EC problem: Can a job count as work experience AND an EC?

[matt1989]

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Hey guys,
Sorry if this belongs more on the AACOMAS threat but I wasn't getting much love there.

I'm slightly freaking out because I realized that basically everything I've done extra-curricularly for the last 3 years is technically work experience and my EC's are looking a little dismal (4 out of 15). I also have no awards beyond Dean's List and just 1 merit based scholarship for undergrad.

Most of my clinical experience comes from an ER scribe job I had for a year. Considering my job entails working one-on-one with physicians (making minimum wage) do you think it would make sense noting that in the EC section too? Also I worked as a community advisor/RA which entailed event programming and a lot of other stuff though at the expense of my college ECs. If I had the choice I'd rather list that an EC than work experience - not to mention I didn't actually get "paid", just a break on room and board.

Though the reality my only ECs beyond these jobs I have are
-a week-long volunteering expereince in Peru
-2 non-medical volunteering experiences in underserved areas (Camden and Trenton, NJ) though only really culminate in 40 hours
- involvement in college dems/LGBT stuff which includes marching for marriage equality in DC. I'm scared to mention this on my application as a very liberal though straight individual.
-going to Psychology Club meetings and being an informal mentor for Freshman

So on my AACOMAS I can't think of listing more than 4-5 ECs tops and realizing that you can do up to 15, I'm a little worried.

I'm also a low-average application with 27 MCAT, 3.45 cGPA, 3.3-3.4 sGPA

Do you think this will hurt my chances?

 

[gmcguitar4]

A job is work experience. I wouldn't call it an ec unless there was no work experience section on the application. The advisor/RA thing is work experience in my opinion, because a break on room and board is a form of payment. You can mention the time commitment involved in doing this though.

You don't need to fill the activities section, but your EC's are lookin pretty weak at the moment. I would say get involved in some things now and keep building them up. In the event that you don't get in this time around, you will have additional stuff with longer commitments to add to your application. Not to mention they like to see that you are actively doing things even while you are applying to schools.

 

[hallowmann]

Your app sounds fine to me. Just add some shadowing and get a DO letter. You don't have a ton of clinical volunteer hours, but if you have a lot of clinical work experience, that's not really an issue.

Also, you are a slightly above average applicant. Average is 3.45/3.33/26.5.

 

[maybemed2013]

I only listed 4 ECs don't feel bad. I was told it not how many ECs you do but the quality of the ECs. For example my ECs that I mention were being a medical interpreter, a mentor (2 different programs) and shadowing. I have other miscellaneous ECs but I don't think they are worth mentioning.

 

[matt1989]

Thanks guys,

Just to clarify though, I have several DO letters from my job which literally entails following around the doctor for 8 hours and documenting physical exams and stuff. Last summer I saw pre-meds shadowing the doctors as a part of some program and I know for a fact that they do exactly what I do. Although unlike the them I am actually working with the physicians and not twiddling my thumbs.

Not to put down shadowing, which I realize is a necessity for those with no other experience. I'm hoping that if I spell it out to schools they will realize that my job qualifies as 700+ hours of "shadowing" at the very least.