Extra-cirriculars and LORs?

[WinterLights]

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How important are extracirriculars? I am only active in one club ATM and it is my junior year. I am a member of two scholars clubs and one pre-med club as well but am not active in any of them. Should I be worried? Also, I still need two more letters of recommendation by the end of this year. Should I take the time to go to professors office hours and try to familiarize myself so that they will write me satisfactory letters? Also, have any of you just asked a professor that doesn't know who you are (but you were in a class they taught) to write you a LOR? Thanks.

 

[alwaysaangel]

How important are extracirriculars? I am only active in one club ATM and it is my junior year. I am a member of two scholars clubs and one pre-med club as well but am not active in any of them. Should I be worried? Also, I still need two more letters of recommendation by the end of this year. Should I take the time to go to professors office hours and try to familiarize myself so that they will write me satisfactory letters? Also, have any of you just asked a professor that doesn't know who you are (but you were in a class they taught) to write you a LOR? Thanks.

The lack of ECs is going to kill you in this process. You really have nothign else? No volunteering? No job? No research? If all you have is a club then you need to wait another year to apply because you will be wasting all your money otherwise. Clubs are almost worthless as an EC. The real kinds of ECs schools want are research (with publications is awesome), clinical exposure (this is pretty much a necessity - if you've never worked in clinical setting as a volunteer or shadowing a doctor then you're screwed), employment that can teach you professionalism and responsibility, volunteering in medical or non-medical settings, etc. etc. etc.

If you have really done nothing for 2 years of school then you better get cracking and get some stuff on your resume. Even starting now though its going to look like resume padding and it may look bad to adcomms.

As far as LORs - I've never asked a prof who didn't know me and I don't think the OH thing is much of an idea either. But I know lots of people who do it and successfully get in med school. The best thing is to find a small class (seminar, or upper div lab) where even at a big university you will be in a small class and will get to know your prof.

Good luck.

 

[WinterLights]

The lack of ECs is going to kill you in this process. You really have nothign else? No volunteering? No job? No research? If all you have is a club then you need to wait another year to apply because you will be wasting all your money otherwise. Clubs are almost worthless as an EC. The real kinds of ECs schools want are research (with publications is awesome), clinical exposure (this is pretty much a necessity - if you've never worked in clinical setting as a volunteer or shadowing a doctor then you're screwed), employment that can teach you professionalism and responsibility, volunteering in medical or non-medical settings, etc. etc. etc.

If you have really done nothing for 2 years of school then you better get cracking and get some stuff on your resume. Even starting now though its going to look like resume padding and it may look bad to adcomms.

As far as LORs - I've never asked a prof who didn't know me and I don't think the OH thing is much of an idea either. But I know lots of people who do it and successfully get in med school. The best thing is to find a small class (seminar, or upper div lab) where even at a big university you will be in a small class and will get to know your prof.

Good luck.

Really? I mean I am volunteering (as part of the club that I am in). Right now I have a 3.9 GPA (Molecular Cellular Bio Major). I dont think that not having many extra-cirriculars is going to kill me but I can see where it might not look good. Thanks for your input.

 

[capn jazz]

Really? I mean I am volunteering (as part of the club that I am in). Right now I have a 3.9 GPA (Molecular Cellular Bio Major). I dont think that not having many extra-cirriculars is going to kill me but I can see where it might not look good. Thanks for your input.

Hold on. Your application, you're going to have this:

3.9 GPA
Member of one volunteering club (how many hours per week, and how many years is this?)

Do you have:
a job?
research?
clinical experience?
Ever had a summer job? If not, what do you do over the summer?

If NO: are there extenuating circumstances?
Because your GPA is amazing, but if all you did was volunteer 3 hours a week and study to get that 3.9, it will mean nothing.

I have a 3.7, but I have: a clinical research job, a lab research job, hospital volunteering on top of that. You need to have more than just one club. But it doesn't have to be in the form of a club (I am part of 0). Get a job.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

The lack of ECs is going to kill you in this process. You really have nothign else? No volunteering? No job? No research? If all you have is a club then you need to wait another year to apply because you will be wasting all your money otherwise. Clubs are almost worthless as an EC. The real kinds of ECs schools want are research (with publications is awesome), clinical exposure (this is pretty much a necessity - if you've never worked in clinical setting as a volunteer or shadowing a doctor then you're screwed), employment that can teach you professionalism and responsibility, volunteering in medical or non-medical settings, etc. etc. etc.

If you have really done nothing for 2 years of school then you better get cracking and get some stuff on your resume. Even starting now though its going to look like resume padding and it may look bad to adcomms.

As far as LORs - I've never asked a prof who didn't know me and I don't think the OH thing is much of an idea either. But I know lots of people who do it and successfully get in med school. The best thing is to find a small class (seminar, or upper div lab) where even at a big university you will be in a small class and will get to know your prof.

Good luck.

This is true if you decided to go to medical school when you were a freshman. Me, I am a senior this year and I decided on medicine in December of 2006 and I've been volunteering at a hospital, joined a pre-med club, shadowed a few doctors, and had some previous employment outside the medical setting and I don't really have time for anything else right now. I don't think it would be fair to exclude someone because they didn't spend their entire college career doing a ton of ECs to get into medical school.

 

[capn jazz]

As for your second Q: do very well in 2 classes and go to office hours every week with thoughtful questions (or ask after class). Make it so the professor says "Hi, Jim" when he sees you on campus. Asking a prof who has no idea who you are will be completely transparent. Even if you got a B, so long as the prof knows you worked hard and were thoughtful about the class, you can get a rec. If you got a 100% but never said a word in class - the rec is worthless.

 

[capn jazz]

This is true if you decided to go to medical school when you were a freshman. Me, I am a senior this year and I decided on medicine in December of 2006 and I've been volunteering at a hospital, joined a pre-med club, shadowed a few doctors, and had some previous employment outside the medical setting and I don't really have time for anything else right now. I don't think it would be fair to exclude someone because they didn't spend their entire college career doing a ton of ECs to get into medical school.

Except you DO have the ECs. Volunteering, pre-med club, shadowing, and having a job at any point = ECs. It's very different from having one club on your resume and nothing else.

Also, you should not be doing ECs "to get into medical school." You should want to go to medical school because you enjoy the ECs involved - you should enjoy helping those in need (volunteering), you should enjoy science (research/doing well in prereqs), you should enjoy working in a hospital setting (clinical experience).

 

[alwaysaangel]

Really? I mean I am volunteering (as part of the club that I am in). Right now I have a 3.9 GPA (Molecular Cellular Bio Major). I dont think that not having many extra-cirriculars is going to kill me but I can see where it might not look good. Thanks for your input.

Yes, really.

I'm not over exaggerating. And if you wait long enough you'll get some premeds who are in your shoes who will sugar coat it for you and tell you "its not that bad." But it is.

How many hours a week do you volunteer for the club you're in? In fact, how much a time committment overall would you say being in that club is? 5hrs/wk? Less?

You have to realize there are people getting 3.9s while workign 20hrs a week in a lab, volunteering 10hrs/week at a hospital, and working 10hrs/week as a tutor at their school.

Or whatever they do. But the point is that your 3.9 starts looking pretty weak when you have so much time to basically do nothing but study.

Aside from the incredible amount of free time you've had the lack of ECs makes you look not very well rounded. Med schools LOVE well-rounded applicants these days. There are thousands of applicants and you need something to make you stand out from the other applicants: whether its a research publication, a passion for working with underserved communities, a passion for international medicine, whatever. You need something.

Look at mdapps and find the people who applied with a 3.9, 35 MCAT and still got rejected - you'll see they lacked ECs and yes, it killed them.

Start by getting clinical experience - that is by far the most important. If you've never seen the real side of medicine no med school is going to believe you know what you're getting yourself into.

 

[alwaysaangel]

This is true if you decided to go to medical school when you were a freshman. Me, I am a senior this year and I decided on medicine in December of 2006 and I've been volunteering at a hospital, joined a pre-med club, shadowed a few doctors, and had some previous employment outside the medical setting and I don't really have time for anything else right now. I don't think it would be fair to exclude someone because they didn't spend their entire college career doing a ton of ECs to get into medical school.

No, its true no matter what.

ECs shouldn't be to "get into medical school." I have plenty of friends who will never apply to med school or grad school, and they still had jobs, volunteer positions, and were active in other things. Its called being well rounded and having interests other than academics.

I think even you would have problems if you don't have anything prior to your senior year. It makes your GPA look less impressive because you had so much free time, and it leaves you with nothing to make yourself stand out against the average applicant. But you don't have that problem, you had a job before you decided on medicine - thats an EC. The OP has nothing from what he's saying - thats a huge issue.

I wasn't sure I wanted to apply to medical school until my first or second year of college. I didn't make up my mind until the summer after my junior year. I still had a job all 4 years, volunteered in a free clinic because it was interesting and helped me figure out if medicine was for me, babysat, worked at local middle schools, etc. I did it for me. Not for med school apps. Just like you worked for you, not for med school apps.

Sadly, in this day and age most ECs are just "for" med school. But they shouldn't be. And saying "I wasn't sure I wanted to go into medicine until later" isn't going to explain a complete lack of ECs early in college, it may explain a lack of medically related ECs. (but you said you worked so you're probably fine) But it never looks good to be doing nothing but school, whether you're premed or not.

 

[WinterLights]

No, its true no matter what.

ECs shouldn't be to "get into medical school." I have plenty of friends who will never apply to med school or grad school, and they still had jobs, volunteer positions, and were active in other things. Its called being well rounded and having interests other than academics.

I think even you would have problems if you don't have anything prior to your senior year. It makes your GPA look less impressive because you had so much free time, and it leaves you with nothing to make yourself stand out against the average applicant. But you don't have that problem, you had a job before you decided on medicine - thats an EC. The OP has nothing from what he's saying - thats a huge issue.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go into medicine my first or second year of college. I didn't make up my mind until the summer after my junior year. I still had a job all 4 years, volunteered in a free clinic because it was interesting and helped me figure out if medicine was for me, babysat, worked at local middle schools, etc. I did it for me. Not for med school apps. Just like you worked for you, not for med school apps.

Sadly, in this day and age most ECs are just "for" med school. But they shouldn't be. And saying "I wasn't sure I wanted to go into medicine until later" isn't going to explain a complete lack of ECs early in college, it may explain a lack of medically related ECs. (but you said you worked so you're probably fine) But it never looks good to be doing nothing but school, whether you're premed or not.

The converse could be said about the person who does tons of EC's but has a decent to mediocre GPA. You make it seem as if anyone can maintain a 3.9 GPA if given enough free time to study which I definitely do not believe to be true. I dont know personally how medical schools compare someone with a ton of ECs and say a 3.4-3.6 GPA v.s. a person with a 3.8-4.0 GPA and maybe one or two EC's. . . but I am pretty confident that GPA is the top concern when it comes to getting into medical school based on what I have heard from the pre-med counselor and people that I know who are currently in medical school right now.

 

[capn jazz]

The converse could be said about the person who does tons of EC's but has a decent to mediocre GPA. You make it seem as if anyone can maintain a 3.9 GPA if given enough free time to study which I definitely do not believe to be true. I dont know personally how medical schools compare someone with a ton of ECs and say a 3.4-3.6 GPA v.s. a person with a 3.8-4.0 GPA and maybe one or two EC's. . . but I am pretty confident that GPA is the top concern when it comes to getting into medical school based on what I have heard from the pre-med counselor and people that I know who are currently in medical school right now.

Here's how it works.

A person with a 3.9 will look better than a person with a 3.6.

A person with 4 years of hospital volunteering, 4 years of solidly holding a job and advancing to leadership positions, and summer activities that weren't just hanging out will look better than a person with one club.

Applicants with 3.9s and 4 years of ECs will get in over 3.6 and nothing. Applicants with 3.9s and one club will have a very hard time getting accepted. You have to show that you are a motivated and successful PERSON, not just book-smart.

And I'm sorry, but there are THOUSANDS of applicants with 3.8-3.9 GPAs and all those ECs. This isn't just a hypothetical.

 

[sailence]

I'm trying to build my resume up early, I've worked with mentally disabled people for 5 years, have had over a year of clinicals experience getting my LPN. Do you think if I just shadow 4-5 diff. types of docs that that will be enough EC for me?

Ok, you can have your thread back!😀

 

[alwaysaangel]

The converse could be said about the person who does tons of EC's but has a decent to mediocre GPA. You make it seem as if anyone can maintain a 3.9 GPA if given enough free time to study which I definitely do not believe to be true. I dont know personally how medical schools compare someone with a ton of ECs and say a 3.4-3.6 GPA v.s. a person with a 3.8-4.0 GPA and maybe one or two EC's. . . but I am pretty confident that GPA is the top concern when it comes to getting into medical school based on what I have heard from the pre-med counselor and people that I know who are currently in medical school right now.

Believe what you wish. I don't need to argue with you. I'm already in medical school so discussions on how to get in have no bearing on me personally, I post here to give back to the community that helped me when I applied. You asked a question, I answered your question and made suggestions of things you need to do now to get into medical school.

You're choosing to ignore the advice. Dunno why you asked the question in the first place other than that you wanted someone to tell you that it was fine and you would definitely get into a top medical school.

I wish you luck.

 

[capn jazz]

I'm trying to build my resume up early, I've worked with mentally disabled people for 5 years, have had over a year of clinicals experience getting my LPN. Do you think if I just shadow 4-5 diff. types of docs that that will be enough EC for me?

Ok, you can have your thread back!😀

That sounds fine - I don't even think 4 different Drs would be necessary. If you want to, go ahead. But don't do it just to have "enough."

 

[WinterLights]

Here's how it works.

A person with a 3.9 will look better than a person with a 3.6.

A person with 4 years of hospital volunteering, 4 years of solidly holding a job and advancing to leadership positions, and summer activities that weren't just hanging out will look better than a person with one club.

Applicants with 3.9s and 4 years of ECs will get in over 3.6 and nothing. Applicants with 3.9s and one club will have a very hard time getting accepted. You have to show that you are a motivated and successful PERSON, not just book-smart.

And I'm sorry, but there are THOUSANDS of applicants with 3.8-3.9 GPAs and all those ECs. This isn't just a hypothetical.

I didn't say that it was not possible to maintain a 3.9 GPA while having a large number of EC's. What I said was that GPA is a top priority, followed by MCAT score, then your leadership skills/EC's. I would like for someone to link a site showing the number of people with a 3.8-4.0 GPA (3.7-4.0 science) not getting accepted AT ALL into any medical school (Assuming a solid performance on the MCAT) because they did not have a lot of EC activities. Maybe if they have a terrible interview or lack people skills then I guess I can see it but it seems as though a few of you are saying that you will not get into a medical school PERIOD if you only have one major EC activity. I am skeptical about this.

 

[st0w]

The converse could be said about the person who does tons of EC's but has a decent to mediocre GPA. You make it seem as if anyone can maintain a 3.9 GPA if given enough free time to study which I definitely do not believe to be true. I dont know personally how medical schools compare someone with a ton of ECs and say a 3.4-3.6 GPA v.s. a person with a 3.8-4.0 GPA and maybe one or two EC's. . . but I am pretty confident that GPA is the top concern when it comes to getting into medical school based on what I have heard from the pre-med counselor and people that I know who are currently in medical school right now.

Contrary to what many people say, applying to medical school is a LOT more than just a numbers game. Volunteering isn't seen as a way just to give back to the community. Yes, the altruism is important and a sign of the strength of the individual. But just as important, clinical experiences demonstrate to adcoms that you know just what you're getting yourself into. That you know what it's like to be around sick people a lot. That you know what it's like to have the very strong smells of the hospital. That you know what it's like to have people screaming and moaning. These are all very real things that doctors have to deal with on a daily basis, and adcoms want to know that you aren't going to turn around and run when you get to third year.

GPA is important, yes. So is the MCAT. But those only get you past the first screen. After that, it's all about you as an individual. And individuals who have done nothing but school don't have as much experience or diversity to bring to the class... Interviewers ask about different experiences you've had, and what they've meant to you. Secondaries ask about which experiences have been the most meaningful, and why. One of the most important questions you'll be asked is, "Why medicine?" How do you plan to answer that when the only thing you've done is study?

 

[capn jazz]

I didn't say that it was not possible to maintain a 3.9 GPA while having a large number of EC's. What I said was that GPA is a top priority, followed by MCAT score, then your leadership skills/EC's. I would like for someone to link a site showing the number of people with a 3.8-4.0 GPA (3.7-4.0 science) not getting accepted AT ALL into any medical school (Assuming a solid performance on the MCAT) because they did not have a lot of EC activities. Maybe if they have a terrible interview or lack people skills then I guess I can see it but it seems as though a few of you are saying that you will not get into a medical school PERIOD if you only have one major EC activity. I am skeptical about this.

It is very hard to get into medical school, period. There are a few BARE MINIMUM requirements.

You should have as high a GPA (> 3.5) and MCAT (>30) as possible.
You will NOT GET IN without any clinical experience.
You NEED to have volunteered somewhere, sometime.

People get in without jobs and research all the time. But to be a successful applicant to medical school, you need a high GPA, high MCAT, clinical experience, and volunteering. You won't get a second look without any of those. We've done the research, which is how we know this to be true. Talk to any admissions office (Hi, I have a 3.9 but no ECs except one club [which you haven't told us anything about - it may very well be substantial]. What are my chances?) and they will tell you that you need to show altruism and that you know what the medical field is like through clinical experience to be considered.

 

[BigRedPremed]

I didn't say that it was not possible to maintain a 3.9 GPA while having a large number of EC's. What I said was that GPA is a top priority, followed by MCAT score, then your leadership skills/EC's. I would like for someone to link a site showing the number of people with a 3.8-4.0 GPA (3.7-4.0 science) not getting accepted AT ALL into any medical school (Assuming a solid performance on the MCAT) because they did not have a lot of EC activities. Maybe if they have a terrible interview or lack people skills then I guess I can see it but it seems as though a few of you are saying that you will not get into a medical school PERIOD if you only have one major EC activity. I am skeptical about this.

I agree with the other posters. You are going to have a tough time getting interviews without EC's. If you do get interviews, you will have practically nothing to talk about since you don't have any EC's. Are you sure you don't have ANY extracurriculars at all besides the clubs that you're in? They don't have to be medically related. And, yes, I'd rather have a 3.6 with the usual assortment of extracurriculars than a 3.9 with NO EC's.

 

[WinterLights]

It is very hard to get into medical school, period. There are a few BARE MINIMUM requirements.

You should have as high a GPA (> 3.5) and MCAT (>30) as possible.
You will NOT GET IN without any clinical experience.
You NEED to have volunteered somewhere, sometime.

People get in without jobs and research all the time. But to be a successful applicant to medical school, you need a high GPA, high MCAT, clinical experience, and volunteering. You won't get a second look without any of those. We've done the research, which is how we know this to be true. Talk to any admissions office (Hi, I have a 3.9 but no ECs except one club [which you haven't told us anything about - it may very well be substantial]. What are my chances?) and they will tell you that you need to show altruism and that you know what the medical field is like through clinical experience to be considered.

I know three people personally who are attending medical school without any clinical experience. Although it may be the state medical school, but they are still attending.

 

[capn jazz]

I know three people personally who are attending medical school without any clinical experience. Although it may be the state medical school, but they are still attending.

I find that hard to believe, but if it's true, I know a math teacher at a highly selective high school in NYC that dropped out of college. Just because it happens rarely does not mean you should bank on it working out for you, or that it's in any way an intelligent decision.

If YOU want to waste time and money applying and being told "If only you had clinical experience", go for it. But a 3.9 is a horrible thing to waste. You have another year before you presumably apply - volunteer in a hospital somewhere and kill two birds with one stone. Get a job. Show some responsibility to someone other than yourself.

 

[sailence]

Spend the time doing clincal expierence and it will improve your chances. Go ahead and apply if you have the money, but if you dont get in you might want to look at doing clinical expierence, and i dont know if that will look bad or not.

 

[WinterLights]

I find that hard to believe, but if it's true, I know a math teacher at a highly selective high school in NYC that dropped out of college. Just because it happens rarely does not mean you should bank on it working out for you, or that it's in any way an intelligent decision.

If YOU want to waste time and money applying and being told "If only you had clinical experience", go for it. But a 3.9 is a horrible thing to waste. You have another year before you presumably apply - volunteer in a hospital somewhere and kill two birds with one stone. Get a job. Show some responsibility to someone other than yourself.

I understand where you are coming from but at the same time I know for a fact that you dont need clinical experience to get into the middle-tier schools. The volunteer work that I do is mainly fundraising for underpriviledged people who can not afford the essentials. I also plan on doing at some volunteering for habitat for humanity. If I don't get into one single medical school after all is said and done, then you were right after all.

 

[capn jazz]

I understand where you are coming from but at the same time I know for a fact that you dont need clinical experience to get into the middle-tier schools. The volunteer work that I do is mainly fundraising for underpriviledged people who can not afford the essentials. I also plan on doing at some volunteering for habitat for humanity. If I don't get into one single medical school after all is said and done, then you were right after all.

Why don't you want to volunteer in a hospital, though? Being around very, very sick people is a lot harder than it looks. Volunteering in a children's hospital is heart breaking but also really rewarding. It takes a big toll to see kids suffer through cancer, seizure disorders, or growth problems. In adult hospitals, you literally see patients who are look like they are dying (kids look more resilient usually) - patients who have had multiple heart attacks, horrible accidents, patients with dementia, patients who are violently ill (vomiting, etc), patients who are violent and don't understand where they are. It is nothing like it looks like on TV or sounds like. You have no idea what it's like to be in a hospital setting unless you actually are in one. I've been volunteering with children who suddenly start crying because they're in so much pain, who can't walk, who vomit if it gets too hot, who have been scalded with burning hot water by their babysitter. I've seen adults cry because they're so sick.

It is a very different environment and very personally challenging. I wouldn't go into it without knowing what it's like, and I advise you not to either.

 

[moleculardesign]

How important are extracirriculars? I am only active in one club ATM and it is my junior year. I am a member of two scholars clubs and one pre-med club as well but am not active in any of them. Should I be worried? Also, I still need two more letters of recommendation by the end of this year. Should I take the time to go to professors office hours and try to familiarize myself so that they will write me satisfactory letters? Also, have any of you just asked a professor that doesn't know who you are (but you were in a class they taught) to write you a LOR? Thanks.

I'm actually in a bit of the same predicament myself. =/ This is also my junior year and while I have a high GPA and a high MCAT score, my extracurriculars suck. I'm ashamed to say that I was quite lazy and indecisive my freshman and sophomore years (for which I keep kicking myself now)--I only did a capella for one semester my freshman year and volunteered 3 hours a week at a local hospital during my sophomore year. During the summers, all I did was do summer school and work in food service.

I'm trying to pick up the pace this semester (getting a research job, doing clinical outreach for underserved communities, hopefully shadowing a doctor over winter break) -- but I was just wondering is it too late to do so?

What would be my chances? (Sorry to steal this thread)

 

[capn jazz]

I'm trying to pick up the pace this semester (getting a research job, doing clinical outreach for underserved communities, hopefully shadowing a doctor over winter break) -- but I was just wondering is it too late to do so?

What would be my chances? (Sorry to steal this thread)

It's never too late - all that you're doing this semester is GREAT. If you don't feel like the best applicant right now, take a year off. That way, you can do all that Junior AND senior years and have it on your application. If you apply at the end of this year, you'll only have one year of experience. But some is better than none (and volunteering 3 hrs/week at a hospital for a year is pretty good - that's around 150 hours for the whole year or 100-120 for the school yar).

 

[WinterLights]

Why don't you want to volunteer in a hospital, though? Being around very, very sick people is a lot harder than it looks. Volunteering in a children's hospital is heart breaking but also really rewarding. It takes a big toll to see kids suffer through cancer, seizure disorders, or growth problems. In adult hospitals, you literally see patients who are look like they are dying (kids look more resilient usually) - patients who have had multiple heart attacks, horrible accidents, patients with dementia, patients who are violently ill (vomiting, etc), patients who are violent and don't understand where they are. It is nothing like it looks like on TV or sounds like. You have no idea what it's like to be in a hospital setting unless you actually are in one. I've been volunteering with children who suddenly start crying because they're in so much pain, who can't walk, who vomit if it gets too hot, who have been scalded with burning hot water by their babysitter. I've seen adults cry because they're so sick.

It is a very different environment and very personally challenging. I wouldn't go into it without knowing what it's like, and I advise you not to either.

To be completely honest with you, I just dont have the time to commit to it. I am extremely busy with studying and I am in over my head as it is taking an MCAT course on the weekends and 17 credit hours during the week (2nd semester of physics/physics lab, organic lab, biochemistry, classical civilization, advanced psychology). If I had the time to do that and I knew it would not adversely affect my GPA then it wouldnt be that much of a problem for me to volunteer for something as demanding as a clinical position. But unfortunately that is not the case. I am going to try to volunteer as much as I can this semester and the next however, so we will see how things work out.

 

[capn jazz]

To be completely honest with you, I just dont have the time to commit to it. I am extremely busy with studying and I am in over my head as it is taking an MCAT course on the weekends and 17 credit hours during the week (2nd semester of physics/physics lab, organic lab, biochemistry, classical civilization, advanced psychology). If I had the time to do that and I knew it would not adversely affect my GPA then it wouldnt be that much of a problem for me to volunteer for something as demanding as a clinical position. But unfortunately that is not the case. I am going to try to volunteer as much as I can this semester and the next however, so we will see how things work out.

I'm taking 3 science courses, intermediate japanese, teaching a bio lab, working 12 hrs/week at a lab, 4 hrs/week at a hospital, and volunteering 4 hours a week. Everyone *has* time, just different priorities. When are you taking your MCAT? If it's soon, apply to volunteer NOW (because it can take a month or two to get everything in order) and volunteer when you would have been studying for the MCAT. If you volunteer twice a week for 4 hours a day, you can easily rack up over 100 hours of volunteering from Jan-May.

 

[moleculardesign]

To be completely honest with you, I just dont have the time to commit to it. I am extremely busy with studying and I am in over my head as it is taking an MCAT course on the weekends and 17 credit hours during the week (2nd semester of physics/physics lab, organic lab, biochemistry, classical civilization, advanced psychology). If I had the time to do that and I knew it would not adversely affect my GPA then it wouldnt be that much of a problem for me to volunteer for something as demanding as a clinical position. But unfortunately that is not the case. I am going to try to volunteer as much as I can this semester and the next however, so we will see how things work out.

just wondering, what do you think you'll tell the adcom if you get an interview and they ask you why your extracurriculars are lacking?

i guess this is directed to some of the more experienced/knowledgeable SDNers out there, because I don't know, but how kindly would the adcom view answers like.. (1) i was really busy with academics or (2) i was young and stupid?

is there a good answer/excuse besides I was really really sick and hospitalized or something extreme like that?

and how far back are we allowed to go as far as extracurriculars go? am i allowed to list stuff that I did senior year of high school as relevant experiences?

 

[WinterLights]

I'm taking 3 science courses, intermediate japanese, teaching a bio lab, working 12 hrs/week at a lab, 4 hrs/week at a hospital, and volunteering 4 hours a week. Everyone *has* time, just different priorities. When are you taking your MCAT? If it's soon, apply to volunteer NOW (because it can take a month or two to get everything in order) and volunteer when you would have been studying for the MCAT. If you volunteer twice a week for 4 hours a day, you can easily rack up over 100 hours of volunteering from Jan-May.

and are you a junior, a senior, a 5th year? what do you expect your GPA to be by the time you are done with this semester and what is your GPA right now?

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm taking 3 science courses, intermediate japanese, teaching a bio lab, working 12 hrs/week at a lab, 4 hrs/week at a hospital, and volunteering 4 hours a week. Everyone *has* time, just different priorities. When are you taking your MCAT? If it's soon, apply to volunteer NOW (because it can take a month or two to get everything in order) and volunteer when you would have been studying for the MCAT. If you volunteer twice a week for 4 hours a day, you can easily rack up over 100 hours of volunteering from Jan-May.

Give it up. He never wanted help when he made this thread - he clearly wanted people to give him a cookie and tell him it will be ok. Just leave it be. We told him what he needs to do and he disagreed with our advice and made excuses for why he can't follow it (in addition to not believing us) We'll see him again in 2 years when he's a reapplicant.

 

[alwaysaangel]

just wondering, what do you think you'll tell the adcom if you get an interview and they ask you why your extracurriculars are lacking?

i guess this is directed to some of the more experienced/knowledgeable SDNers out there, because I don't know, but how kindly would the adcom view answers like.. (1) i was really busy with academics or (2) i was young and stupid?

is there a good answer/excuse besides I was really really sick and hospitalized or something extreme like that?

and how far back are we allowed to go as far as extracurriculars go? am i allowed to list stuff that I did senior year of high school as relevant experiences?

No, AMCAS specifically says post-high school stuff.

And no neither of those excuses will cut it. Being busy with academics isn't an excuse - plenty of people have time to do ECs and get excellent grades while taking a heavy course load. No one will buy it.

Being young and stupid may cut it if you've proven that now you do have other interests and are active in lots of activities - but I wouldn't count on it without taking a year off to show how you've matured.

Good luck.

 

[capn jazz]

and are you a junior, a senior, a 5th year? what do you expect your GPA to be by the time you are done with this semester and what is your GPA right now?

I'm going to be a 3rd year, my GPA is a 3.7 and I expect it to get higher because I usually get As or A-s in biology and I am taking probably 10+ more biology classes out of sheer love for the subject. I've no idea what I'll get in O-chem as I've never had any experience with it, so I can't say about that.

I work extremely well under pressure and get really lazy when I don't have a lot of stuff to do, so doing all that kind of ensures I'll get my stuff done. And hopefully have some free time to play Zelda.

 

[WinterLights]

just wondering, what do you think you'll tell the adcom if you get an interview and they ask you why your extracurriculars are lacking?

i guess this is directed to some of the more experienced/knowledgeable SDNers out there, because I don't know, but how kindly would the adcom view answers like.. (1) i was really busy with academics or (2) i was young and stupid?

is there a good answer/excuse besides I was really really sick and hospitalized or something extreme like that?

and how far back are we allowed to go as far as extracurriculars go? am i allowed to list stuff that I did senior year of high school as relevant experiences?

I would personally say that academics were a top priority for me and that it would have been extremely difficult to balance both a high GPA and a high amount of extracurricular activities at once. Also, theres the factor that I basically had to teach myself how to study and get excellent grades because of other factors and issues at home that most people who are excelling at a high level do not have to deal with.

 

[WinterLights]

Give it up. He never wanted help when he made this thread - he clearly wanted people to give him a cookie and tell him it will be ok. Just leave it be. We told him what he needs to do and he disagreed with our advice and made excuses for why he can't follow it (in addition to not believing us) We'll see him again in 2 years when he's a reapplicant.

I did want help but that doesnt mean that I am going to believe everything that I hear from people who are not/have not been in the same situation that I am. You did a lot of ECs and had a mediocre GPA so how could you possibly understand my situation? I was hoping that people have been through this experience as well. That is the kind of information I was looking for. If you want to look down on me for not having a slough of ECs, thats fine. But dont try to tell me that I WONT GET INTO ANY MEDICAL school if you dont really know for sure. You could have simply told me how imperative it was for me to add to my resume and I would have listened.

 

[WinterLights]

I'm going to be a 3rd year, my GPA is a 3.7 and I expect it to get higher because I usually get As or A-s in biology and I am taking probably 10+ more biology classes out of sheer love for the subject. I've no idea what I'll get in O-chem as I've never had any experience with it, so I can't say about that.

I work extremely well under pressure and get really lazy when I don't have a lot of stuff to do, so doing all that kind of ensures I'll get my stuff done. And hopefully have some free time to play Zelda.

My hat goes off to you. You will be getting into a good school.

 

[capn jazz]

I did want help but that doesnt mean that I am going to believe everything that I hear from people who are not/have not been in the same situation that I am. You did a lot of ECs and had a mediocre GPA so how could you possibly understand my situation? I was hoping that people have been through this experience as well. That is the kind of information I was looking for. If you want to look down on me for not having a slough of ECs, thats fine. But dont try to tell me that I WONT GET INTO ANY MEDICAL school if you dont really know for sure. You could have simply told me how imperative it was for me to add to my resume and I would have listened.

You should listen to her because she's in medical school, and got into GWU, UC-Irvine, and NYMC, even with a 3.5 BCPM. That's pretty impressive. All she did was respond with how important it was and how it hurts your chances if you don't do it, but she got snarky because you kept refusing to accept her advice, or throwing out exceptions to the rule.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I did want help but that doesnt mean that I am going to believe everything that I hear from people who are not/have not been in the same situation that I am. You did a lot of ECs and had a mediocre GPA so how could you possibly understand my situation? I was hoping that people have been through this experience as well. That is the kind of information I was looking for. If you want to look down on me for not having a slough of ECs, thats fine. But dont try to tell me that I WONT GET INTO ANY MEDICAL school if you dont really know for sure. You could have simply told me how imperative it was for me to add to my resume and I would have listened.

I already told you hon' look at mdapps - its full of 4.0s and 40s that got in NOWHERE.

And my senior year I maintained a 4.0 in 19 units, while working 30 hrs a week, volunteering in a clinic 10 hrs a week. So don't give me snide remarks about my "mediocre" GPA.

We tried to help you - lots of people have said the same thing. You are ignoring everyone of them. I don't really know what more we can say. I'm sorry if I insulted you or have made you feel I was looking down on you - I was trying to explain how adcomms were going to look at you - and you don't accept it. Thats your choice. And hopefully you'll be one of the exceptions to the rule and won't be back here next year because of your choice to not listen. But I've posted advice in plenty of "I'm a reapplicant with a 3.9 GPA" threads to know its not likely.

Good luck.

 

[capn jazz]

My hat goes off to you. You will be getting into a good school.

I hope so! I want to move back to NYC (my hometown), but almost all the schools there seem impossible to get into. And there is only ONE state school that would be remotely easier. Not fair.

 

[moleculardesign]

No, AMCAS specifically says post-high school stuff.

What about summer after high school?

And thanks for your responses!

 

[capn jazz]

What about summer after high school?

And thanks for your responses!

Unless you continued it into college substantially, no.

 

[WinterLights]

You should listen to her because she's in medical school, and got into GWU, UC-Irvine, and NYMC, even with a 3.5 BCPM. That's pretty impressive. All she did was respond with how important it was and how it hurts your chances if you don't do it, but she got snarky because you kept refusing to accept her advice, or throwing out exceptions to the rule.

Yeah I understand. Well thanks for the advice all. I have to go now (study). Thanks again.

 

[AlexMorph]

If you are going to ask a question on this forum, at least hear what other people have to add. They aren't trying to mess with your head; they are just telling you what they know. If you think their advice is crap, don't listen to it and don't respond to it. Stop trying to fight everyone. You aren't going to change their opinions, and they, apparently, are not going to be able to change yours.

BTW, I'm taking 14 credit hours this semester, work 4 jobs which comes out to around 30+ hours of work a week. I also volunteer at two places for around 6 hours a week. I do what I can when I can. And my GPA doesn't blow. It's actually a 3.96.

Self-righteous indignation will get you NOWHERE.

 

[AlexMorph]

And capnjazz, Zelda totally rocks. I "wasted" my entire labor day weekend on it. I still stand by my decision. 🙂

 

[capn jazz]

And capnjazz, Zelda totally rocks. I "wasted" my entire labor day weekend on it. I still stand by my decision. 🙂

of course. i am playing oracle of seasons right now and it is amazing. ocarina of time was the first video game i ever played.

 

[BigRedPremed]

I did want help but that doesnt mean that I am going to believe everything that I hear from people who are not/have not been in the same situation that I am. You did a lot of ECs and had a mediocre GPA so how could you possibly understand my situation? I was hoping that people have been through this experience as well. That is the kind of information I was looking for. If you want to look down on me for not having a slough of ECs, thats fine. But dont try to tell me that I WONT GET INTO ANY MEDICAL school if you dont really know for sure. You could have simply told me how imperative it was for me to add to my resume and I would have listened.

You're not going to find many people like you because, quite frankly, I don't think I've ever seen a person on SDN with as few EC's as you. Some people have fantastic EC's. Most people are like me and have average EC's. But I think it's quite inexcusable to not have any EC's. The difficulty of maintaining a high GPA and "having to teach yourself to study" are really not valid excuses. It's something we all have to go through as premeds.

Your best course of action isn't to rationalize your lack of extracurriculars but rather to start doing them, whether it's volunteering at a hospital, doing research, or getting a job.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Except you DO have the ECs. Volunteering, pre-med club, shadowing, and having a job at any point = ECs. It's very different from having one club on your resume and nothing else.

Also, you should not be doing ECs "to get into medical school." You should want to go to medical school because you enjoy the ECs involved - you should enjoy helping those in need (volunteering), you should enjoy science (research/doing well in prereqs), you should enjoy working in a hospital setting (clinical experience).

well i do enjoy all of those things...I just wish I could get into a frickin' research lab. That is something that I have no control over.

 

[capn jazz]

well i do enjoy all of those things...I just wish I could get into a frickin' research lab. That is something that I have no control over.

Look at faculty homepages and their research. Read a bit of it. Email them (a good amount to email at a time is 4 or 5. Two won't respond, one won't have room, two might say "let's meet" and you'll click with one.) Good luck!

And you don't *need* research by any means. Only do it if you enjoy it, because it is very thankless. I have 3 excel files of data to show for my summer.

 

[AnesthesiaMD]

Look at faculty homepages and their research. Read a bit of it. Email them (a good amount to email at a time is 4 or 5. Two won't respond, one won't have room, two might say "let's meet" and you'll click with one.) Good luck!

And you don't *need* research by any means. Only do it if you enjoy it, because it is very thankless. I have 3 excel files of data to show for my summer.

well, every last one of the prof i've spoken to/emailed have told me they don't have any room. I really want to try it, I wouldn't try getting into it if I didn't think i'd like it.

 

[capn jazz]

Keep trying. If you go to a small school, it will be much harder than if you attended a large school with a lot of grad students. Tell them you'll work for free, and more of them will be willing to take you on.

 

[Revenant]

What's amusing is that someone that actually did something outside of the classroom with a 3.0 and meh MCAT probably has just as good a shot as getting into med school as the OP. Go figure, actually going outside of your shell and helping people helps you in the end.