Common activities to do during the freshman year.

[Verum]

Since i lack the expertise to do things like research, internships etc What are some activities that i could do my freshman year to increase my competitiveness for those types of activities the summer after freshman year and sophomore year? I also don't want to overwhelm myself doing too much things so here is what i was thinking:

1 Leadership position: In a student organization, club or committee,
1 Clinical Volunteering position,
1 Non Clinical Volunteering position,
1 Tutor/Teaching experience position,
1 Hobby/Other

Is that too much? Post your freshman ec schedule if you like so i can gauge where i stand.

If you like here is my freshman schedule. It isn't too tough but the bio/chem classes could require large amounts of studying since i never took AP/GT or anything like that. I'm going in with a clean slate 🙁


Semester Class Credit

2012 Fall Foundations of Biology: Cells, Energy and Organisms 4
Principles of Chemistry I 4
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 4
Composition 3
15

2013 Spring Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution 4
Principles of Chemistry II 4
Introductory Chemistry Lab I 2
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 4
14

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[armybound]

I would focus on getting good grades and don't worry so much about ECs just yet. Don't overcommit and find yourself in the hole as far as your GPA goes.

 

[Verum]

I would focus on getting good grades and don't worry so much about ECs just yet. Don't overcommit and find yourself in the hole as far as your GPA goes.

Thanks for the advice but how can i beat the catch-22 of positions like volunteer, research and internships etc that require you to have volunteer, research and internships experience beforehand?

 

[911 Turbo]

Thanks for the advice but how can i beat the catch-22 of positions like volunteer, research and internships etc that require you to have volunteer, research and internships experience beforehand?

Tack on biology to both semesters Nvm I can't read lol

Also, you don't need to have prior experience for research. Some PIs actually love having freshman in their lab because they are getting a longer return on their investment of training you

Same for volunteering.

Btw if i may suggest something - get a job. It will look nice and you will appreciate the value of money more. Plus, its more fun to spend your own money😀

 

[sunflower18]

Since i lack the expertise to do things like research, internships etc What are some activities that i could do my freshman year to increase my competitiveness for those types of activities the summer after freshman year and sophomore year? I also don't want to overwhelm myself doing too much things so here is what i was thinking:

1 Leadership position: In a student organization, club or committee,
1 Clinical Volunteering position,
1 Non Clinical Volunteering position,
1 Tutor/Teaching experience position,
1 Hobby/Other

Is that too much? Post your freshman ec schedule if you like so i can gauge where i stand.

If you like here is my freshman schedule. It isn't too tough but the bio/chem classes could require large amounts of studying since i never took AP/GT or anything like that. I'm going in with a clean slate 🙁


Semester Class Credit

2012 Fall Foundations of Biology: Cells, Energy and Organisms 4
Principles of Chemistry I 4
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 4
Composition 3
15

2013 Spring Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution 4
Principles of Chemistry II 4
Introductory Chemistry Lab I 2
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 4
14

I was a freshman last year, and I took bio and chem without previous AP experience either. I immediately got super involved with working, volunteering, and clubs when I got to campus... and then I got a 78% on my first chem test. I freaked out. Through lots and lots of hard work and studying and very very careful and precise planning, I pulled through. But it was hard! I burned out first semester, and didn't do as well second semester.

You listed 5 ECs that you want to get involved in immediately along with two important science classes that you said yourself were going to be challenging for you. I'd cool it a little, and only gradually get involved with things. Add one EC at the beginning of the year. A few weeks later, after you feel comfortable with your social life, academic progress, and adjustment to college, then add another one. So on and so forth. Integration is easier than flinging everything in front of you all at once.

I was involved with 6 ECs by the end of my freshman year and got a good GPA, but I was very careful, very busy, and very tired. So it can be done! But be prepared to sacrifice some of your "college experience" if you really want to get ahead. And don't let your EC involvement give you a bad GPA. You can always take a year off after undergrad to improve your ECs, but it's much harder and much more expensive to do the same with your GPA.

Good luck!

 

[jesse120]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

 

[Keepitclassy]

For your first semester I wouldn't suggest tackling so much. A lot of kids have trouble adjusting to college from high school.

Focus on getting good grades in your classes and find out what works best when it comes to self studying. After your first semester find out how much extra time you have and fill in the slots from that point. You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot so early on if you find yourself overwhelmed with EC's & course work.

GPA >>>>>>>> EC's unless you're a Rhodes scholar, cured AIDS/cancer, Olympic gold medalist, etc.

 

[david199380]

As far as the research goes, I just emailed one of the professors who was listed on the course catalog as "Research" and told him a bit about myself and that I was interested in his research. He replied and asked me to swing by his office to talk, and, sure enough, he told me that he would love to have me. Professors who really take pride in teaching love to have students in their labs. He said that he thought it was cool that I was interested in research so early. So, give it a shot and don't be shy!

As for the volunteering, concentrate on getting that strong GPA during your first year. Wait until the summer to load up on volunteering and other EC's.

If you have the cash and time, I would definitely recommend getting EMT-B certified next summer. It's great to have for clinical volunteering or even a job. In addition, you can get a quick 120 hours of clinical experience. When you are working EMT clinicals you can actually interact with patients, look at charts, perform CPR and a whole bunch of other stuff. Whereas, just volunteering at a hospital, you will be cleaning bed pans or reading stories to people. A friend of mine that got certified with me, got to do CPR on a victim that was stabbed. It's pretty intense, but I highly recommend it.

 

[911 Turbo]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

Lol. 👍

 

[Verum]

As far as the research goes, I just emailed one of the professors who was listed on the course catalog as "Research" and told him a bit about myself and that I was interested in his research. He replied and asked me to swing by his office to talk, and, sure enough, he told me that he would love to have me. Professors who really take pride in teaching love to have students in their labs. He said that he thought it was cool that I was interested in research so early. So, give it a shot and don't be shy!

As for the volunteering, concentrate on getting that strong GPA during your first year. Wait until the summer to load up on volunteering and other EC's.

If you have the cash and time, I would definitely recommend getting EMT-B certified next summer. It's great to have for clinical volunteering or even a job. In addition, you can get a quick 120 hours of clinical experience. When you are working EMT clinicals you can actually interact with patients, look at charts, perform CPR and a whole bunch of other stuff. Whereas, just volunteering at a hospital, you will be cleaning bed pans or reading stories to people. A friend of mine that got certified with me, got to do CPR on a victim that was stabbed. It's pretty intense, but I highly recommend it.

How much does it cost to become an EMT-B? Also what does the job entail?

 

[david199380]

After classes, books, uniforms & equipment it was around 1k. You can take the courses at a community college. EMT-B's in the private ambulance setting, transport patients from hospital to hospital. In the public setting, you will go out on calls, but you will pretty much be the low man on the totem pole, generally, you will take vitals, perform CPR, obtain histories, etc.

Personally, I prefer the hospital setting, as an ER tech. In this setting, if you are at a level 1 or 2 trauma center, you get A LOT of hands on experience. You will do CPR, clean & bandage lacerations, transport patients, and some hospitals do on-site training to show you how to do EKG's, draw blood, start Iv's etc. As an EMT-B, anything pointy is outside your scope of practice, but in hospitals they will have you do it with Doctor or nurse supervision.

 

[Verum]

After classes, books, uniforms & equipment it was around 1k. You can take the courses at a community college. EMT-B's in the private ambulance setting, transport patients from hospital to hospital. In the public setting, you will go out on calls, but you will pretty much be the low man on the totem pole, generally, you will take vitals, perform CPR, obtain histories, etc.

Personally, I prefer the hospital setting, as an ER tech. In this setting, if you are at a level 1 or 2 trauma center, you get A LOT of hands on experience. You will do CPR, clean & bandage lacerations, transport patients, and some hospitals do on-site training to show you how to do EKG's, draw blood, start Iv's etc. As an EMT-B, anything pointy is outside your scope of practice, but in hospitals they will have you do it with Doctor or nurse supervision.

Sounds cool, i'll see how it fits into my schedule.

 

[Silverwing]

How much does it cost to become an EMT-B? Also what does the job entail?

Depends on how you get certified, usually the classes cost a lot. Some colleges offer classes for free though, so that cuts down the cost considerably. I was able to take my classes for free. If your college doesn't have an affiliated EMS, you might have to look at options at local schools. Having a college-affiliated EMS is really beneficial in terms of flexible scheduling and opportunities to actually practice the skills once you're certified. There's no point in getting the cert if you're not going to actually work/volunteer as an EMT.

The job pretty much entails keeping patients stabilized and safe before you get to the hospital: so airway, breathing, circulation (4 basic skills you're tested on: CPR, splinting, spine stabilization, and trauma/med treatment). I've done a range of things like keeping the airway of an alcoholic patient open (read: suctioning vomit out of his mouth) to transporting a pregnant lady having labor pains.

It was an incredible experience for me, and I talked about it extensively in my application and interviews. I highly recommend it if you have time and want to experience what it's like to talk to patients, get histories from them, basic clinical skills like vitals/first-aid.

 

[Verum]

Depends on how you get certified, usually the classes cost a lot. Some colleges offer classes for free though, so that cuts down the cost considerably. I was able to take my classes for free. If your college doesn't have an affiliated EMS, you might have to look at options at local schools. Having a college-affiliated EMS is really beneficial in terms of flexible scheduling and opportunities to actually practice the skills once you're certified. There's no point in getting the cert if you're not going to actually work/volunteer as an EMT.

The job pretty much entails keeping patients stabilized and safe before you get to the hospital: so airway, breathing, circulation (4 basic skills you're tested on: CPR, splinting, spine stabilization, and trauma/med treatment). I've done a range of things like keeping the airway of an alcoholic patient open (read: suctioning vomit out of his mouth) to transporting a pregnant lady having labor pains.

It was an incredible experience for me, and I talked about it extensively in my application and interviews. I highly recommend it if you have time and want to experience what it's like to talk to patients, get histories from them, basic clinical skills like vitals/first-aid.

Sounds like a good ec. I am definitely going to do this.

 

[Neurosis]

If i were you, I would try to just get situated and relax a bit. college is a huge transition and you don't want to put on more than you can handle. I'm pretty sure there's some guy on the forum who's taking like 26 credits and a crap ton of EC, I'm telling you right now, if he doesn't drop some of those classes/EC he's going to come back to this forum complaining about how he had a bad semester, or some rubbish like that.

 

[Verum]

If i were you, I would try to just get situated and relax a bit. college is a huge transition and you don't want to put on more than you can handle. I'm pretty sure there's some guy on the forum who's taking like 26 credits and a crap ton of EC, I'm telling you right now, if he doesn't drop some of those classes/EC he's going to come back to this forum complaining about how he had a bad semester, or some rubbish like that.

I would but when i read those mdapplicants profile it looks like i will never have a shot at medical school and it makes me feel insignificant 🙁 I oft wonder how those people managed to get a 4.0/37+ and still have leadership positions and publications.

 

[Ironmandoc]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

With all the questions the OP has been asking, do you really think this is the case?

Lol😀

 

[vayntraubinator]

My freshman year I was placed in a very rigorous honors program. I just focused on adjusting since the academics were so tough and I was so far away from home. It's best to balance, but in order to balance you need to start somewhere and transition slowly until your comfortably fitting all these activities with your grades.

 

[NightGod]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

It sounds snarky but honestly, this is probably the best reply on the page. Don't become so laser focused on med school that you forget to have fun while you're in college. Yes, make grades your priority, but outside of that, take time to enjoy life. You've got four more years of full-bore schooling to complete after you finish off your Bachelor's, party while you still have the free time to do it. As others suggested, don't get overly involved with ECs your Freshman year-take that year to adjust to the transition to college and to have some fun/meet new people-you can start ramping up over the summer and into your Sophmore year. Your GPA and your sanity will thank you.

 

[Ironmandoc]

But by drinking we are in no way encouraging underage drinking. We are talking about high quality H2O here 😉

 

[Prohok]

I would but when i read those mdapplicants profile it looks like i will never have a shot at medical school and it makes me feel insignificant 🙁 I oft wonder how those people managed to get a 4.0/37+ and still have leadership positions and publications.

It's possible. I don't have a 4.0 37+ (3.9 33) but I worked 24 hrs on the weekends as a nurse, juggling full time school, volunteered, tutored and got into a lot of others activities. As cliche as it sounds, if you do something you love, even if it's volunteer work and not paid, you really have a lesser chance of burning out. I basically picked activities that I enjoyed doing, than again it's a little of double edge sword for me because I hate research and now I'm applying with very little research, oh well. My advice is, not to start anything until the summer after freshman year. The most I would do if I were you is shadow. Than once you understand your own studying/work habit, than add more.

 

[NightGod]

I would but when i read those mdapplicants profile it looks like i will never have a shot at medical school and it makes me feel insignificant 🙁 I oft wonder how those people managed to get a 4.0/37+ and still have leadership positions and publications.

After reading this, I'm going to take a second to pass on the best advice I ever read on these forums. Get the hell off of them once they start making you feel neurotic.

Seriously. Go now. Call your friends, hang out, enjoy the last summer you will all be together. Work a little. Play a LOT. Find a warm body to make out with even though you both know you will be finished when the summer ends. Go on an unplanned road trip, even if it's just a weekend to a park a couple hours away with a tent and a group of friends.

Come back here next summer after you have a year of college under your belt and complain about the class that unexpectedly kicked your ass. Laugh at how neurotic your old posts seem. Read for a few weeks, make sure you're still on track and then, when you start feeling neurotic again, stop reading them until the following summer.

 

[lobo.solo]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

I would add getting experience on the sexual arts 😉

Edit: In all seriousness, I would try to get the feel for college classes; they are definitely not the same as HS. Good luck

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I didn't do any ECs my first semester freshman year. Gradually picked up one or two the second semester. Then I started getting really involved as a sophomore.

Don't rush into it until you are comfortable. Give things a try, and explore your options first, find a few things you genuinely love, and then get involved.

If you think about it. you won't apply until after your junior year. So even if you waited till sophomore year to start an EC, you could still get two years of experience with it to put on your app. There's plenty of time for ECs, so don't feel the need to rush.

Best of luck.🙂

 

[Neurosis]

I would but when i read those mdapplicants profile it looks like i will never have a shot at medical school and it makes me feel insignificant 🙁 I oft wonder how those people managed to get a 4.0/37+ and still have leadership positions and publications.

take a second to consider the fact that those with scores that high are in the minority.

 

[Neurosis]

I would add getting experience on the sexual arts 😉

Edit: In all seriousness, I would try to get the feel for college classes; they are definitely not the same as HS. Good luck

that's what i'm looking forward to when i actually start to live on campus...😉

 

[911 Turbo]

that's what i'm looking forward to when i actually start to live on campus...😉

Why would girls sleep with someone who has less than a 4.0?


Better keep tha gpa tight OP

 

[KnuxNole]

my freshman year activities included drinking, having fun, and occasionally studying. but to each their own

Also, 1am ultimate frisbee and mini video game tourneys make amazing freshmen activities 😀

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Also, 1am ultimate frisbee and mini video game tourneys make amazing freshmen activities 😀

Yes!! Could not agree more.

I still remember when some friends and I went out at 1am, in the middle of December and played frisbee, it must have been 2 or 3 degrees.
.

 

[Verum]

Why would girls sleep with someone who has less than a 4.0?


Better keep tha gpa tight OP

Disregard females, acquire MD 🙂

 

[911 Turbo]

Disregard females, acquire MD 🙂

Haha... Yeah... You're joking tho right?