Extra-Curriculars

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MatttF

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How important are they? I have a pretty full plate with laboratory Biochemistry research, hospital clinical volunteering, other volunteering, school work, etc. And I want to have some free time to myself/to hang out with people, if I were to have minimal extracurriculars but a decent GPA/MCAT, research, hospital clinical volunteering and other volunteering would I still have a good shot at getting into med school?

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I'm assuming you've also done some shadowing... in that case, you'd be fine, but highly ordinary. Ordinary isn't very appealing. Regardless, plenty of people get in with "cookie-cutter" applications every year.
 
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How important are they? I have a pretty full plate with laboratory Biochemistry research, hospital clinical volunteering, other volunteering, school work, etc. And I want to have some free time to myself/to hang out with people, if I were to have minimal extracurriculars but a decent GPA/MCAT, research, hospital clinical volunteering and other volunteering would I still have a good shot at getting into med school?

Boooooooooooring.

You need something to make you look interesting and that you would add to the class. Cookie cutters are a dime a dozen. It's not like being a cookie cutter is a death sentence, but you will be much more successful if you are memorable and bring something interesting to the table.
 
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you will be much more successful if you are memorable and bring something interesting to the table.

Like coffee for your medical student interviewers.
 
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Like coffee for your medical student interviewers.

While I do love (need) my coffee, I don't like brown-nosing. Sometimes faculty interviewers will treat interviewees to Starbucks in the hospital, but IMO it's weird for it to be the other way around.
 
While I do love (need) my coffee, I don't like brown-nosing. Sometimes faculty interviewers will treat interviewees to Starbucks in the hospital, but IMO it's weird for it to be the other way around.

A rare character of mine, but I was being sarcastic. :)

Though, a funny anecdote, my interviewer at Pitt actually shared his lunch with me...
 
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A rare character of mine, but I was being sarcastic. :)

Though, a funny anecdote, my interviewer at Pitt actually shared his lunch with me...

Your interviewer at Pitt should not have been eating lunch during the interview! :p
 
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Heh, after I was accepted I met with a physician who was sort if a mentor to me at a Panera so I could ask for some advice and whatnot. I tried to pay and he just said "No, no. I pay. This is how it's done."
 
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Your interviewer at Pitt should not have been eating lunch during the interview! :p

Well, I'm pretty sure I have had some of the most... interesting interview experiences in general. And to be fair to him, his hummus was great. :D
 
Heh, after I was accepted I met with a physician who was sort if a mentor to me at a Panera so I could ask for some advice and whatnot. I tried to pay and he just said "No, no. I pay. This is how it's done."

And when you're a doctor and making the big bucks, you'll pass on the favor to your pre-med mentees. :) That's how it goes, and how it will keep going.
 
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So what is an example of something that can set you apart from "cookie-cutter applicants"?
 
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