I started my Biology major and pre-med requirements this semester. My expected graduation date is May 2014. I began college in Fall 2009. So, I am doing a fifth year of undergrad. However, I am concerned about my ECs. A current medical student I have met with said it's about quality, not quantity. I have chosen three ECs that I really want to focus on for the rest of my undergrad (shadowing a physician, tutoring, and being a hospice care volunteer). I plan to apply to medical school (submit AMCAS and AACOMAS) in June 2013. My concern is that if I were to begin these three ECs starting this December, I would have only been doing these ECs for only 1.5 years. The medical student I mentioned gave me his resume, and he had several ECs that he did for 3 years. I feel that since I have switched to pre-med late, I won't be able to have a longer duration of my ECs, which could greatly weaken my resume. I also plan to start two leadership positions, so the same concern applies to my LPs as well. What should I do? Delay my graduation (do a sixth year)? Don't worry about it?
concerned about length of ECs
- Thread starter hoops90
- Start date
Consider taking 2 years off (1 year after graduating) to focus on your ECs and clinical experience. Every year gets tougher man, and an extra year of quality ECs will show AdComs you are serious about medicine and know what you are getting into. Just my thought, since you made a late switch (which is totally fine as many applicants are non-traditional).
Think about it. 2.5 years of quality clinical and leadership experience = win.
I have ECs that range 3 - 5 years, like your peer. Many of my friends who have had success this cycle also had long term clinical/leadership/community service ECs.
I have attached my resume but have taken out personal information. I know I will acquire more things under the "Experience" section of my resume, but please look at the "Leadership" and "Extracurriculars" sections. These sections are what I need to develop. Is 2.5 years of these LPs and ECs long enough? I also want to mention that I have chosen these LPs and ECs because I am genuinely interested in them. Also, I know I have to bring my GPA up, but I am confident that it will rise. Lastly, I haven't taken the MCAT, but I will thoroughly prepare for it.
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Do you have any ECs that are not medicine related? Just something you're passionate about outside of your chosen profession? I know that in all my interviews, those extra things were more discussed than the ones that every applicant has (volunteering, shadowing, etc). And definitely avoid getting into a leadership position just to pad your resume. I knew a lot of premeds who did that and ended up being pretty awful leaders haha. Instead of being president of a group I really loved, I took a different position on the executive board and had more time to devote to studies while also being able to keep up with my responsibilities to the group.
Thank you so much for taking the time to view my resume. I really thought about what you said. That group that I wanted to be president of was just something I thought would look good on my resume. I have decided to not pursue that leadership position and not create that organization.
Again, thank you for looking at my resume and giving your suggestions. I have attached my revised resume.
I would really appreciate it if anyone could give any feedback, such as the weaknesses in my resume. I should mention that I have considered doing a sixth year of college. Although I will have completed my major and pre-med requirements, I want to use that sixth year to increase the duration of my ECs. I want to show medical schools that I actually care about those ECs and am committed to them. However, is it unnecessary to do a sixth year? If I don't do a sixth year, I will have 1.5 years of these ECs instead of 2.5 years.
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Just a pet peeve, but most people don't have anything that they're actually passionate about, let alone an extracurricular activity that would look good on a medical school application. Things you like a lot =/= things you're passionate about.
Poor advice. If you can get the position and talk about (read: spin) it in an interview to your advantage, there's no reason you wouldn't want that position.
As for your other concerns, 1.5 years of ECs is plenty. You'll be just fine. You can show them you're committed when they ask you about your activities.
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I'm confused by what you mean here. I would think that most [normal] people have passions outside of science and medicine. For example, I am very passionate about something in the arts (avoiding specifics here), and I have integrated this into my college education by leading one club and having an officer position in another - both which directly relate to my passion.
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I've got to agree w/ Milkman Al here. Leadership positions are important. It's good advice to avoid activities that are pure pad for your application but you should take the opportunity to get yourself into leadership positions if you have the chance. In general, most applicants do not have experiences like this and they will help you stand out from the crowd.
I am a bit confused as to why you are thinking of delaying graduation and doing undergrad for 6 years. Honestly, it may look a bit strange for you to be in college for 6 years without a good explanation. You can certainly pursue ECs and do something worthwhile after graduation from college. Lots of successful applicants to medical school take time off in between college and med school. In fact, I would venture to say that it is becoming the norm (and you don't have to pay college tuition!).
And finally, it sounds like you are really trying to craft your ECs towards what you think med schools might want to see. I agree with the advice above that you should pursue something you are passionate about as opposed to just something for your resume. For example, devoting a huge chunk of time to shadowing seems like it would be both boring and kind of a waste of time. In truth, med schools don't care very much about shadowing. Shadowing is to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into when you apply to med school. That's pretty much it. A premed student who shadows contributes very little to patient care. Honestly, pretty much anyone can shadow; all you have to do is show up. Using all that shadowing time towards something productive like a leadership position, which requires more effort and initiative, will be both more enjoyable and more impressive to AdComms.
Good luck.
PS- Think about research. That will certainly impress.
I am a bit confused as to why you are thinking of delaying graduation and doing undergrad for 6 years. Honestly, it may look a bit strange for you to be in college for 6 years without a good explanation. You can certainly pursue ECs and do something worthwhile after graduation from college. Lots of successful applicants to medical school take time off in between college and med school. In fact, I would venture to say that it is becoming the norm (and you don't have to pay college tuition!).
And finally, it sounds like you are really trying to craft your ECs towards what you think med schools might want to see. I agree with the advice above that you should pursue something you are passionate about as opposed to just something for your resume. For example, devoting a huge chunk of time to shadowing seems like it would be both boring and kind of a waste of time. In truth, med schools don't care very much about shadowing. Shadowing is to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into when you apply to med school. That's pretty much it. A premed student who shadows contributes very little to patient care. Honestly, pretty much anyone can shadow; all you have to do is show up. Using all that shadowing time towards something productive like a leadership position, which requires more effort and initiative, will be both more enjoyable and more impressive to AdComms.
Good luck.
PS- Think about research. That will certainly impress.
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It's just a semantics thing. Maybe you are truly passionate about your artistic pursuits, but most people don't have that strong an affinity for anything, much less what amounts to mandatory volunteerism. That is, you can enjoy the things you do immensely without being passionate about them. Think of it as the med school application equivalent of people saying, "I love this [song, food, whatever]!" Chances are, that isn't the case. Pet peeve, I guess.
I wouldn't worry about it. ECs are about quality over quantity. However, quality DOES NOT mean time. Time is an important factor and usually does correlate with how much you got out of it, but it is not everything. If you can talk about the impact of these activities, 1.5 years is plenty. It is certainly not worth delaying your app for a year.
And definitely look into a couple of activities (clinical and non-clinical). That may help too and make it more easier to find something meaningful. As someone else mentioned, a lot of my interviews emphasized my non-medical activities and interests.
Don't worry too much because you can't go back and change anything. If you don't get in, your ECs may be one factor among many. 1.5 years of ECs shouldn't hold you back that much.
And definitely look into a couple of activities (clinical and non-clinical). That may help too and make it more easier to find something meaningful. As someone else mentioned, a lot of my interviews emphasized my non-medical activities and interests.
Don't worry too much because you can't go back and change anything. If you don't get in, your ECs may be one factor among many. 1.5 years of ECs shouldn't hold you back that much.
K
kpcrew
it's not about the size of the boat, it's about the motion of the ocean 🙂
Thank you everyone for the responses. However, I was wondering if anyone did take a look at the revised resume that I posted. If so, what is your honest opinion of it? Feel free to say anything. Let me know if you see any huge weaknesses. Also, please let me know if there are strengths in my resume.
