How can I improve my extra-curricular acitivites?

[HopefulDr201]

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Given my low cum GPA of 2.9, I'm trying to really stand out as an applicant in other ways. Any insights on how to further improve my extra-curricular activities would be much appreciated.

Below are my current extra-curriculars:
1. Scribe/Medical assistant in a podiatry office - I know it's unrelated to dentistry, but it's one of two medical jobs I've been able to get since graduating last year. The money is much needed for me at the moment ($15/hour). How could I use this job as an advantage when it comes time for interviews?

2. Home Health Aide/Independent support staff - I mentor and help adults with disabilities (dementia and ADD) become more independent and assist them with daily activities like taking the bus to work and cooking. The pay sucks, but it's a pretty rewarding job for me honestly.

3. Shadowing a General Dentist - I've just recently decided to pursue dentistry so I've been shadowing for only 2 weeks (so far I have 14 hours). I know I need to bring these hours way up and it would be in my best interest to shadow multiple specialties. That time will come.

Questions:
1. What are a few pros and cons with my current extra-curriculars?
2. I'm going to enroll in an informal post-bacc this coming spring semester, what are some student clubs I should join?
3. How many hours of shadowing should I get under my belt?
4. What more could I do to improve and impress the admission committee?

 

[480640]

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[wildzodiac]

Your GPA and DAT scores are your cake base.
Extracurriculars are your icing.

Ever see a large cake with no icing and decorations? It's pretty boring. Nobody would buy that cake.

Ever try putting icing on a cake that doesn't even have a base?
Yeah.

 

[Daurang]

Your application will simply get toss aside by the admission secretary, never even see the light of day for consideration. Your small hope is to score extraordinarily high on the DAT. Even then you need to know someone connected to the school to request the dean for special interview, at which point they dig out your file for reconsideration. None of your extra activities mean anything at this point. Sorry for the blunt assessment.

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Given my low cum GPA of 2.9, I'm trying to really stand out as an applicant in other ways. Any insights on how to further improve my extra-curricular activities would be much appreciated.


Questions:
1. What are a few pros and cons with my current extra-curriculars?
2. I'm going to enroll in an informal post-bacc this coming spring semester, what are some student clubs I should join?
3. How many hours of shadowing should I get under my belt?
4. What more could I do to improve and impress the admission committee?

If you are doing a post-bacc, more student clubs is the last thing you should do. If you mess up your GPA then, you're done for good pretty much. Take at least a semester and 100% dedicate yourself to school.
You're ECs won't matter if your GPA doesn't go up, because you'll get screened out before they even see them