Do what you enjoy, Oh really?

[BurghStudent]

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I need a little advice

I am a sophomore. I've been in a lab for about a year, I don't have clinical experience (yet), and I haven't done any solid volunteering.

However, this fall I got the opportunity to be a columnist for my school paper. I also recently got the job of assistant opinions editor for next term on the paper, however, this is a 20hr/week commitment.

Come spring term I am taking 18 credits, Organic Chem 2 & Lab, Physics 2 & Lab, Genetics, and some nonsciences.

Do you think I am committing too much time to my interests in the paper? Consider that again, I don't have clinical or volunteering experience yet, as well as the fact that I will be hard pressed to find free time next term (or so I assume)

Thanks a bunch

 

[Catalystik]

If you plan to apply at the traditional time, I'd rethink the 20 hour/week commitment to the paper if you must take an science-heavy 18 hour credit load and still plan to sleep. Surely you can be involved in writing editorials or articles on a volunteer level and still foster your interest in journalism. Your contribution to the paper would still be a noteworthy extracurricular.

If you are open to gaining the expected ECs without a fixed time horizen, then take the job and follow your heart. If applicants in the 30+ age range get accepted, there is no reason for you to rush the process. Get everything out of the college experience that you can, to grow as a person.

 

[halekulani]

"do what you enjoy" means

1. spending most of your hours pursuing something you can excel in
2. while finishing any clinical volunteering hours you can

so
if you are a talented writer and your column/opinions thing leads to something bigger, do it.

if your lab thing is meh, drop it, but if it's going good, keep it

most importantly keep your grades up. drop any EC like a bad habit the second your grades start falling because ECs do not equate to As

personally i think 2 labs will take up too much time (mine were 3 hrs each, dunno about yours) with research and a 20hr/week gig

if anything, you could also drop one of your classes so you're at 14 units. it's not like it's that hard to graduate

 

[michigator04]

This is the kind of EC med schools love to see on an app. It is something unique that not very many applicants have. It is a very good thing for them to be able to look at your file pre or post interview and remember who you are.

However, sounds like you have a tough course load in the upcoming semester, so make sure to keep your grades as your top priority.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

It's definitely something unique, but 20 hours of work a week on top of 18 credits is HARD. I had one semester where I was taking 6 classes for 18 credits, working 20 hours a week at one job and 5-10 a week at another job, and volunteering 20-30 hours a week. It was hell and I hated it, even though individually I liked everything I was doing. So don't be surprised or disappointed if you have to sacrifice something because you can't do it all.

 

[ahmcadams]

Doing this could definitely be an application asset because it's a unique experience most pre-medical students don't pursue. But if this spreads you so thin that your grades suffer or that you don't have enough time for activities that demonstrate your interest in medicine, just simply unique isn't going to be enough.

 

[musafirah]

do it but drop at least one of those classes... you're a sophomore so you have time to take those classes later. like... genetics- its not necessary for pre-med or mcat. then you'll have less of a load. the nonsciences might be easy so no need to drop them but take about 12-15 credits and you're fine. that way you could also still start your volunteering (once a week should be enough, and could be on a saturday or another day you have no class).

 

[ElegantWeapon]

you are only a sophomore-you have time to make up for lacking clinical experience IF this writing experience will be a serious and continued commitment. I think you could swing this to your favor-it is a very unique EC, and I think writing skills are sometimes underestimated in the sciences. You could definitely also swing it on your app if you truly like it-maybe you learned effective communication skills, etc...

you can always get clinical experience later on, and to be honest with you as long as you have some i think its fine. to be honest with you, i truly believe most people overestimate its importance. research + great ecs+ great grades+ some clinical experience is fine, in fact, it has let me get into two top tier schools so far

 

[Evergrey]

20 hours/week is a lot, I hope you get paid well! If you can keep the editor position I would, it sounds awesome and plus you can make a business card to impress all the ladies at parties:

BurghStudent
Assistant Opinions Editor and Resident Pimp

P.S. If you are a girl and not a dude I am very, very sorry that I assumed you would want to impress ladies. Technically though my post could apply to a girl as well.

 

[Global Warming]

20 hours/week is a lot, I hope you get paid well! If you can keep the editor position I would, it sounds awesome and plus you can make a business card to present to impress all the ladies at parties:

BurghStudent
Assistant Opinions Editor and Resident Pimp

Great advice, but don't be the dork going to parties showing off his stupid business card to everyone.

 

[loveoforganic]

Lots of good advice in this thread.

 

[BurghStudent]

Thanks for all the great advice, of course, not unexpected

I think I will stick to it, besides, I get my own office 🙂 (well, cubicle)

I am trying to finish my prereqs by next term and will have physio, and hopefully, genetics also down by then. I am thinking of switching one of the nonsciences to an online course to free up some time, to some extent.

Its a relief to hear that I still have time for other medical related things. With people around me already tackling clinical/volunteering, its easy to get antsy.

Oh, and, musafirah, is that Arabic?

 

[KindaRambo]

I was on the adcom as a student rep my 4th year of med school and this columnist stuff makes you unique. It makes your app stand out. But ONLY IF YOUR GRADES/MCAT are solid.

Here is what I would do...

Scale back to 14 or 15 credits and take this newspaper gig. BUT, do the BARE MINIMUM, like 10hrs/week. Remember, grades and MCAT first, all that other EC stuff a distant 3rd. Come application time, you just need to be able to put it on your CV and then you can talk about it all you want during interviews.

The admissions committee didn't give a damn if you cured cancer if your MCAT/GPA were below average. Remember that.

We regularly took the 3.7/30/few solid EC's applicant over the 3.5/27/mulitple unique EC's applicant.

My point again, MCAT/GPA always come first!

I need a little advice

I am a sophomore. I've been in a lab for about a year, I don't have clinical experience (yet), and I haven't done any solid volunteering.

However, this fall I got the opportunity to be a columnist for my school paper. I also recently got the job of assistant opinions editor for next term on the paper, however, this is a 20hr/week commitment.

Come spring term I am taking 18 credits, Organic Chem 2 & Lab, Physics 2 & Lab, Genetics, and some nonsciences.

Do you think I am committing too much time to my interests in the paper? Consider that again, I don't have clinical or volunteering experience yet, as well as the fact that I will be hard pressed to find free time next term (or so I assume)

Thanks a bunch