how do people here volunteer/research so much?

[anonymoose1640]

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I also back the time management skills. You get stuff done because you don't have any other choice. I managed 15+ hrs of research, 2-3 part-time jobs (all about 8-10hrs a week), athletics, full course-load, and some volunteering (never more than 5 hrs per week). I also went to a top 20 institution that's notorious for grade deflation. Did my social life suffer? yes. Did I sleep much? no. Did I make it through college and complete all my courses and get into med school? yes. Was it worth it? you bet.

 

[masnerj]

Do med schools look at other commitments when comparing applicants?

For example, I got to a top 15 school, and spend ~10 hours working a week and ~10 hours a week at practice/workouts for a club sport not to mention several weekends. That is 20 hours of a week gone and then when I add in 10-15 hours of research a week I am getting close to a full work week and that is not even accounting for the fact that I have to study for classes.

Basically I am asking whether med schools would look down upon those who might have less volunteering (volunteering apart from hospital volunteering which I already do) but have commitments such as club sports and work-study?

 

[kb1900]

Do med schools look at other commitments when comparing applicants?

For example, I got to a top 15 school, and spend ~10 hours working a week and ~10 hours a week at practice/workouts for a club sport not to mention several weekends. That is 20 hours of a week gone and then when I add in 10-15 hours of research a week I am getting close to a full work week and that is not even accounting for the fact that I have to study for classes.

Basically I am asking whether med schools would look down upon those who might have less volunteering (volunteering apart from hospital volunteering which I already do) but have commitments such as club sports and work-study?

@gyngyn had said a few times that applicants are not compared head to head in this way.

 

[aldol16]

Basically I am asking whether med schools would look down upon those who might have less volunteering (volunteering apart from hospital volunteering which I already do) but have commitments such as club sports and work-study?

Med schools look at applications holistically. There's no all-powerful balance that adcoms use to weigh one application against another. It's more of a question of whether you demonstrate the competencies they want in their med students. You're competing against yourself.

 

[esob]

Cue defensive post from rich kid who didn't have to work through college.

haha, I was waiting for it too, but no takers yet . I see it in my own kids because when financially independence suddenly arrived I had little restraint and pretty much bought them anything they wanted. As a parent it feels almost second nature to give your kids everything you can afford (especially if you grew up trailer trash like I did). However, one day I realized that I was actually hurting, rather than helping them by engaging in such behavior and started to slowly and painfully (for all parties) correct course. In the long run I feel like the work ethic they will hopefully gain will be more satisfying to revel in as a parent than the the temporary gratification I used to get from dropping $500 at the mall on them.

 

[lancecorpsman]

I have two part time jobs 20-36 hr/wk, volunteer 12 hr/wk, take 15 credits, and also have to do my weekend warrior crap with the military. Did I mention that I live in a fire house? So I hop on an ambulance and take care of people having "difficulty breathing" at 2am. Don't really understand how I do it though.