, cutting them open and taking stuff out, pulling babies out of folks, doing prostate exams and all manner of other uncomfortable things.
Get out of your bubble and get over the social anxiety now or you're going to have a rough time in medical school and as a practicing doctor. Good luck.
You're going to be telling people they've got cancer, cutting them open and taking stuff out, pulling babies out of folks, doing prostate exams and all manner of other uncomfortable things.
Get out of your bubble and get over the social anxiety now or you're going to have a rough time in medical school and as a practicing doctor. Good luck.
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I read this and thought “absolutely not”.
But you would have tons of extracurriculars if you do what you described! Just not a lot of campus/college involvement which is completely fine.
If the question was “can I just get a good MCAT and GPA then get in”, the answer is an emphatic absolutely not. But you aren’t suggesting that. With research (pubs or no), volunteering, working, etc., that is more than enough to show you are a well-rounded applicant.
But you would have tons of extracurriculars if you do what you described! Just not a lot of campus/college involvement which is completely fine.
If the question was “can I just get a good MCAT and GPA then get in”, the answer is an emphatic absolutely not. But you aren’t suggesting that. With research (pubs or no), volunteering, working, etc., that is more than enough to show you are a well-rounded applicant.
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Welcome to the forums.
I'm going to avoid the deficit mindset. What are you doing with your small health-related club?
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As long as you have great GPA and MCAT all other falls after but you must have shadowing and some EC.
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NOT intended to be medical advice, but have you looked into why you have social anxiety? Have you been dx'd with it? I would try to work on this before you embark on your pre-med journey.
Medicine--as I'm sure you know--is a people profession. If you are not a "people person," you are going to have a hard time. That's just how it is. I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear. ❤️
