Cramming extra-curriculars? Affect on Admissions?

[katie88]

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How do Admissions councils view applicants who have crammed extra curriculars either in the last year of college OR in taking 1-2 years off to focus on doing extra-curriculars?

 

[von Matterhorn]

Well, how would you feel about someone's volunteer work if they were cramming it in at the end to appease the application process? I would personally view that as better than nothing, but worse than volunteering spread out. So, do it if you must, but I would expect that it'll be viewed a little more critically.

 

[katie88]

Thanks ^

I'm actually posting this for a friend, we're just curious how things will look to admissions committee members.

In all honesty, in response to your question, I personally would not look too favorably on an application that looked like the applicant just spent a year or two doing things just for the sake of the application, but that's just my opinion. It doesn't seem as genuine/passionate, as someone who spent their college years dedicated to something.

 

[MedPR]

Thanks ^

I'm actually posting this for a friend, we're just curious how things will look to admissions committee members.

In all honesty, in response to your question, I personally would not look too favorably on an application that looked like the applicant just spent a year or two doing things just for the sake of the application, but that's just my opinion. It doesn't seem as genuine/passionate, as someone who spent their college years dedicated to something.

Not everyone knows they want to be a doctor at the age of 18. It doesn't mean we are less genuine/passionate.

 

[lobo.solo]

I never thought about this, and now it worries me. Hopefully, adcoms won't hold that against people who realize medicine was for them late in their life.

 

[pfaction]

Not everyone knows they want to be a doctor at the age of 18. It doesn't mean we are less genuine/passionate.

If you knew at 18 you wanted to be a doctor, lol a bit.