How do you make time for ExtraCurriculars and Leadership positions? Does it matter?

[manohman]

M1 here seeing a lot of my classmates getting involved in leadership positions with clubs on campus.

Between classes, research, and sleeping, it seems hard to add on another thing. How important are ECs and Leadership? Does it matter?

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[slowthai]

Let me direct you to this thread:

Non-Research ECs?

M1. I notice many of my classmates are very involved with various campus organizations, leadership roles, volunteering, etc. I've limited myself to studying for school (established DO), keeping up with Anki cards from prior blocks, and one longitudinal research project. I will be adding more...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I make time by neglecting responsibilities like doing my laundry

(jk but only a little)

 

[AzBasRad]

M1 here seeing a lot of my classmates getting involved in leadership positions with clubs on campus.

Between classes, research, and sleeping, it seems hard to add on another thing. How important are ECs and Leadership? Does it matter?

ECs are generally not important. If you plan on going to super competitive fields like surgical subspecialities or derm, productive research/ pubmed profile is probably the only EC you need. If you come from a low tier med school and plan on going into top tier institutions within non-competitive fields like IM or Peds, unique ECs in addition to solid academic performance/board scores/AOA can help distinguish you from the pack. If you are coming from an upper tier med school, you don't need any ECs other than research.

 

[softball2344]

It matters OP you need to do at least something outside of school but in general scores/ AOA/ research > ECs

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

By doing things that actually matter regarding your happiness and growth and not just to pad a resume or a CV.