Does leadership (i.e. being a class officer) matters in the end?

[Kiroro]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I’m a new MSI
I have a noobish question that needs to be helped with😳
Just how much does becoming a class officer (or doing leadership stuff) matter in getting a residency or getting into AOA?

It's been only a few weeks since the classes started but I can already see some "gunners" in the class who is really forward about becoming class officers and forming student organizations (and become officers of them). They seem to be trying really hard to be that “noticed student”

Personally, I don’t really enjoy being “the noticeable one” in the class. Also, I’m not into doing those leadership things. However, I don’t really wanna miss out on important opportunities like getting into good residency program or being selected into AOA just because I’m not up to do leadership activities

I don’t really care about AOA but I heard that it helps with getting a good residency. Does anyone have insight about how important is it to be an AOA member?

 

[Law2Doc]

I’m a new MSI
I have a noobish question that needs to be helped with😳
Just how much does becoming a class officer (or doing leadership stuff) matter in getting a residency or getting into AOA?

It's been only a few weeks since the classes started but I can already see some "gunners" in the class who is really forward about becoming class officers and forming student organizations (and become officers of them). They seem to be trying really hard to be that “noticed student”

Personally, I don’t really enjoy being “the noticeable one” in the class. Also, I’m not into doing those leadership things. However, I don’t really wanna miss out on important opportunities like getting into good residency program or being selected into AOA just because I’m not up to do leadership activities

I don’t really care about AOA but I heard that it helps with getting a good residency. Does anyone have insight about how important is it to be an AOA member?

It probably won't matter much, but it is something to put on your CV. I doubt it has anything to do with AOA. Do it if you are interested or enjoy it, if not, dont.

 

[vwhan]

It probably won't matter much, but it is something to put on your CV. I doubt it has anything to do with AOA. Do it if you are interested or enjoy it, if not, dont.

There are people that will make junior AOA without being a class officer. However, you will probably have to demonstrate some extracurricular activities to get AOA. And if you don't get AOA, then it will be something to put on your CV (which always helps).

 

[tupac_don]

I’m a new MSI
I have a noobish question that needs to be helped with😳
Just how much does becoming a class officer (or doing leadership stuff) matter in getting a residency or getting into AOA?

It's been only a few weeks since the classes started but I can already see some "gunners" in the class who is really forward about becoming class officers and forming student organizations (and become officers of them). They seem to be trying really hard to be that “noticed student”

Personally, I don’t really enjoy being “the noticeable one” in the class. Also, I’m not into doing those leadership things. However, I don’t really wanna miss out on important opportunities like getting into good residency program or being selected into AOA just because I’m not up to do leadership activities

I don’t really care about AOA but I heard that it helps with getting a good residency. Does anyone have insight about how important is it to be an AOA member?

I'd say, do it if you have time, and if you want to. Also I think it's a requirement to do some sort of extra curric for AOA. Now you don't have to be in 10 different groups, if you really like something, go and do it. But really in the end it doesn't really matter. What matters is grades and of course step I and your clinical rotation evals. The extra currics are a bonus that can enhance an already good application and give you something to talk about in your residency application, but by no means do you have to do it.

If you really wanna do something, I'd suggest helping out at a free clinic, and going to different screening type activities where you do BP, lipid profile and stuff. That way you are doing some extracurric and getting your clinical skills sharpened. Any other stuff, if you are dying to do it, then yea, otherwise, sleep in extra, go workout, get hammered. Later.

 

[Kiroro]

Thank you guys for helpful replys 🙂

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I'd rather do bench research. Benchwork FTW!!!

 

[SurgeryChef]

I’m a new MSI
I have a noobish question that needs to be helped with😳
Just how much does becoming a class officer (or doing leadership stuff) matter in getting a residency or getting into AOA?

It's been only a few weeks since the classes started but I can already see some "gunners" in the class who is really forward about becoming class officers and forming student organizations (and become officers of them). They seem to be trying really hard to be that “noticed student”

Personally, I don’t really enjoy being “the noticeable one” in the class. Also, I’m not into doing those leadership things. However, I don’t really wanna miss out on important opportunities like getting into good residency program or being selected into AOA just because I’m not up to do leadership activities

I don’t really care about AOA but I heard that it helps with getting a good residency. Does anyone have insight about how important is it to be an AOA member?

Junior AOA (if your school has it): mainly second year grades, USMLE step 1 score, and your CV (which at my school counts for 10%). Your grades are the vast majority of AOA. AOA is for the top students academically.

Senior AOA is based off second and third year grades and to a very small extent your step 1 score.

Hope that helps. If you're a gung ho AOA gunner, skip the extracurriculars and study your @$$ off.

 

[Law2Doc]

Junior AOA (if your school has it): mainly second year grades, USMLE step 1 score, and your CV (which at my school counts for 10%). Your grades are the vast majority of AOA. AOA is for the top students academically.

Senior AOA is based off second and third year grades and to a very small extent your step 1 score.

Hope that helps. If you're a gung ho AOA gunner, skip the extracurriculars and study your @$$ off.

This was my understanding as well.

 

[njbmd]

I’m a new MSI
I have a noobish question that needs to be helped with😳
Just how much does becoming a class officer (or doing leadership stuff) matter in getting a residency or getting into AOA?

I don’t really care about AOA but I heard that it helps with getting a good residency. Does anyone have insight about how important is it to be an AOA member?

Hi there,
AOA (Alpha Omega Alpha) a very nice thing to have on your ERAS application provided your school has a chapter. The criteria for selection varies from school to school. For some schools election to AOA is based on academics alone; for others, academics and leadership [politics] (which was the case at my school). In general election to AOA is only going to be possible for a few people out of each class. At my school, we graduated 90 people with 5 elected to AOA. The proportions will again, vary from school to school.

Also be aware that some schools do NOT have chapters of AOA. There is a box on the ERAS application to indicate that your school does not have a chapter.

You do not have to hold class office to be elected to AOA even if leadership is one of the criteria for selection to AOA. I was not a class officer but I was pretty active in other things like community service.

In summary, AOA is great but not the "end-all" for matching into a great residency. Concentrate on your studies and do your best. If AOA happens, which was what happened in my case (I never sought AOA), then it's great. If not, that good too.

njbmd🙂