Critique my EC's.

[AestheticGod]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've been told that my ECs are lacking, and I agree seeing how I have ZERO research experience.

Here's what I got so far: Please not that i'm not lying about the hours like most applicants do. And we all know that most applicants lie about their hours substantially.

1. Volunteered at a children hospital for 5 months, about 10 hours a week.
2. Shadowed a Plastic Surgeon in a 3rd world country (prefer not to say country name) for 3 months, doing about 20 hours per week. I learned a lot about how their hospital system differs from ours and its main problems.
   
3. Founder of the FaceAids chapter in my University.
   -I haven't had much time to work with the chapter to do a lot around the community. Most of the donations comes from my own pocket.
4. 5 years as a Pharmacy Technician under the supervision of a Pharmacist who was a teacher, who ended up teaching me quite a lot about medicine. Was a great experience.
5. Worked with a high school to teach children how to use computers and implemented Khan Academy as a required learning tool into the school. I spent about 1 day per week here for 2 months.

Not sure if these counts:

1. Founder of a medical website that has an extensive list (700+) of external links in regards to surgery videos, medical diagnosis, ect. (Has pretty much every medical category).
2. Co-Founder of a private non-profit organization to help a 3rd world country in educational supplies.
   -We help 2 village schools develop a better education system and donate various supplies such as Computers, pencils, books, ect.
   -The donations comes from us personally and 3 other corporations in that 3rd world country.
   -My main concern is that this company isn't well recognized in USA or anywhere since it's a private organization that was started by my father and I. So i'm pretty much screwed if they ask for documentations to prove that it's a non-profit organization.
3. Full time very successful Stock/Forex Trader for about 2-3 years now.
   -I'm not sure if this looks good or bad. I don't want them to think I'm money hungry since most traders are (believe me, that's the only reason we trade lol).
   
4. Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society member.
   -I don't even think this is worth mentioning. I got an email from them asking that i've been nominated (I don't even know the requirements), so I paid them $59 and they gave me a neat paper and pin lol. Google says they're noteworthy, but i'm not so sure seeing how they asked me to pay $59 to be part of it.

I'm also thinking about starting a Traders Club for Stock or Forex Traders in my university just because I'm very interested in that type of subject. I'm thinking that it might show more leadership.

I think the #1 thing that's lacking is the amount of volunteering and most of all the zero amount of research. Oh, please keep in mind that I'm in my last year of undergrad.

I'm very open to suggestions and straight forward comments!

EDIT: Actually, that reminds me! My friend who works for an Orthopedic clinic says they always have lot of volunteers asking to shadow, so i'll be able to find an orthopedic surgeon to shadow instantly. BINGO! I'll set that into motion right after finals!

 

[deleted407021]

👍 Looks great aside from a lack of shadowing (multiple specialties) and clinic experience (generally volunteer >1 year). Research is not a necessity unless you are interested in it. Many "top" school matriculants have research experience under their belts, though.

 

[AestheticGod]

👍 Looks great aside from a lack of shadowing (multiple specialties) and clinic experience (generally volunteer >1 year). Research is not a necessity unless you are interested in it. Many "top" school matriculants have research experience under their belts, though.

Darn, and here i thought that shadowing a plastic surgeon was badass .

What exactly qualifies as clinical experience? Because I did work with kids while i was volunteering.

And volunteering is generally higher then a year even though I did about 200 hours of it?

And as far as research goes, i'm attempting to get a research spot, but with my limited time it's going to be very hard.

 

[deleted407021]

Your non clinical volunteering and service is great and above average for sure, so don't worry about that. For clinical experience, that can include volunteering, work, research or anything else that would put you in a position to better understand how healthcare organizations (hospitals, clinics and doctors offices) function. Commitments are important so find some venue where you can stick around for a while. Like I said, a year is about average for clinical volunteering. Shadowing should consist of multiple specialties including a PCP (≈50 hours total). Just get some more clinical exposure and shadow some extra docs and you will be fine.

 

[terp720]

I volunteered at a pediatric hospital and was actually spending time with patients (playing games, etc). So far all my interviewers have considered this "clinical volunteering", so I would think yours would be the same and would be a great thing to continue.
As far as the shadowing goes, it seems like you have over 300 hours of shadowing, but none of it was done in this country and it was only one specialty (which isn't really representative of what practicing medicine could be like). I don't think you can really make that comparison until you shadow doctors here.

 

[AestheticGod]

Your non clinical volunteering and service is great and above average for sure, so don't worry about that. For clinical experience, that can include volunteering, work, research or anything else that would put you in a position to better understand how healthcare organizations (hospitals, clinics and doctors offices) function. Commitments are important so find some venue where you can stick around for a while. Like I said, a year is about average for clinical volunteering. Shadowing should consist of multiple specialties including a PCP (≈50 hours total). Just get some more clinical exposure and shadow some extra docs and you will be fine.

Well, I did observe the hospital system when i shadowed the Plastic surgeon and I also did work in a pharmacy for 5 years, so that gave me a lot of info into how the health organization works after the patient leaves the hospital.

I definitely will try to find a research position and possibly another specialist for me to shadow.

And what is PCP?

 

[AestheticGod]

I volunteered at a pediatric hospital and was actually spending time with patients (playing games, etc). So far all my interviewers have considered this "clinical volunteering", so I would think yours would be the same and would be a great thing to continue.
As far as the shadowing goes, it seems like you have over 300 hours of shadowing, but none of it was done in this country and it was only one specialty (which isn't really representative of what practicing medicine could be like). I don't think you can really make that comparison until you shadow doctors here.

Yes, unfortunately the shadowing was done in a different country, but i think it's still noteworthy.

I will try to find doctors to show in USA, it's just a bit awkward asking them. I'm not sure if they're used to it, and I don't know what to really do besides walk behind him all day just being silent lol.

EDIT: Actually, that reminds me! My friend who works for an Orthopedic clinic says they always have lot of volunteers asking to shadow, so i'll be able to find an orthopedic surgeon to shadow instantly. BINGO! I'll set that into motion right after finals!

 

[deleted407021]

That shadowing was also in a foreign country, so get at least a few months worth here in the states. PCP=primary care provider (family physician, internist, pediatrician and ob/gyn).

EDIT: Saw above. That sounds like a plan.

 

[ArtOfWar]

I agree, shadowing US physicians is probably your biggest weakness atm. Just choose a specialty and search the web for private practices in your area. Call each one until you find one that is willing to let you shadow. In my experiences (n=3), physicians that run successful private practices and are willing to take on shadows have all been very kind and interested in mentoring a future physician/peer.

With regards to following quietly... that's just the way it goes. However after you gain your 15-30 hours of shadowing, or at the end of each day, take the doctor to lunch. It'll cost you 15 bucks and you get to ask as many questions as you want, have a meaningful conversation, and the doc gets to know you. After your shadowing experience comes to an end, ask the doc if he knows any other physicians that are willing to take on a shadow.

 

[AestheticGod]

I agree, shadowing US physicians is probably your biggest weakness atm. Just choose a specialty and search the web for private practices in your area. Call each one until you find one that is willing to let you shadow. In my experiences (n=3), physicians that run successful private practices and are willing to take on shadows have all been very kind and interested in mentoring a future physician/peer.

With regards to following quietly... that's just the way it goes. However after you gain your 15-30 hours of shadowing, or at the end of each day, take the doctor to lunch. It'll cost you 15 bucks and you get to ask as many questions as you want, have a meaningful conversation, and the doc gets to know you. After your shadowing experience comes to an end, ask the doc if he knows any other physicians that are willing to take on a shadow.

Wouldn't that seem a bit unprofessional and too personal? I'm all for doing it, but it seems that it won't fly with most doctors.

Also, is it common to have a letter of recommendation from a doctor you shadowed?

 

[ArtOfWar]

Wouldn't that seem a bit unprofessional and too personal?
Also, is it common to have a letter of recommendation from a doctor you shadowed?

You ask the doc if he wants to go to lunch, if he says no and seems offended don't ask him for a L.O.R. and med schools will never find out about it. If you do want to get a LOR from a doc you need to develop a relationship beyond simply the shadowing experience where you simply followed him around quietly for a few hours occasionally asking a question. These are just my thought, I am simply a fellow applicant, so idk if this is truly a valid route.

I think most schools like to see a doc letter, but I would only send one in if you actually developed a mentor-mentee relationship.

 

[terp720]

Yes, unfortunately the shadowing was done in a different country, but i think it's still noteworthy.

I will try to find doctors to show in USA, it's just a bit awkward asking them. I'm not sure if they're used to it, and I don't know what to really do besides walk behind him all day just being silent lol.

EDIT: Actually, that reminds me! My friend who works for an Orthopedic clinic says they always have lot of volunteers asking to shadow, so i'll be able to find an orthopedic surgeon to shadow instantly. BINGO! I'll set that into motion right after finals!

it is noteworthy, and you should still put it on your apps. I just don't think it can replace shadowing doctors in the US (and other specialties that aren't surgery). What other people have said about how to go about shadowing is good, and there's generally not much to it besides watching silently and then managing to ask questions when there is time. Most doctors I have encountered are really open to shadowing, so don't feel awkward about asking!