Extracurriculars

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Domenick12

Domenick12

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I was wondering what a competitive applicant's extracurriculars should be in regards to shadow and volunteer hours. I have about 85 hours for each and am thinking that that might not be enough with my 21 AA and 3.44 oGPA & 3.32 sGPA! Thanks for any insight on this matter.
 
When your stats are average your EC/Shadowing can help boost your application so do with that what you want. Right now, with your stats and hours you really are not that attractive to the admissions committees. My first question if I were in admissions would be "what did he do with all his free time in college"...and that's probably not the first impression you want to give.
 
I'm putting my gym membership as an extracurricular activity ....


Any thoughts?
 
Would being apart of a sailing club and racing everywhere count as an extracurricular? I just don't know if it is not connected to the university, does it still count?
 
Klin0295 said:
Would being apart of a sailing club and racing everywhere count as an extracurricular? I just don't know if it is not connected to the university, does it still count?
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Yes. EC's don't have to be connected to your school. A lot of people are active at their church, for example, and that would be an EC. A membership at a health club, however, probably not (can't tell if he is serious about that or not). The gym membership maybe could be worked into a PS, maybe something about the importance of being physically fit along with mentally, intellectually and socially fit??
 
ajj70 said:
Yes. EC's don't have to be connected to your school. A lot of people are active at their church, for example, and that would be an EC. A membership at a health club, however, probably not (can't tell if he is serious about that or not). The gym membership maybe could be worked into a PS, maybe something about the importance of being physically fit along with mentally, intellectually and socially fit??
Click to expand...


Thanks ajj70!
 
ajj70 said:
Yes. EC's don't have to be connected to your school. A lot of people are active at their church, for example, and that would be an EC. A membership at a health club, however, probably not (can't tell if he is serious about that or not). The gym membership maybe could be worked into a PS, maybe something about the importance of being physically fit along with mentally, intellectually and socially fit??
Click to expand...


Doesn't extracurricular activity involve something productive outside of the normal academics.
 
Do sports count as EC? It's not technically a club, but it's definitely a huge time commitment. I want to show that I've stayed busy, but I'm worried adcoms will be less than impressed that I allocated more time to sports than than volunteering.
 
predent_mathlete said:
Do sports count as EC? It's not technically a club, but it's definitely a huge time commitment. I want to show that I've stayed busy, but I'm worried adcoms will be less than impressed that I allocated more time to sports than than volunteering.
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Same thought here.....

Working out, doing cardio and liftn weights, is part of my weekly schedule.... It keeps me fit, healthy, strong, and somewhat good lookin....

If I am going to become a dentist or be helping other people, I want to look good doing it.....

Extracurricular activity brah
 
tooth knockn said:
Same thought here.....

Working out, doing cardio and liftn weights, is part of my weekly schedule.... It keeps me fit, healthy, strong, and somewhat good lookin....

If I am going to become a dentist or be helping other people, I want to look good doing it.....

Extracurricular activity brah
Click to expand...
So you say
 
tooth knockn said:
Same thought here.....

Working out, doing cardio and liftn weights, is part of my weekly schedule.... It keeps me fit, healthy, strong, and somewhat good lookin....

If I am going to become a dentist or be helping other people, I want to look good doing it.....

Extracurricular activity brah
Click to expand...
Im glad your not a fat bear. I also workout, People say I am strong, but I am not strong, its all about looking strong. 😉
 
I was wondering about this too. I did distance running in college and even did an ultramarathon and after graduation (since i'm non-trad) have recently been involved in bodybuilding and did a competitive show. Is it worth putting these as EC's?
 
cotoncub said:
I was wondering about this too. I did distance running in college and even did an ultramarathon and after graduation (since i'm non-trad) have recently been involved in bodybuilding and did a competitive show. Is it worth putting these as EC's?
Click to expand...


Show off


Your going to get all the good looking patients going to you



 
tooth knockn said:
Doesn't extracurricular activity involve something productive outside of the normal academics.
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My take is that anything that is organized outside of something you do on your own counts for an EC. I wouldn't put down your gym membership as an EC because it looks like you are trying to pad your application. That is what I would think anyway. To me it would be like putting sleeping and eating in as an EC.

predent_mathlete said:
Do sports count as EC? It's not technically a club, but it's definitely a huge time commitment. I want to show that I've stayed busy, but I'm worried adcoms will be less than impressed that I allocated more time to sports than than volunteering.
Click to expand...

Yes, sports are a very big leg up, especially varsity athletics, not so much intramural sports though.
 
ajj70 said:
Yes, sports are a very big leg up, especially varsity athletics, not so much intramural sports though.
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What about organized sports outside of university? My university (in Canada) only has varsity teams for the big sports (hockey, basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc).
 
predent_mathlete said:
What about organized sports outside of university? My university (in Canada) only has varsity teams for the big sports (hockey, basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc).
Click to expand...

The key word is organized I think.
 
ajj70 said:
My take is that anything that is organized outside of something you do on your own counts for an EC. I wouldn't put down your gym membership as an EC because it looks like you are trying to pad your application. That is what I would think anyway. To me it would be like putting sleeping and eating in as an EC.
Click to expand...

Hmmm

Ok

But if my daily/weekly/monthly routine involves me going to the gym, focusing on cardio and being trim, while doing everything else.... Family, work, volunteer, school, personal, a little nothing....

Doesn't that equate to an extracurricular activity....??

I see it being as a EC activity....

Going to the gym ain't easy....
 
tooth knockn said:
Hmmm

Ok

But if my daily/weekly/monthly routine involves me going to the gym, focusing on cardio and being trim, while doing everything else.... Family, work, volunteer, school, personal, a little nothing....

Doesn't that equate to an extracurricular activity....??

I see it being as a EC activity....

Going to the gym ain't easy....
Click to expand...

Binge watching Netflix isn't easy to fit In My schedule either
 
BYU4you said:
Binge watching Netflix isn't easy to fit In My schedule either
Click to expand...


..... Come on .....

Anyone can easily be a couch potatoe....

Whatever...... I'm surprised that going to the gym seems to be NOT. A extracurricular activity.......


I am wondering if it is because very few people here exercise at the gym routinely....??

Any good feedback on this?
 
tooth knockn said:
I am wondering if it is because very few people here exercise at the gym routinely....??
Click to expand...

I think it's the opposite, I think a majority work out or go to the gym in some form, and that's why people generally don't put it down.
 
Yeah that's almost like saying video games are an EC
 
Regardless, "going to the gym" as a EC isn't impressive enough to make the adcoms want you.
Being a student-athlete for 4 years is impressive if you have the grades as well.


I can paint my nails really well with my left hand, thus enhancing my manual dexterity, but doesn't mean I'm going to put it on a professional school application. :whistle:
 
ajj70 said:
The key word is organized I think.
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I think that an EC doesn't necessarily have to be organized if it is something you may do independently that is particularly unique (so, NOT working out, playing video games, etc.). For example, if you spend a ton of time taking gourmet cooking classes or practicing complicated juggling passes (bonus for hand eye coordination!) or something then I would count it. Again, I think it's open to interpretation, but you don't want to put something that makes the adcoms think "well duh, who doesn't."
 
Howeverrrr, you definitely could put video games under the section for manual dexterity.
 
Another source.....

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3040217



So based on my reading and opinion....


I think I will put going to the gym habitually as an EC activity.


For the fact that I have been this for years.... And through my academic and professional experience not everyone could handle long term exercising lifestyles.....


To me by working out I increase my quality of health.....

Able to understand the strengths of the body.....

Inform others how exercising could be life changing....
I was once 195lb @ 5'9"
And. Now a slim stocky 170lb 5'9" smart ass dude/father/dental assistant/student/son.....


Wow I just got cocky.....


But it is true.... And in this view and meaning as it has been lived, has been a positive impact on my life.....
 
strep mutans said:
I think that an EC doesn't necessarily have to be organized if it is something you may do independently that is particularly unique (so, NOT working out, playing video games, etc.). For example, if you spend a ton of time taking gourmet cooking classes or practicing complicated juggling passes (bonus for hand eye coordination!) or something then I would count it. Again, I think it's open to interpretation, but you don't want to put something that makes the adcoms think "well duh, who doesn't."
Click to expand...

The cooking lessons would be organized by someone else though. The juggling would be in the same class as gym memberships and Netflix, it's still something you do, but it's not really an EC. It would maybe be something to put in your PS but I wouldn't put in the EC section of your app.
 
cmroberts said:
I can paint my nails really well with my left hand, thus enhancing my manual dexterity, but doesn't mean I'm going to put it on a professional school application.
Click to expand...

This made me laugh. I get embarrassingly proud of myself when my right hand looks as good as my left.
 
ajj70 said:
The cooking lessons would be organized by someone else though. The juggling would be in the same class as gym memberships and Netflix, it's still something you do, but it's not really an EC. It would maybe be something to put in your PS but I wouldn't put in the EC section of your app.
Click to expand...

Tooth guy is trolling and I really doubt having a couple info about you in a wrong section would really matter.
 
While we're on the subject of EC's and shadowing. Last month I went to the California Dental Association - The Art and Science of Dentistry. It is a very large multi-day convention and I was there for 8 hours on a Saturday. I went with a dentist I have been shadowing and we toured the convention together. He taught me about the industry of dentistry, the necessity of taking classes to maintain your dental license, and would explain how certain dental instruments worked. I am just wondering if I can add these 8 hours to my shadowing hours. I feel like I got a lot out of that day.

What do you guys think?
 
w4nt2baDDS said:
While we're on the subject of EC's and shadowing. Last month I went to the California Dental Association - The Art and Science of Dentistry. It is a very large multi-day convention and I was there for 8 hours on a Saturday. I went with a dentist I have been shadowing and we toured the convention together. He taught me about the industry of dentistry, the necessity of taking classes to maintain your dental license, and would explain how certain dental instruments worked. I am just wondering if I can add these 8 hours to my shadowing hours. I feel like I got a lot out of that day.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I probably would.
 
I would as well, but maybe in it's own section since it's a slightly different type of shadowing.
 
w4nt2baDDS said:
While we're on the subject of EC's and shadowing. Last month I went to the California Dental Association - The Art and Science of Dentistry. It is a very large multi-day convention and I was there for 8 hours on a Saturday. I went with a dentist I have been shadowing and we toured the convention together. He taught me about the industry of dentistry, the necessity of taking classes to maintain your dental license, and would explain how certain dental instruments worked. I am just wondering if I can add these 8 hours to my shadowing hours. I feel like I got a lot out of that day.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...


Hard to say, at BYU we have a full on class where we have tooth carving, do wax ups learn dental anatomy and all about starting practices and the industry. I wouldn't call it shadowing though, and definitely not volunteering.

I think if you have room and if it was significant enough to you wanting to be a dentist it is worth bringing up in interviews or on personal statement.
 
I want to go to there


= no likey
 
ajj70 said:
The cooking lessons would be organized by someone else though. The juggling would be in the same class as gym memberships and Netflix, it's still something you do, but it's not really an EC. It would maybe be something to put in your PS but I wouldn't put in the EC section of your app.
Click to expand...

Just having a gym membership or going to the gym doesn't seem worthy, but if you are doing it for a specific competitive purpose such as training for a marathon or bodybuilding (as I mentioned above) would that not warrant consideration as an extracurricular activity. These aren't easy activities and require commitment, dedication and effective work ethic to be successful at.
 
cotoncub said:
Just having a gym membership or going to the gym doesn't seem worthy, but if you are doing it for a specific competitive purpose such as training for a marathon or bodybuilding (as I mentioned above) would that not warrant consideration as an extracurricular activity. These aren't easy activities and require commitment, dedication and effective work ethic to be successful at.
Click to expand...

No, that is exercise, not an extra curricular. If you were on a body building team, that would be an EC, but if you are just into body building, that is just something you do. Again, something to maybe put into your PS, but it's not really what they are looking for in the EC section. If you competed on a regular basis, ok, but once, no. Like someone said, they can paint their nails really well left handed, that is a skill and a form of art really, and the dexterity is good for dentists, but it's not an EC. I'm training for the PGA.....or so I can say on an application using your logic.
 
ajj70 said:
No, that is exercise, not an extra curricular. If you were on a body building team, that would be an EC, but if you are just into body building, that is just something you do. Again, something to maybe put into your PS, but it's not really what they are looking for in the EC section. If you competed on a regular basis, ok, but once, no. Like someone said, they can paint their nails really well left handed, that is a skill and a form of art really, and the dexterity is good for dentists, but it's not an EC. I'm training for the PGA.....or so I can say on an application using your logic.
Click to expand...

I understand what you're saying, but bodybuilding isn't a team sport and isn't something you can do on a regular basis. It takes years to train hard and if you can show the results by stating how you placed in a competition that is obviously more meaningful than painting your nails or training for the PGA if you don't even enter an actual golf tournament. The same goes with running and competing in several marathons a year, that obviously shows that you aren't just doing it leisurely.
 
cotoncub said:
I understand what you're saying, but bodybuilding isn't a team sport and isn't something you can do on a regular basis. It takes years to train hard and if you can show the results by stating how you placed in a competition that is obviously more meaningful than painting your nails or training for the PGA if you don't even enter an actual golf tournament. The same goes with running and competing in several marathons a year, that obviously shows that you aren't just doing it leisurely.
Click to expand...

By all means put it on there, but it's still not an extracurricular if it is something you do on your own. Again, it's info for the PS, not the EC section. One can still golf and not be on a team, train hard, and score well playing weekends. That also takes years of training, but if it's not organized it's not an EC.
 
ajj70 said:
By all means put it on there, but it's still not an extracurricular if it is something you do on your own. Again, it's info for the PS, not the EC section. One can still golf and not be on a team, train hard, and score well playing weekends. That also takes years of training, but if it's not organized it's not an EC.
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Where are you getting your definition of an extracurricular? Just wondering because the dictionary definition is just an activity "pursued in addition to or outside of the normal course of study" so I think it is more open to interpretation (within reason).
 
strep mutans said:
Where are you getting your definition of an extracurricular? Just wondering because the dictionary definition is just an activity "pursued in addition to or outside of the normal course of study" so I think it is more open to interpretation (within reason).
Click to expand...

Yes, open to interpretation, within reason, however, a hobby isn't really the same thing and again, that is information for the PS, not the EC section, but feel free to list whatever you want, I would not, however. Again, without some kind of external accountability, you could put pretty much anything on your app as an EC then...doesn't mean its true or real and it looks like you are padding your app in my opinion, but feel free to add whatever you want and take the chance.

You can look at any number of pre-dental pages for various colleges and you won't find mention of exercise as an EC.
 
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