Getting involved during 1st Year

[LFosterMD07]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have a question. How important is extracirrucular activities(e.g. clubs like AMSA or AMA and community service) during your first year of medical school? I know when you apply for residency they want to see that you reach out to the community and etc. but for my first year I just want to focus on my classes like I'm doing now and not get involved in anything that will take time away from my studies. I would appreciate other medical students' opinion on this subject.

Lorenzo Foster
MSI LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport
Class of 2007

 

[carrigallen]

Don't you think the answer for this comes from you.

my $0.02..

extracurricular activities are a calling, things which attract you. Simply asking this question does not do credit to your interest in the extracurriculars you listed. I'm not saying that you come off as a shallow gunner, the type that cares only about how things look on a resume. I'm just pointing out that its like fishing...you'll know it when find something that interests you.

As far as residency goes, i would try to look beyond this. Medicine is no excuse from living life. Maybe your personal goals like marriage, family etc. may also be considered. I tell you now, there are things that can happen in life that would change your outlook on professional goals completely. No one watches their first child's birth while wishing they'd made more ortho interviews. I can't think of anyone who has told stories to their grandchildren about being ama president. Any interest in the activites you pursue now, they lie in you.

 

[MedPuck]

LF,

I will take the softer approach to, in essense, reiterate what carrigallen has stated. Do as you mentioned...take it easy in the beginning, figure out how much study time you need to become the kind of student you choose. When opportunities arise that interest you, go for it! There is not a cookie-cutter approach to impress residency committees: my advice: be yourself, do things you enjoy, and work hard with your coursework. Nothing peaves me more than fellow classmates who pad their C.V. with organizational memberships that accomplish nothing. You will soon see this at your school if you haven't already, and residency committees will too! If that is who you want to be, than as I said, go for it!

Worry about today, and by doing so your future will figure itself out and represent the hard work and energy you put into each day. Good luck. 😎

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

I would say to go ahead and join a group or two and be as active as you feel that you can be. For example, with anatomy, I didn't really want to spend my free time doing school-related things, even community service. But once you get into the routine of med school, you will see what you have time for. This way, you'll already be a member of AMSA (for example) and you can become more involved in it later in the year or years to come. Just a thought.

 

[raining4days]

ECs were important for Med School adcoms. Question is: Are ECs necessary to show for to residency directors? Not to highjack your thread, but I don't see how I can be involve in ECs (or even have time) while in med school. 😕

 

[missMD]

After talking to a doctor who was on a residency adcom he said that they primarily care about how well you did in your clerkships and the letters that you got from them. They want to make sure that you are prepared enough to do well in your intern year. He didn't seem too concerned with extra curricular stuff like student council.
From what I have heard from other med students is that it may count a little bit depending on what you do. For example if you end up president of the Psychiatry IG and end up going into Surgery it won't matter much but it may count somewhat if you do go into psychiatry. The downside of this is that first year is way too early to know exactly what you are going to do yet.
So, focus on doing well in your classes for now. Like the other posters said when you hear about something that you would like to do go for it but it is definately not something to stress about😉