EC Opinions?

[Perfoman]

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I was reading through some old posts pertaining to ECs and getting a little depressed. So I figured i'd ask everyone else's opinion about ECs.

Do you think adcoms respond better to a wide range of shorter term ECs (research, clinic, ER, habitat for humanity, reading to kids...etc) or do you think they would rather see a significantly shorter list of long term ECs (i.e. 2 years of clinic volunteering + moving to a more important leadership role in the process, and then one or two other strong ECs).

Reading through some people's laundry list of ECs is making me wonder if I am going about everything the right way. As far as my case is concerned I volunteer at a free clinic that lets their volunteers actually DO things (aside from filing paperwork or getting in the way) and this is something I can see myself doing all the way into med school, which would be 2+ solid years of experience. I am also about to get into the local hospital's ER volunteers as well. Aside from those two maybe turning into long term activities, I plan on shadowing a bunch of different Dr's in order to expose myself to every specialty I can (which I think is a worthwhile short term EC). I would much rather devote myself to one thing that mattered to me instead of trying to fit another 10 onto my list in order to look like an overachiever to adcoms.

 

[huckaaa]

I think it's hard to say one way is better than the other. But, I'm with you on wanting to commit and do long term ECs. I think it shows true devotion to what you are doing. Working for habitat for humanity once or twice is nice, but it can come as just doing something because you are supposed to, if you know what I mean. I think you are on the right track. Schools just want to see that you are compassionate and genuinely care about the human race. You can show that in a variety of ways. As far as clinical experience, the longer the better. Volunteer experience doesn't have to be medically based.

 

[huckaaa]

Also, on the application there is a limit to how much you can put down. So having a "laundry list" doesn't always help that much. Just make sure what you do is meaningful to you and it will be meaningful to the admission boards as well.

 

[SmallTownEMT]

Last I checked only the AMCAS limits the number of things you can put down and AACOMAS doesn't.

I found it beneficial to be involved with activities over a long term. Remember that these things will likely come up in an interview, and you'll want to be able to explain what they mean to you.

It sounds like you have some actual clinical experience from your time in the clinic which is a very valuable thing. Many committees are glad to see that an applicant has actually worked with patients and done more than simply shadowed.

I would say keep doing the things that interest you and that you enjoy.