How do adcoms balance different extracurriculars?

[saminem]

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When adcoms look at admissions applications, how do they balance the different extracurriculars that people put on there??

Are different things weighted differently? (i.e. research > community service, etc.)

I guess I'm asking because I came into the medical field rather late (was a business / liberal arts major but switched towards the end of junior year), but am still trying to get into medical school this year. In either event, I basically worked throughout college (including 80+ hours during summers) and have paid for most of my undergraduate education.

I have lots of work experience but no research and comparatively not as much clinical experience. Just wondering whether my application will be perceived very unfavorably because of the lack of research and clinical or whether they will still be happy to know that I have been spending my time wisely (efficiently?).

Will I be seen as a less competitive applicant for my deficiencies or a more competitive applicant for bringing in different experiences?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[CodeBlu]

Some places might have a ranking system. But I think from what I garner on the admissions process at 2-3 schools I'm interested in...

They look at the file...

Are you academically able to handle medicine?
Do you understand what you're getting yourself into?
Have you volunteered, shadowed, shown commitment to medicine?
Is there something that makes you unique, that would allow for an unheard perspective to be brought to the table?

The first one is obviously important. No school wants to admit people that won't make it through the curriculum.

That being said. Get some clinical exposure. Most schools value that.

 

[Astarael]

Codeblu's response sums it up pretty well, I think. I'll just add some emphasis to the clinical experience part. Lack of clinical experience is a borderline deal breaker at a lot of schools.

 

[jm192]

The biggest thing is time management. Your 4.0 loses a ton of weight when they see that studying was the only thing you ever did. You'll probably get in somewhere, don't get me wrong. But it's way more impressive to get a 3.9 while spending your time on a myriad of other activities. A JOB looks good, just because of the time commitment. Some of these old people worked their @$$ off to put themselves through school, and respect others who do.

You need SOMETHING that shows you like to help people. An ADCOM person spoke at my undergrad and said they know you're going to say you want to help people, but what on your application backs that up. You don't have to be a doctor to help people.

You need something medical, shadowing is a must. "Clinical experience" is fairly important too. If you're interested, why not get involved?

Research is kind of here or there. I suppose if you want to go to a school that places a lot of emphasis on research, then it looks great. But if you're going to a school that doesn't, it's not going to kill you.

 

[LizzyM]

Riffing on

Some places might have a ranking system. But I think from what I garner on the admissions process at 2-3 schools I'm interested in...

with a particular focus on top tier research powerhouses:

They look at the file...

Are you academically able to handle medicine?
How have you tested your interest in medicine?
Have you volunteered or otherwise demonstrated your willingness to serve the community, particularly the poor or marginalized or groups with special needs?
Are you attracted to a career in academic medicine? On that note, do you have experience in basic science, social science or humanities research (e.g. history of science)?
Do you bring a viewpoint or life experience to the table that is not frequently represented?

 

[pfaction]

Have you volunteered or otherwise demonstrated your willingness to serve the community, particularly the poor or marginalized or groups with special needs?

Do you ever do a follow up and see how many people actually stick to this? From what I've seen, once in med school, $ takes over. Philanthropy is thrown aside until you're near retirement. Or, I guess, disaster. Not a random Saturday in the ghetto.

 

[LizzyM]

Do you ever do a follow up and see how many people actually stick to this? From what I've seen, once in med school, $ takes over. Philanthropy is thrown aside until you're near retirement. Or, I guess, disaster. Not a random Saturday in the ghetto.

Many of our students are engaged in service activities in the community. Residency doesn't lend itself to community service but we have many attendings who are engaged in volunteerism... establishing safety net services, advocacy for policy changes, establishment of community based programs, development of community/business partnerships (e.g. working on establishment of safe playgrounds -- a favorite of pediatric emergency docs), service trips to Haiti, year-long missions, 50-50 splits between US & clinics abroad.

 

[pfaction]

Many of our students are engaged in service activities in the community. Residency doesn't lend itself to community service but we have many attendings who are engaged in volunteerism... establishing safety net services, advocacy for policy changes, establishment of community based programs, development of community/business partnerships (e.g. working on establishment of safe playgrounds -- a favorite of pediatric emergency docs), service trips to Haiti, year-long missions, 50-50 splits between US & clinics abroad.

👍 That's actually better than I expected. Cool.

 

[drdan83]

Riffing on

with a particular focus on top tier research powerhouses:

They look at the file...

Are you academically able to handle medicine?
How have you tested your interest in medicine?
Have you volunteered or otherwise demonstrated your willingness to serve the community, particularly the poor or marginalized or groups with special needs?
Are you attracted to a career in academic medicine? On that note, do you have experience in basic science, social science or humanities research (e.g. history of science)?
Do you bring a viewpoint or life experience to the table that is not frequently represented?

Regarding this point, I'm a non-trad who didn't have the greatest first few years as an undergrad. I'm back in school now and doing much better academically. Can I demonstrate that I am academically qualified through later coursework (upward trends) and a post-bacc or masters? In other words, are adcoms looking at the overall picture as to whether you can handle the medical school curriculum or will they penalize you for the less-than-stellar coursework from years ago?

I'm confident I will do fine on the MCAT when the time comes but if you were to average my grades, my overall gpa will take a big hit.

 

[BrightandClear]

Regarding this point, I'm a non-trad who didn't have the greatest first few years as an undergrad. I'm back in school now and doing much better academically. Can I demonstrate that I am academically qualified through later coursework (upward trends) and a post-bacc or masters? In other words, are adcoms looking at the overall picture as to whether you can handle the medical school curriculum or will they penalize you for the less-than-stellar coursework from years ago?

I'm confident I will do fine on the MCAT when the time comes but if you were to average my grades, my overall gpa will take a big hit.

This topic has been, and continues to be, discussed frequently with different spins and level of detail. You should do some searching to answer your question... Also check out the non-trad and post-bacc forums.

 

[Barcu]

Regarding this point, I'm a non-trad who didn't have the greatest first few years as an undergrad. I'm back in school now and doing much better academically. Can I demonstrate that I am academically qualified through later coursework (upward trends) and a post-bacc or masters? In other words, are adcoms looking at the overall picture as to whether you can handle the medical school curriculum or will they penalize you for the less-than-stellar coursework from years ago?

I'm confident I will do fine on the MCAT when the time comes but if you were to average my grades, my overall gpa will take a big hit.

They will see your overall grades, which can hurt you if the average is too low (some schools screen but it is pretty low).

However, grades are separated by year on your application, so an upward trend will be noticed.

A good MCAT and a solid upward trend will help you out.

You mentioned a post-bacc or masters. I would do a post-bacc because those grades count as your ugrad gpa. Graduate grades are not weighted nearly as much as ugrad grades so do a post-bacc over a masters.

 

[LizzyM]

^ I agree. Some upper level undergrad courses in the natural sciences (biochem, genetics, cell bio, etc) can be evidence of your ability to do well academically.

In some cases, applicants address the poor undergrad showing in the personal statement often describing the maturing process and the development of an interest in medicine then leading to a more focused approach to academics.

 

[Soulstice]

Riffing on

with a particular focus on top tier research powerhouses:

They look at the file...

Are you academically able to handle medicine?
How have you tested your interest in medicine?
Have you volunteered or otherwise demonstrated your willingness to serve the community, particularly the poor or marginalized or groups with special needs?
Are you attracted to a career in academic medicine? On that note, do you have experience in basic science, social science or humanities research (e.g. history of science)?
Do you bring a viewpoint or life experience to the table that is not frequently represented?

The academic medicine consideration is interesting. Is that mainly a bias at the top research-oriented schools or overall in the med school admissions process.

 

[FlowRate]

When adcoms look at admissions applications, how do they balance the different extracurriculars that people put on there??

Are different things weighted differently? (i.e. research > community service, etc.)

I guess I'm asking because I came into the medical field rather late (was a business / liberal arts major but switched towards the end of junior year), but am still trying to get into medical school this year. In either event, I basically worked throughout college (including 80+ hours during summers) and have paid for most of my undergraduate education.

I have lots of work experience but no research and comparatively not as much clinical experience. Just wondering whether my application will be perceived very unfavorably because of the lack of research and clinical or whether they will still be happy to know that I have been spending my time wisely (efficiently?).

Will I be seen as a less competitive applicant for my deficiencies or a more competitive applicant for bringing in different experiences?

Thanks for the feedback!

I know it's not a satisfying answer, but different schools want different things. The general guidelines are as posted by LizzyM, but the specifics can vary by adm. comm members that are represented that year, school mission, and location, amongst other things.

The academic medicine consideration is interesting. Is that mainly a bias at the top research-oriented schools or overall in the med school admissions process.

Many schools actually state what they're looking for in their students. Some schools are looking to put out local and rural sort of docs, other are looking to make important academicians and med business/politics leaders.

(It's funny, because at the particular rural school that comes to mind, every student still tries to get into the least-rural specialty possible.)

 

[drdan83]

They will see your overall grades, which can hurt you if the average is too low (some schools screen but it is pretty low).

However, grades are separated by year on your application, so an upward trend will be noticed.

A good MCAT and a solid upward trend will help you out.

You mentioned a post-bacc or masters. I would do a post-bacc because those grades count as your ugrad gpa. Graduate grades are not weighted nearly as much as ugrad grades so do a post-bacc over a masters.

Thanks for the advice. Is this program considered a post-bacc or is it a masters?

http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/education/gsbs/msbio.html

It says masters but it is for those people who want to strengthen their application for professional schools. I'm trying to finish my pre-req's during the next two years as an undergrad.

 

[CodeBlu]

Thanks for the advice. Is this program considered a post-bacc or is it a masters?

http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/education/gsbs/msbio.html

It says masters but it is for those people who want to strengthen their application for professional schools. I'm trying to finish my pre-req's during the next two years as an undergrad.

Masters Program it would appear. An SMP or Post-Bacc is a course-based masters, no research.

 

[cdm3413]

MD/PhD programs weigh research more heavily.