Does this look phony?

[DrJen]

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Here's my dilemma. I have had some personal circumstances over the past year (explained in my personal statement) that have kept me from doing many EC's. Now that those circumstances are gone, I am ready to get back on track. I submitted my AMCAS this year. Since then, I've started a full-time job as a hospital ward clerk and I've set up some volunteering time on the side. My only fear is that adcoms will think I'm just doing all of this to impress them at the last minute (which is absolutely not the truth). Is that what it would look like to you, or am I just being paranoid?

 

[notdeadyet]

If you already explained in your personal statement why you couldn't do anything until now, I can't imagine what else you could do to show your sincerity. I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[Sondra]

I had to work for the last half of my undergrad. I explained it in my personal statement. I was involved in very few ECs other than research for my honor's thesis and attending a few biology honor society meetings. Ad Comms understand that not everybody follows the same path into med school. If you can overcome personal hardships while still attending school and making good grades, then that is an accomplishment. If you are sincere about your current activities then it will show in your interview that you are not just doing it to impress the committee.

 

[zimmie256]

I had to work for the last half of my undergrad. I explained it in my personal statement. I was involved in very few ECs other than research for my honor's thesis and attending a few biology honor society meetings. Ad Comms understand that not everybody follows the same path into med school. If you can overcome personal hardships while still attending school and making good grades, then that is an accomplishment. If you are sincere about your current activities then it will show in your interview that you are not just doing it to impress the committee.

Exactly. They're looking for what you've seen and done, and most importantly what you got out of these experiences. Sounds like you have completely legit reasons for not beginning these activities sooner. Just make sure you have some good stories to tell and lessons learned from these activities when you get your interviews. And anyway, the past is done, so there's nothing you can do about the start date of these ECs anyway, so don't stress about it. Just have fun and learn as much as you can. Good luck!

 

[DrJen]

Thanks! I feel better now. I needed to hear that. 🙂