How am I doing in the EC department?

[oregonian19]

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Hello all,

I'm going to being applying for next cycle and I wanted to make sure I am on-track with my ECs. I personally feel like it is lacking a little, but I'm unsure about what to add, if anything.

I already completed my Bachelor's and have since moved home, so please keep that in mind when making suggestions.

Employment:
-Medical scribe for a GI surgeon at a private practice (just started, will continue through application cycle)
-Paid research; helping with day-to-day operations (2 years)
-Health education/orientation for new students (3 months)
-Cashiering at grocery store while taking summer classes (3 months)

Academic Activities/Clubs:
-Health advisory committee at my university (1.5 years)
-TA for general biology class (1 term, ~50 hours)
-Independent research thesis, defended with honors (6 months)

Volunteering:
-Pediatric diabetes clinic at major children's' hospital (just started, will continue through application cycle)
-Pharmacy technician at a free clinic (1.5 years, 215 hrs)
-Political canvassing for a state representative candidate (8 hours, wish I could get more, but it’s too close to Election Day to get more in)

Shadowing:
-Private practice PCP (17 hours and counting)
-Private practice dermatologist (agreement to start in November)
-Large healthcare system PCP (8 hours)

Hobbies:
-Piano (I used to take lessons, but it has since turned into a therapeutic/relaxing activity in college)
-Architecture (enthusiast; I enjoy reading about building design and drawing my own blueprints/plans for buildings)
-Running (more recent hobby since moving home, but I try to run almost every day and will start doing 5Ks, 10Ks soon)

I'm probably being neurotic (just let me know if I am), but I thought it was worth asking.

Thank you!

 

[Catalystik]

I'm going to being applying for next cycle and I wanted to make sure I am on-track with my ECs. I personally feel like it is lacking a little, but I'm unsure about what to add, if anything.

I already completed my Bachelor's and have since moved home, so please keep that in mind when making suggestions.

Employment:
-Medical scribe for a GI surgeon at a private practice (just started, will continue through application cycle)
-Paid research; helping with day-to-day operations (2 years)
-Health education/orientation for new students (3 months)
-Cashiering at grocery store while taking summer classes (3 months)

Academic Activities/Clubs:
-Health advisory committee at my university (1.5 years)
-TA for general biology class (1 term, ~50 hours)
-Independent research thesis, defended with honors (6 months)

Volunteering:
-Pediatric diabetes clinic at major children's' hospital (just started, will continue through application cycle)
-Pharmacy technician at a free clinic (1.5 years, 215 hrs)

Shadowing:
-Private practice PCP (17 hours and counting)
-Private practice dermatologist (agreement to start in November)
-Large healthcare system PCP (8 hours)

Hobbies:
-Piano (I used to take lessons, but it has since turned into a therapeutic/relaxing activity in college)
-Architecture (enthusiast; I enjoy reading about building design and drawing my own blueprints/plans for buildings)
-Running (more recent hobby since moving home, but I try to run almost every day and will start doing 5Ks, 10Ks soon)

Nonmedical community service for an organization you care about with face-to-face service to those in need.?

 

[Robin-jay]

Leadership roles?

 

[oregonian19]

Nonmedical community service for an organization you care about with face-to-face service to those in need.?

Does the population in need need to be people? I’ve always wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, but never had the transportion to do it, until recently.

Otherwise, the only groups I can think of that fit this description are tutoring groups for kids. Are there any I’m missing?

Leadership roles?

The only leadership role I had was for the health advisory group. I worked with a small group to revamped our application process and I personally helped increase the diversity of our applicant pool by targeting a wider student population, including non-science majors and international students.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Does the population in need need to be people? I’ve always wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, but never had the transportion to do it, until recently.

2) Otherwise, the only groups I can think of that fit this description are tutoring groups for kids. Are there any I’m missing?

1) Humane Society-type volunteering falls into the description I provided.

2) I could provide a detailed list, if animal shelter volunteering wouldn't work out with your schedule.

 

[oregonian19]

1) Humane Society-type volunteering falls into the description I provided.

2) I could provide a detailed list, if animal shelter volunteering wouldn't work out with your schedule.

Okay, great! Thank you for your help!

I will see if it works out for the human eye society. If not, I will PM you about alternatives.

 

[Catalystik]

I will see if it works out for the human eye society. If not, I will PM you about alternatives.

I'll just put my usual list here:

Meals on Wheels, homeless or women's shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry, crisis hotline, after school tutoring of kids or ESL for adults, Big Brother/Big Sister, Special Olympics or coaching athletic programs for the physically disabled, helping with a scout troop or other youth group, providing enrichment classes in a poor school (eg, science demonstrations or health topics), Habitat for Humanity, or Humane Society. Try to give your time on a regular basis, ideally weekly or twice monthly.

 

[oregonian19]

I actually came across an opportunity my neighbor is helping manage that I’m really interested in:
Volunteering as a tutor for 1st graders at risk of failing math. It’s helping them learn math and also conducting education research for a university research institute?

Does that fit the “non-medical, giving back to those in need with interaction” category? Seems to be altruistic and definitely more people-oriented than volunteering at a humane society.

 

[Catalystik]

I actually came across an opportunity my neighbor is helping manage that I’m really interested in:
Volunteering as a tutor for 1st graders at risk of failing math. It’s helping them learn math and also conducting education research for a university research institute?

Does that fit the “non-medical, giving back to those in need with interaction” category? Seems to be altruistic and definitely more people-oriented than volunteering at a humane society.

Whether you're serving those "in need" depends on the school district. For example, students in an exclusive private school are unlikely to qualify.

 

[oregonian19]

Whether you're serving those "in need" depends on the school district. For example, students in an exclusive private school are unlikely to qualify.

After some digging around, I suppose the district isn't disadvantaged when comparing the statistics statewide. 42% of K-3 students in the district the project is based in are economically disadvantaged versus 54% of K-3 students statewide. So given this, I suppose it wouldn't really count for this type of volunteering?

 

[Catalystik]

After some digging around, I suppose the district isn't disadvantaged when comparing the statistics statewide. 42% of K-3 students in the district the project is based in are economically disadvantaged versus 54% of K-3 students statewide. So given this, I suppose it wouldn't really count for this type of volunteering?

As you get to know the children, details of their backgrounds are likely to emerge. You could spin that information any way you like.

 

[oregonian19]

As you get to know the children, details of their backgrounds are likely to emerge. You could spin that information any way you like.

So you're suggesting that it is satisfactory? Or am I just reading too much into all of this and arguing about semantics?
I am more interested in this than the humane society since I'll feel like I am having a larger impact. Not to say humane societies don't do important work.

 

[Catalystik]

So you're suggesting that it is satisfactory? Or am I just reading too much into all of this and arguing about semantics?
I am more interested in this than the humane society since I'll feel like I am having a larger impact. Not to say humane societies don't do important work.

Yes, it's satisfactory.