Do my extracurriculars look too controversial/political?

[wayves]

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Okay, so thus far I'm doing a lot of political/activism extracurriculars. I'm wondering if these will have a negative impact on admissions. Here's the list so far:

- Students For Israel
- Hillel (Jewish Students organization, includes religious activities, community service, etc.)
- College Democrats
- Tri-beta (National Biological Honors Society)

Will my overwhelming number of "hot topic" extracurriculars look bad?

 

[deleted407021]

I think it a travesty that people have to be so damned concerned about their views and convictions that they're scared to apply to medical school whilst being open about them. I'm bloody tired of this.

*deep breath*

Sorry, OP. I'm in a similar boat in that I hold values that are controversial in many circles. I really think you should be fine if you can articulate why you are involved in these things in a meaningful and sincere manner. Someone else will weigh in soon, but I'd say go for it.

 

[gyngyn]

I don't see the problem/controversy.

 

[cmlanz]

On a similar note, I'm about to start volunteering at Planned Parenthood. If I mention this to schools in any updates, am I pretty much asking for questions about my views on abortion in my interviews? Any advice @gyngyn ?

 

[gyngyn]

On a similar note, I'm about to start volunteering at Planned Parenthood. If I mention this to schools in any updates, am I pretty much asking for questions about my views on abortion in my interviews? Any advice @gyngyn ?

PP is a primary care resource for many thousands of underinsured women. I doubt that anyone will ask you about anything more controversial than that.

 

[cidem2065]

College Dems and Students for Israel??

Just avoid the details or positions and emphasize that you were involved.

 

[Aerus]

On a similar note, I'm about to start volunteering at Planned Parenthood. If I mention this to schools in any updates, am I pretty much asking for questions about my views on abortion in my interviews? Any advice @gyngyn ?

I know that @Goro, one of the adcom members on here, loves Planned Parenthood!

 

[Avicenna]

Oh man, things might get heated in the interview when it comes to your involvement in the Biology honors society.

But that's only if you get the interview since the waspy adcoms screen against democrats and non-christians.

 

[cmlanz]

I know that @Goro, one of the adcom members on here, loves Planned Parenthood!

PP is a primary care resource for many thousands of underinsured women. I doubt that anyone will ask you about anything more controversial than that.

Wonderful! I am looking forward to the experience, though some workmates warned I should prepare for some controversial questions. I guess I'll worry about getting those interviews first 😉

 

[gyngyn]

Wonderful! I am looking forward to the experience, though some workmates warned I should prepare for some controversial questions. I guess I'll worry about getting those interviews first 😉

Medicine is full of controversy. Providing care to people who need it is pretty low on the list, though.

 

[Goro]

No. In fact, they'll be a plus at the Touros and Einstein.

Okay, so thus far I'm doing a lot of political/activism extracurriculars. I'm wondering if these will have a negative impact on admissions. Here's the list so far:

- Students For Israel
- Hillel (Jewish Students organization, includes religious activities, community service, etc.)
- College Democrats
- Tri-beta (National Biological Honors Society)

Will my overwhelming number of "hot topic" extracurriculars look bad?

 

[wayves]

College Dems and Students for Israel??

Just avoid the details or positions and emphasize that you were involved.

Yes, there are some Dems who support Israel, believe it or not.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Okay, so thus far I'm doing a lot of political/activism extracurriculars. I'm wondering if these will have a negative impact on admissions. Here's the list so far:

- Students For Israel
- Hillel (Jewish Students organization, includes religious activities, community service, etc.)
- College Democrats
- Tri-beta (National Biological Honors Society)

Will my overwhelming number of "hot topic" extracurriculars look bad?

I'm pretty sure being a Jew and a democrat isn't that radical. Am I mistaken?

...Though every time I see someone is in Tri-Beta, I think, "Oh. Look at this hot shot who is good at biology and just has to show off how good at biology he/she is. F*ck that guy/lady." ; )

 

[wayves]

Is tri-beta really that bad?

 

[gyngyn]

Is tri-beta really that bad?

It can't be that bad. I've never heard of it.
Looks ok on Wikipedia...

 

[DokterMom]

On a similar note, I'm about to start volunteering at Planned Parenthood. If I mention this to schools in any updates, am I pretty much asking for questions about my views on abortion in my interviews? Any advice @gyngyn ?

Those kinds of questions are fair game in any med school interview. I presume you have well-thought-out views on the topic, so be prepared to present your views in a way that's not insulting to someone who has different opinions.

 

[rekrul]

I don't think you'll have any problems. Your positions are on the "right side of history" so to speak in today's America.

Now, if you were a prominent member of the college Republicans or Numbers USA you probably would be *****d.

 

[cidem2065]

I don't think you'll have any problems. Your positions are on the "right side of history" so to speak in today's America.

Now, if you were a prominent member of the college Republicans or Numbers USA you probably would be *****d.

Seems like this is exactly what they wouldn't want to hear from an applicant.

 

[Holmwood]

Portray each in a politically correct way and you're good to go.
Frankly, your ECs made my ears perk. It's really interesting. @_@

 

[allantois]

I don't see the problem/controversy.

You are from California 😛

 

[raywilliamjohnson]

can't be more controversial than mine:

KKK grand wizard (2000-2005)
New Black Panther fundraising coordinator (2005-2010)
Hong Kong Triad recruiting officer (2010-present)

However, these experiences allowed me to interact with people from different demographic groups and understand their daily struggles, honed my communication/teamworking/organization skills, and helped me become a better person.

 

[allantois]

can't be more controversial than mine:

KKK grand wizard (2000-2005)
New Black Panther fundraising coordinator (2005-2010)
Hong Kong Triad recruiting officer (2010-present)

However, these experiences allowed me to interact with people from different demographic groups and understand their daily struggles, honed my communication/teamworking/organization skills, and helped me become a better person.

Why are you in undergrad for 15 years?

 

[Shams al Deen]

I found this study to be quite interesting. In general, putting religious activities on your resume hurts your chances of landing a job significantly. I don't think it would be too reckless to apply these findings to med school apps.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...e-hurts-your-job-chances-unless-youre-jewish/

 

[cidem2065]

Why are you in undergrad for 15 years?

Kept getting kicked out for gang activity.

 

[altblue]

.

 

[raywilliamjohnson]

Why are you in undergrad for 15 years?

I'm a non-traditional applicant

 

[Planes2Doc]

I put my Jewish activities on my application. I wasn't an extremist by any means, nor did I take part in any Kiruv organizations, which can get flak from certain people. This didn't give me any issues.

I was in College Republicans but decided to leave that off, since that can allow ADCOMs to ask questions regarding that. I wasn't up for any political debates or didn't want to express my views on certain issues. Later I realized I was actually Libertarian, so I'm glad I left it off. 😛

 

[wayves]

Don't want to bring up a whole political debate, but I don't really affiliate with a party, it's just that I usually side with democrats. I've voted for republicans, independents, progressives, and libertarians before. There's not really one party that satisfies my wishes, that's why I care more about the individual candidate.

 

[Osteoth]

Don't want to bring up a whole political debate, but I don't really affiliate with a party, it's just that I usually side with democrats. I've voted for republicans, independents, progressives, and libertarians before. There's not really one party that satisfies my wishes, that's why I care more about the individual candidate.

Not to thread-hijack, but what if OP was interested in a career in politics? Then their ECs would match with future plans, which seems like a compelling "story" to give to an ADCOM.

What do you guys think of his ECs in that situation?

 

[allantois]

Not to thread-hijack, but what if OP was interested in a career in politics? Then their ECs would match with future plans, which seems like a compelling "story" to give to an ADCOM.

What do you guys think of his ECs in that situation?

Somebody who is interested in a career in politics, should not be applying to medical school.

 

[Osteoth]

Somebody who is interested in a career in politics, should not be applying to medical school.

Ron Paul, the OBGYN
Rand Paul, the ophthalmologist
Ami Bera, the GP

All disagree with your asertion.

 

[allantois]

Ron Paul, the OBGYN
Rand Paul, the ophthalmologist
Ami Bera, the GP

All disagree with your asertion.

Nobody will ever know what those individuals put on their med school applications when they applied there.

 

[Avicenna]

Nobody will ever know what those individuals put on their med school applications when they applied there.

Doesn't matter what they put on their application. They were interested in a career in politics and applied to medical school.

 

[allantois]

Doesn't matter what they put on their application. They were interested in a career in politics and applied to medical school.

I understand how that makes sense from a political point of view. But do you think medical schools want to admit students who want to be politicians or physicians?

 

[wayves]

I don't want to be a politician, but the issues are important to me.

 

[mimelim]

Not to thread-hijack, but what if OP was interested in a career in politics? Then their ECs would match with future plans, which seems like a compelling "story" to give to an ADCOM.

What do you guys think of his ECs in that situation?

How does "Students for Israel" or "Hillel" have any foundation for politics? Do you know what either of those are? And why would one tell medical school adcoms, unsolicited, that you are interested in politics? That makes no sense.

Ron Paul, the OBGYN
Rand Paul, the ophthalmologist
Ami Bera, the GP

All disagree with your asertion.

First, it is a HUGE logic gap to say that just because a politician was a physician, they disagree with the assertion that going to medical school when interested in politics makes no sense.

Second... Ron Paul practiced medicine for 15 years before getting involved in politics. He even states in several interviews that his initial interest in politics came while he was a resident.

Third... Rand Paul entered medical school in 1984. He first went into office 26 years later in 2010. Yes, he was politically active in undergrad and medical school and volunteered for his father's 1988 presidential campaign, it is a huge jump to say that he intended to be a politician from the get go.

Fourth, Ami Bera started medical school in 1987. He first ran for office in 2010. In those 23 years in between, he worked for UC Davis as well as held the position of Chief medical officer for Sacramento. Again, confused what he has to do with anything.

 

[wayves]

Why does everyone think I have any interest in going into politics? As a citizen, it's important for me to care about the issues, but that doesn't mean I would make a career out of it.

 

[Aerus]

Not to thread-hijack, but what if OP was interested in a career in politics? Then their ECs would match with future plans, which seems like a compelling "story" to give to an ADCOM.

What do you guys think of his ECs in that situation?

Being involved in extracurricular activities and being interested in issues that slightly deviate from traditional premed stereotypical ones does not signify interest in politics or whatever at all. I'm involved in more "political/law" EC's than I am in medical EC's but that doesn't mean I have any interest in going there. 😛

 

[mimelim]

Why does everyone think I have any interest in going into politics? As a citizen, it's important for me to care about the issues, but that doesn't mean I would make a career out of it.

The only cautionary I would say is, Hillel is kosher in pretty much all circumstances. "Students for Israel" has the potential for some real questions during interviews. Again, it is potential. You may not get asked anything, especially if you have a lot of other stuff going on in your application. But, you may be asked about it. The easy questions are, "What did you do, what did you learn?" The problem is it leads to the obvious, "What do you think about the 'right of return'?" What do you think about the settlements?" "What do you think about Nakba?" "How do you reconcile supporting what many consider to be a terror state?"

They may be unfair questions and without a doubt mostly irrelevant, but that certainly doesn't stop them from being asked. And anyone who asks you something like that is not going to accept, "Self defense", "They are all anti-semitic" etc as real answers. If you can talk about issues and are largely informed, it won't be an issue. But, if you can't and this is an EC that you do because, that is what most/many Jews at your school do, it could be a problem.

 

[NTheo91]

Even if someone does want to go into politics, it doesn't mean they can't be a physician as well as a politician. Many local/state politicians hold their positions as a part time job and require doing something else (usually law) to make a living. You are applying to medical school though, so you should focus on why you want to be a physician.

You can try spinning your EC's as wanting to go into advocacy, rather than politics. Everyone loves advocating for more primary care, preventative medicine, and expanding care for the under-served. I love politics but made the mistake of getting too political when discussing the PPACA during my pre-health committee interview. Be sure you don't do the same during a med school interview!