Medical How do you avoid a cookie cutter application? (MD)

[Goro]

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I'm worried that nothing on my application stands out. What exactly is a cookie cutter app, and how do I avoid it?
My EC's are as follows:
- Child Life Volunteer
- Shadowed a cardiologist (because my grandfather died of a heart attack, and that's my "why")
- Volunteer with refugee resettlement org
- Crisis text line volunteer
- Designed a research experiment and was awarded a fellowship for it (poster completed, possible publication)
- EMT (1000+ hours by the time I apply)
- Research assistant with lab (nothing significant yet, possible literature reviews and poster presentations)
- Member of school's photography club (also one of my hobbies, I have a small photography blog)
- Homeless shelter volunteer

Basically, it feels like all of this has been done already. I don't know how to "stand out"...

Edit: I'm not trying to go to any top school or anything, I'm from NJ and want to go to NJMS as an ED applicant. I am also applying in two years.

cookie cutter is:
100-150 hrs clinical exposure
50+ hours shadowing
100-150 hours nonclinical volunteering, with most of it being on-campus venues. TA, especially, if that even counts as volunteering.
Gazzilions of research hours.

To stand out, I suggest challenging yourself to get up front with our mortality with the most fragile populations. I have a particularly high regard for those who work in hospice, nursing homes, with the mentally ill or mentally disabled

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.


Service need not be "unique"; it can be anything that helps people unable to help themselves and that is outside of a patient-care setting. If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Adding to @Goro, what impresses me are your reflections from experiences. You stand out based on your passion, your professionalism, and your perseverance buoyed by your mentors who will champion you as being an outstanding, empathetic health care provider. If you can't advocate for your patients, you'll never stand out to me as being my physician... no matter how many hours you have on your application (written or interviews).

 

[Goro]

Adding to @Goro, what impresses me are your reflections from experiences. You stand out based on your passion, your professionalism, and your perseverance buoyed by your mentors who will champion you as being an outstanding, empathetic health care provider. If you can't advocate for your patients, you'll never stand out to me as being my physician... no matter how many hours you have on your application (written or interviews).

Indeed, this is why I tell people to love what they do and do what they love.

When we interview people like this, their passion comes through.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I will just point out that some of this passion can only come across in person in an interview. On paper a lot of apps seem very similat

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Most people who apply will have very similar volunteer experiences. If you can do what is listed above AND be able to talk passionately about these experiences with your interviewer, this is what solidifies this EC as a good, solid experience to propel you above the rest. Just getting hours logged doesn't differentiate you. Immersing yourself in the experience is how you get the most out of it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I will just point out that some of this passion can only come across in person in an interview. On paper a lot of apps seem very similat

I will note that your essays reflect the number of people who helped you edit your essays, IMO. The goal is to not stand out in a negative way when it comes to writing.