EC's for freshmen year of pre-med?

[SpeedySavior]

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Sorry If I make a mistake!

I was talking to a friend who is a second year med student, and he said that extacirriculars are super important (obviously). However, he said that for a freshmen in college, he would not suggest doing any extracurricular activities that require a lot of time. Is this true? Would you suggest a freshmen pre med student start his extracurricular activities now, or focus on grades and get in the swing of college? I planned to get a phlebotomy liscense, or an EMT certification. Anything to strengthen a medical school application. Either way, I plan to shadow A physician of some kind all 4 years. Thank you for the help, and once again, sorry if I made a mistake!

 

[dr.0ne]

Grades, until you figure out your study habits.

Ease into hospital volunteering, teaching, hobbies, whatever interests you, etc.

 

[Catalystik]

I was talking to a friend who is a second year med student, and he said that extacirriculars are super important (obviously). However, he said that for a freshmen in college, he would not suggest doing any extracurricular activities that require a lot of time. Is this true? Would you suggest a freshmen pre med student start his extracurricular activities now, or focus on grades and get in the swing of college? I planned to get a phlebotomy liscense, or an EMT certification. Anything to strengthen a medical school application. Either way, I plan to shadow A physician of some kind all 4 years. Thank you for the help, and once again, sorry if I made a mistake!

I agree that you shouldn't rush into gaining ECs. It's common to find that getting great grades in college isn't the same as it was in HS, for a variety of reasons. Nail down the study strategies needed to earn As before diluting your attention with activities. Spectacular ECs are not going to bale out a mediocre GPA.

 

[Dandine]

Agree with what all's been said so far.

I'd add that have an idea of what you plan to do for the next four years (or however many years you expect) of undergrad. I did that around end of freshman year. Things changed like mad, of course, but having at least some long-term idea will allow you to add in things given the time you've already planned for courses.

In terms of "required" experiences, anything clinical (volunteering, shadowing) is key. EMT I hear mixed things about but if you take a certification class and like it then that's a possibility. Research is helpful too but have at least some topics of interest in mind before you head towards it.

EDIT: By plan four years I mean plan your courses.

 

[thebigdawg]

Don't do any ECs. All adcoms care about is what color suit you are wearing