Game-plan for 3rd year

[FutureDoctor317]

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I am a 3rd year student with a few rotations under my belt. Lately I have been around a lot of 4th years who have been talking about their ERAS nonstop. This made me realize that other than a summer research project (no pub, abstract was presented but I wasn't there), I have absolutely nothing to put on my application. What are some activities/leadership positions that someone can start being involved in during 3rd year. In our school it seems like most of those things are set up for first and second years and I am kinda out of the loop with those organizations.

 

[ijn]

For some reason I seem to see that the more a person has to put on their ERAS, the lower their STEP 1 score and 3rd year clerkship grades. I'd focus on your strong suit.

 

[gasblaster]

For some reason I seem to see that the more a person has to put on their ERAS, the lower their STEP 1 score and 3rd year clerkship grades. I'd focus on your strong suit.

Agree and disagree. Yes right now your top priority should be excelling on your clerkships. However, if you have the time and are able to manage it, I would get involved in other things if you truly don't have anything else to put on your ERAS.

For the majority of specialties, especialy the moderately to very competitve ones, there are going to be other applicants with similar board scores and similar grades, even more so when applying at top institutions. It's the other stuff that can set you apart or at least portrays you as more than one dimensional and provides something to talk about during interviews. Research is typically the biggest thing, but if you can't do that, I would at least get involved in other ECs (teaching, school's free clinics, community outreach, etc). More interviewers wanted to talk about that stuff more than commending me on my board scores.

 

[copes]

For some reason I seem to see that the more a person has to put on their ERAS, the lower their STEP 1 score and 3rd year clerkship grades. I'd focus on your strong suit.

You also don't want to seem like you put absolutely no effort into filling out your ERAS properly.