Enough Extracurriculars?

[abs5394]

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[Catalystik]

Hey fellow SDNers,

I have a pretty straight forward question.

GPA: 3.8-3.9, MCAT: Haven't taken it yet

My question is whether my extracurriculars are enough for most medical schools.
By the time I apply, I'll have:
2 years of undergrad research in a molecular biology lab, no idea about posters/publications, 10-15 hours per week
2 years (200-250 hours) of ED volunteering
75 hours of shadowing (ENT, cardiology, hospitalist, radiation oncology)
And thats it. I understand this is very cookie-cutter and won't wow anyone by any means. I personally really enjoy both the volunteering and the research, and I'm very content with what I'm doing. I don't really have any interest in other extracurriculars such as joining clubs, leading clubs, non-clinical volunteering, being a TA, etc...
Will I be at a disadvantage without doing these other activities? Or do you guys think my EC's are sufficient enough. I don't really care which medical school I go to (tier), I just want to be able to apply broadly, get into more than one, and have options.

One more tidbit, I plan on taking a gap year and working some sort of interesting job. I have 4 ideas of what I'm going to do during it:
1) work as an ED tech
2) work as a scribe
3) work at an assisted living home (either receptionist, CNA, med-tech)
4) work as a mental health worker at a psychiatric hospital (this option is by far my top priority, I really hope I get this position! It essentially entails looking after and observing all the patients on the ward, assisting with therapy groups and meetings, making sure everyone is okay, sort of like a babysitter with a lot of responsibility and certainly good leadership experience.)

Thanks for the responses!

You'll have the core basics if you proceed as planned, however allow me to point out that your application may not appeal to certain categories of schools, thus limiting your chances for success. Making some generalizations: More selective schools find the potential for peer leadership appealing. Less-selective schools often have the mission to train primary care docs, and you don't plan exposure to that. Schools with a humanistic mission will be looking for nonmedical community service. Some schools look for quirky, diverse, or unique interests and experiences. So yes, you will be at a disadvantage, but you can try to tailor your application list to those with different missions.

 

[abs5394]

I see, thanks for your response.

 

[mcatjelly]

I'm a psychiatric technician and I love it. Fantastic clinical exposure.

 

[Goro]

I suggest adding some non-clinical service to others in need of yourself. I'm fond of Habitat for Humanity myself.

 

[abs5394]

I'm a psychiatric technician and I love it. Fantastic clinical exposure.

What does a psychiatric technician do and how does one go about getting that position/where? That sounds very cool indeed!

 

[abs5394]

I suggest adding some non-clinical service to others in need of yourself. I'm fond of Habitat for Humanity myself.

Are there any particular roles/positions that you recommend?

 

[LizzyM]

The point of non-clinical service to others is to do something that helps the needy in your community or elsewhere in the US. Building homes is one, helping to settle newly arrived refugees, tutoring kids through programs offered in their low income communities, literacy programs for adults who may or may not be native speakers of English, soup kitchens and food pantries, clothing programs for the needy including professional clothing for individuals in job training programs, homeless shelters are some others.

The other item missing from your application is what you do for fun.... find something you enjoy whether it is an outdoor activity, something athletic, artistic (performing arts or studio arts or a craft), culinary... Adcoms often bemoan the applications of applicants who seem to be all work and no play. Recreation is part of a healthy lifestyle and so adcoms want to see that students have that coming in and, ideally, will continue through life.

 

[Goro]

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities.

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

Your local houses of worship will have plenty of ideas as well.

Are there any particular roles/positions that you recommend?

 

[ChrisMack390]

OP, do you really have no hobbies or interests? Like maybe ones you didn't think were important to list here?

What do you do to just relax? If it's Friday afternoon and all of you are totally caught up on all of your work and have no volunteer shifts until Sunday, what will you spend the weekend doing?

 

[mcatjelly]

What does a psychiatric technician do and how does one go about getting that position/where? That sounds very cool indeed!

I think it's the same thing as what you were describing of a mental health worker. 🙂 I've also heard it referred to as behavioral health technician or mental health technician, so if you're googling job openings I would use all of those terms.

There are several settings you could work in: at a public (state or federal) psychiatric hospital, at a private psychiatric hospital, at a residential facility (though these tend to have more intellectually/developmentally disabled populations), or on the psychiatric ward/floor of a general hospital. I'm currently employed at a state facility and the only job requirements were a degree in a social science or a year of related experience. Some facilities want more experience, others only require a high school diploma. Depends in part on where you live and what type of facility it is (private vs. public).

 

[abs5394]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm thinking I may get involved in either habitat for humanity or crisis hotline, they seem the most enjoyable to me.

 

[abs5394]

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[LizzyM]

So a bit of a dilemma. The crisis hotline counselor seems much more interesting to me, but it requires a very intensive training (180 hours over 12 weeks), and I'd have to do that on top of my normal credit load and research. So I should probably just volunteer with habitat for humanity. I know you guys hate hearing this question, but would either of these two volunteer positions "look better" than the other, or would both activities be viewed as equal. If the crisis counselor would look better/more unique, then maybe I'd suck it up and do the training. If they're viewed equal, I'd probably just do habitat for humanity.

I hate to burst your bubble but if at all possible you should work in the presence of those who will benefit from your service. If the focus is on fund raising and/or building with other middle class students for an unseen recipient, the experience is less valuable for you as a pre-med than if you are able to work with people who are unlike yourself and who have had some hard knocks in life.