Competitive MD Applicants: What did you do the summer after freshman year?

[TheInstitute]

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What are the most competitive programs that I can apply for the summer after my freshman year that would look good on the CV?


Thanks

 

[NotASerialKiller]

You sure like competition. Why not volunteer somewhere, you might not even have to crush the dreams of your foes to get a position

 

[ciestar]

I took 7 credits worth of classes and did nothing else. (I decided on pre-med years after)

 

[efle]

Did you work in a lab during your first year? That would give you a shot at some of the competitive funded summer research programs. Otherwise, it adds plenty to the CV just to work a job and volunteer. Hell you could do nothing but play XBOX all summer and I sincerely doubt it would change the schools you ended up interviewing for.

 

[Astra]

Hell you could do nothing but play XBOX all summer and I sincerely doubt it would change the schools you ended up interviewing for.

They would reject you for playing on a console

 

[machete fred]

I would recommend doing something that you're actually interested in and not something because you think it would look good on your CV

 

[efle]

They would reject you for playing on a console

A physician at my job regularly needs help logging into Outlook to check emails. I sincerely doubt they are PCMR

 

[premed1234567891011]

do something you'll enjoy - i lived in a small town in Argentina for ~3 months working in a restaurant

 

[ciestar]

I would recommend doing something that you're actually interested in and not something because you think it would look good on your CV

Like finding a volunteer organization you love.

 

[aerd]

I hung out with my friends from home and worked retail to have spending money. It was really fun! I would suggest doing something similar plus maybe shadowing or volunteering somewhere like a hospital, shelter, or kitchen occasionally. I would wait to do a summer research program until sophomore year summer. You really don't know enough to be useful in a lab after freshman year classes and it's tough to get good recommendation letters. I'm a competitive applicant with 8 interviews at top 10 schools and I don't regret anything about my freshman summer!

 

[787593]

Started studying for USMLE.

Jk, I volunteered/shadowed.

 

[benjamin94559]

I worked at a big biotech company

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

I drank beer and cut hair.

 

[RunawayGrape]

.

 

[eteshoe]

I think I took 2 summer classes, worked in my dad's lab, and helped build a deck at my parents house

 

[BurghStudent]

I painted my house.

 

[Goro]

If you keep that mindset of "what looks good?" and don't develop the mindset of "what do I like?", you will never get into med school.

What are the most competitive programs that I can apply for the summer after my freshman year that would look good on the CV?


Thanks

 

[greenturtle22]

I took classes and lazed around.

 

[Agent Michael Scarn]

Dude. Lifeguarding. Three summers. (Don't worry, volunteered too).

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

If you keep that mindset of "what looks good?" and don't develop the mindset of "what do I like?", you will never get into med school.

^Yes.

My stomach turns a bit and a part of my 'soul' dies every time someone asks how to spend their free time in a manner that may/may not impress a complete stranger years down the line.

Keep this in mind: you're only here once.

 

[Lucca]

I did research and took Gen Chem 2. If I could go back (knowing how much research I would end up doing anyway and the fact that I would not stay in that particular lab) and do it over again I would have done something more interesting and fun, like do a study abroad, or taken an intensive language course at the university, or anything else. Freshman summer is your "free-est" summer by far if you are taking the traditional route.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I did the NIH SIP program

Nothing you do the summer after freshman year is going to make or break your application. It's not something to really worry about and literally no one will care if you did a competitive program.

 

[787593]

If you keep that mindset of "what looks good?" and don't develop the mindset of "what do I like?", you will never get into med school.

Allegedly

 

[efle]

What if you like getting into med schools?

Checkmate.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

A physician at my job regularly needs help logging into Outlook to check emails. I sincerely doubt they are PCMR

How does he do the billing stuff?

So what did I do? Volunteer, work odd jobs, take classes...
Sadly I didn't cure cancer.
Going to apply D.O now, my chances for M.D are ruined.

 

[efle]

How does he do the billing stuff?

At this point I almost wonder if he uses a hidden typewriter somewhere and then has nurses scan everything, because he legit struggles to use the computer. Like step one is to go to Google.com, then he searches "log in to outlook". It's insane

 

[Dr.Sticks]

At this point I almost wonder if he uses a hidden typewriter somewhere and then has nurses scan everything, because he legit struggles to use the computer. Like step one is to go to Google.com, then he searches "log in to outlook". It's insane

It is like how sheldon Cooper is child prodigy but he can't drive to save his life

Or a real example, how the most famous scientist Einstein couldn't tie his shoes.

 

[Penguin94]

I literally just worked a retail job that summer lol

 

[Goro]

That's the baseline.

What if you like getting into med schools?

Checkmate.

 

[mw18]

Enjoy your summer. Enjoy the time where there isn't always a test with the material from a ton of lectures on it. Because that's what med school is and it never stops. So just relax. You should shadow/get some type of clinical exposure so that if you really hate it you can change majors before you get too far along, but that's the only reason. Unless you just love research, I suggest having a casual summer where you shadow every now and then. You are obviously type A and gunning, but even the most dedicated probably don't want to work every day of the year for four years to get into medical school, to work all the time to get into residency, to work all the time in residency. Take it easy while you can. And to echo what's been said, no app reviewer will look specifically for an activity in that first summer; but if you have a trend of doing something you're passionate about for years, that will give them something to ask about and give you a chance to impress them.

 

[Sea Otter]

I worked at a summer camp for elementary school kids and did nothing else. Turned out just fine


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[tessellations]

I worked as a CNA at a nursing home. It was tough, but it really solidified my desire to become a physician 🙂.

 

[theNDhopeful44]

I didn't even do anything directly related to medicine: I worked as a special needs camp counselor for kids with mental handicaps. Made for a pretty great personal statement years later.

 

[Mclovin0351]

Went to infantry school.

Then the summer after my sophomore year I worked as an oyster and lobster fisherman. Hardest summer of my life

 

[deleted393595]

What are the most competitive programs that I can apply for the summer after my freshman year that would look good on the CV?


Thanks

You don't do much in those 8 week fluff programs. Stay at your institution, get a major chunk of your research done over the summer so you can use the Fall and Spring to complete the remainder and turn it into posters/abstracts

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[ed*26]

Worked at McDonald's and took Calc II. Save the prestigious programs for summer after soph/junior year