Did I choose the wrong EC's for med school

[midnitetots12]

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So I'm currently in my 2nd year of college. I've been doing research since last year and I started doing this tutoring position where I help the professors and grad students with students currently taking courses. This has been taking up about 20-25 hours a week for me. Just for context (sorry if it sounds like I'm bragging) I currently attend a top 20 university, so doing all of this in addition to maintaining my grades is near the peak of my capabilities. I'm not really getting much clinical volunteering hours etc, and I'm afraid that it won't look good for med school. I'm gonna be doing a research internship this summer, and I'll try my best to get hospital volunteer hours then also. But I was wondering if I chose the wrong EC's for med school; I enjoy research and I enjoy teaching (mostly STEM classes). I wanna make these two EC's a big thing for me and really become good at it. As of now to maintain good grades, I really can't do much more and I'm wondering if I'm screwed cuz I'm not doing enough clinical stuff. I'm trying to join a volunteer program to do about 5 hours a week and about 150 hours a year to hopefully take care of that side. But I was wondering if I really care about med school should I start focusing less on teaching and research for clinical stuff, or do med schools still appreciate other kinds of things.

 

[ciestar]

You need both clinical experience and nonclinical volunteering to the less fortunate. Theyre not negotiable. Don’t apply to med school with a phd candidate resume.

 

[theKingLT]

So I'm currently in my 2nd year of college. I've been doing research since last year and I started doing this tutoring position where I help the professors and grad students with students currently taking courses. This has been taking up about 20-25 hours a week for me. Just for context (sorry if it sounds like I'm bragging) I currently attend a top 20 university, so doing all of this in addition to maintaining my grades is near the peak of my capabilities. I'm not really getting much clinical volunteering hours etc, and I'm afraid that it won't look good for med school. I'm gonna be doing a research internship this summer, and I'll try my best to get hospital volunteer hours then also. But I was wondering if I chose the wrong EC's for med school; I enjoy research and I enjoy teaching (mostly STEM classes). I wanna make these two EC's a big thing for me and really become good at it. As of now to maintain good grades, I really can't do much more and I'm wondering if I'm screwed cuz I'm not doing enough clinical stuff. I'm trying to join a volunteer program to do about 5 hours a week and about 150 hours a year to hopefully take care of that side. But I was wondering if I really care about med school should I start focusing less on teaching and research for clinical stuff, or do med schools still appreciate other kinds of things.

I wouldn't say you chose wrong. The research and teaching is a valuable part of an app. However, as ciestar pointed out, clinic experience, non-clinical volunteering, and I'll add in shadowing, are non-negotiable so just make sure you try to cut your research or teaching hours enough to have time for those things in the next few years.

 

[Catalystik]

So I'm currently in my 2nd year of college. I've been doing research since last year and I started doing this tutoring position where I help the professors and grad students with students currently taking courses. This has been taking up about 20-25 hours a week for me. Just for context (sorry if it sounds like I'm bragging) I currently attend a top 20 university, so doing all of this in addition to maintaining my grades is near the peak of my capabilities. I'm not really getting much clinical volunteering hours etc, and I'm afraid that it won't look good for med school. I'm gonna be doing a research internship this summer, and I'll try my best to get hospital volunteer hours then also. But I was wondering if I chose the wrong EC's for med school; I enjoy research and I enjoy teaching (mostly STEM classes). I wanna make these two EC's a big thing for me and really become good at it. As of now to maintain good grades, I really can't do much more and I'm wondering if I'm screwed cuz I'm not doing enough clinical stuff. I'm trying to join a volunteer program to do about 5 hours a week and about 150 hours a year to hopefully take care of that side. But I was wondering if I really care about med school should I start focusing less on teaching and research for clinical stuff, or do med schools still appreciate other kinds of things.

A year of research is about average among applicants, so unless you're gunning for a top research school (and have the high stats to back it up), you can de-emphasize that activity and give yourself more time for med school-related experiences and nonmedical community service.

Ideally you'll start some clinical activity about 1.5 years before you apply, so it won't look like a last-minute career choice that you haven't carefully tested. Maybe you could set up some shadowing back home over the winter break, for example.

 

[candbgirl]

Just to add to the very good advice you received above, get off campus and out of your comfort zone. If you like teaching STEM find an underserved/underfunded school and volunteer. If you don’t want to do that find a homeless shelter and volunteer to tutor the kids living at the shelter. Or try a soup kitchen, vet center,centers for disabled kids or adults. Anything to show your altruism. You need service to those less fortunate than yourself.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

My son is also a second year at a top 20 school and also doing research and STEM mentoring as primary ECs. He is using breaks to get some clinical volunteering and shadowing experience. As others said only research power houses give more importance to research.