extracurriculars

[ckent]

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I was just wondering if you all thought that extracurriculars would help a residency application. Several of my friends are all into getting leadership positions (like president of AMSA or AMA, IMIG, etc) in our different student organizations to pad their resumes, but I would rather devote the extra time to study more.

 

[docuw]

From what I have heard.... extra curics/community service/research are all very very important even in the residency stage of applications. Sorry, but I think you need to get out and do some stuff. BTW, I am not in residency, so take my advice to heart only when someone backs me up!! 😉

 

[lilycat]

In the course of deciding where to go for med school, I ended up talking to a couple of residency directors about what they look for in residency applications -- extracurriculars & community service are definitely very important, esp. if you are hoping for something competitive. Sorry. Don't you feel like it never ends -- I'm slowly realizing my life is constantly broken up into 4-year chunks of school, test, applications, repeat. 😀

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yep - docuw and lilycat are right. I've been told the same.

While being an AMSA rep is undoubtedly good leadership experience it is hardly interesting (sorry Mango! 😉 ) or unusual. There are lots of international summer vacation medical or community aid programs which would look a lot cooler on your application, provide fodder for an interview discussion and would just be more fun, IMHO. Think outside the box!!