how important is it that one of your activities relates to underserved?

[radioactive15]

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how imperative is it that at least one of your extracirriculars involves helping either the poor, homeless, underpriviledged, underserved, etc.?

does this matter at all in selecting and distinguishing among potential candidates?

 

[0919mmk]

no

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Do you want to help the underserved? If your heart's not in it, don't do it.

 

[f4reignbeauty]

If you want to apply to schools that have a mission specific to the underdeserved, then it would be beneficial to have EC's that show your dedication to this particular population. I think someone said it already though, if you don't have a passion for the underserved, then don't participate in those particular activities.

 

[AlteredScale]

how imperative is it that at least one of your extracirriculars involves helping either the poor, homeless, underpriviledged, underserved, etc.?

does this matter at all in selecting and distinguishing among potential candidates?

I think what's imperative is doing service for your community, don't think there's an emphasis on what your service targets unless the school/program themselves have a mission that is based on supporting underserved or underrepresented communities (UC Health PRIME-LC comes to mind), then you better have that experience one way or another.

 

[LizzyM]

My school does not have a mission related to the underserved but the adcom does think highly of applicants who have had some experience dealing with those on the lowest rungs of society. No matter where you practice you will see these people as patients. If you are unwilling to take the time to serve them now, how have you tested your interest in serving them in the future?

I recall that one of our very frequent posters here some years ago was a civil engineer and military veteran who graduated medical school and had a very unhappy time in family medicine and later in emergency medicine in part because he resented taking care of people who did not make their health a priority and who spent money on cigarettes, cell phones and tattoos but wouldn't buy the medications they & their kids needed and who were needy and demanding in clinical situations.

 

[referee3]

Never take part in an activity just so you can use it to check off boxes on your med school application. Those boxes should naturally check themselves as you learn more about the field of medicine and become more invested in it.

 

[0919mmk]

I guess I should qualify my response: if you are going to serve the underserved in order to serve your own interests in getting into med school, then no. If this is something you genuinely care about, then of course. But you probably wouldn't have to ask if you did...?

 

[f4reignbeauty]

@0919mmk Great point! I agree, if you have a passion for the underserved...it is pretty evident. It's not simply a box you check-off, rather its something you involve yourself in any chance you get.

 

[radioactive15]

don't get me wrong: i have nothing against helping the underserved

its just that i haven't gone out of my way to find organizations which target helping these groups of people just to check a box.
in some of my activities, i regularly interact with some of these individuals, however, it is not them alone; it is blended with others of different socioeconomic statuses, etc.

 

[WingedOx]

My school does not have a mission related to the underserved but the adcom does think highly of applicants who have had some experience dealing with those on the lowest rungs of society. No matter where you practice you will see these people as patients. If you are unwilling to take the time to serve them now, how have you tested your interest in serving them in the future?

I recall that one of our very frequent posters here some years ago was a civil engineer and military veteran who graduated medical school and had a very unhappy time in family medicine and later in emergency medicine in part because he resented taking care of people who did not make their health a priority and who spent money on cigarettes, cell phones and tattoos but wouldn't buy the medications they & their kids needed and who were needy and demanding in clinical situations.

I really like working with my current patient population, which has a lot of poverty to contend with, but that stuff is indeed frustrating. If you don't learn to empathize with them and understand why they make decisions like that beyond "because they're poor, lazy, stupid and selfish. Why don't they pull themselves up by their bootstraps" you're going to hate medicine in about 75% of communities.

...they're far less annoying to deal with than entitled white people though.

 

[On Eagle's Wings]

I agree that it should not be a box you simply check off or something you do solely for trying to get into medical school. Nevertheless, service to the underserved does look nice on your application and hopefully it is something you do since a lot of patients you'll be taking care of could likely come from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is especially true depending on where you live; schools in an inner city or a disadvantaged area are likely going to want to see service to the underserved. A lot of medical schools are placing at least some emphasis on this, and all of the schools I have interviewed at so far have been schools that place a heavy emphasis on working with the under-served, which is something I enjoy and is a big part of my application. Schools like UCLA, LLU, UCR, and UCD are big on this.

Just make sure you take a close look at the mission statements of schools you apply to and ensure you have some activities relating to the underserved if the school you want to apply to mentions it.

 

[senzen]

I'm so interested in serving an underserved community. Either in a free clinic or some inner city high school. I feel that it truly gives one an unique perspective. From an admissions standpoint, I feel like it gives one something really interesting to talk about during the interviews. I remember a kid posted a while back how he taught at a really bad inner city high school and how it was complete hell but it was brought up in every single interview. It seemed like it made him really stand out because of the unique life experience.

I know @LizzyM mentioned her school loves Teach for America. I also know experiences like the Peace Corps are rather exceptional.

I'm not sure I would have considered volunteering in an underserved community if it weren't for you guys so thank you for sharing your perspective. I think it's always a good idea to step out of one's comfort zone and give back. It's rewarding for both parties.

Are there other experiences you guys find very compelling and moving? And why?

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik @Ariodant @hushcom

 

[LizzyM]

I'm so interested in serving an underserved community. Either in a free clinic or some inner city high school. I feel that it truly gives one an unique perspective. From an admissions standpoint, I feel like it gives one something really interesting to talk about during the interviews. I remember a kid posted a while back how he taught at a really bad inner city high school and how it was complete hell but it was brought up in every single interview. It seemed like it made him really stand out because of the unique life experience.

I know @LizzyM mentioned her school loves Teach for America. I also know experiences like the Peace Corps are rather exceptional.

I'm not sure I would have considered volunteering in an underserved community if it weren't for you guys so thank you for sharing your perspective. I think it's always a good idea to step out of one's comfort zone and give back. It's rewarding for both parties.

Are there other experiences you guys find very compelling and moving? And why?

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik @Ariodant @hushcom

Don't confuse what gets discussed at an interview with what is important. Sometimes we pick out what is unusual about an application just to keep things interesting for us. I had someone who talked about participating in a TV game show... that wasn't something that we loved or hated about the application but the way he answered my questions told me a lot about how he approached life and dealt with disappointment or frustration.

 

[senzen]

Oh, no, I was definitely asking about experiences that you guys loved as much as Teach for America and volunteering for underserved communities, as well! What are some other very compelling experiences that you guys love?

That sounds awesome! Certainly a very unique standpoint. I think it must be so interesting to be on an admissions committee and hear all about stories like these. I imagine that kid had a very interesting story to tell. That experience must have taught him a lot! SO great to hear. @LizzyM

 

[Psai]

Working in an afterschool program with underserved kids during college was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done in my life. Working with underserved people in hospitals was the least. There has only been one time where I met a poor black couple who were nice. These people thanked every team member every time that we entered the room for taking care of their new baby daughter. But most of the people on medicaid that I've met in the hospital had newer phones than me, better clothes and were so demanding for everything. I've never seen such entitlement before

 

[Catalystik]

Are there other experiences you guys find very compelling and moving? And why?

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik @Ariodant @hushcom

Active Military service. Most adcomms consider this a highly altruistic experience, especially knowing what training and responsibility are involved. More, this activity generally provides teaching and leadership opportunities that are unparallelled.

 

[Goro]

Dittos for military service, first responders like police or firefighters, Habitat for Humanity, Peace Corps, TFA or other public school teachers, AmeriCorps, counselors at camps for sick children, and people who have worked in hospice.

These represent to me experience highly dedicated to the service of others, and some in not very happy circumstances either. It's important to learn that not everyone gets better.

Are there other experiences you guys find very compelling and moving? And why?

 

[radioactive15]

If you want to apply to schools that have a mission specific to the underdeserved, then it would be beneficial to have EC's that show your dedication to this particular population. I think someone said it already though, if you don't have a passion for the underserved, then don't participate in those particular activities.

does hospice count as underserved? i am interested in applying to a few schools in the future that are mission specific to underserved and want to know whether hospice work qualifies as such. i have friends who volunteer at hospices and they highly recommend i give it a try to gain some new insights.

 

[f4reignbeauty]

Think @Goro made mention to it right above the post you wrote 🙂

 

[NickNaylor]

Serving the underserved isn't a "de facto" requirement, but it can certainly be helpful with some institutions. At mine, for example, we highly value that kind of experience because the community the academic center works with is overwhelmingly poor, under-/uninsured, and lacking in basic resources. Thus, applicants that have experience working with that group - or, better, as aspirations to work with that group - get a favorable look. That said, that interest wouldn't in and of itself be a huge "point getter" in terms of getting an acceptance if an applicant wasn't otherwise a great applicant, and we accept plenty of people that don't have an experience like that. However, I'd say that at my school at least most students did have some kind of experience like that before coming to med school.

 

[senzen]

Oh that's great. What other extracurricular activities does your school personally value or look favorably upon? @NickNaylor

 

[GoDawgsSicEm]

If anyone is looking for opportunities to volunteer with the underserved, the clinic directory on CCHF's website is a great resource (Christian Community Health Fellowship)

 

[NickNaylor]

Oh that's great. What other extracurricular activities does your school personally value or look favorably upon? @NickNaylor

Everything? I mean, I don't know. There's not really an answer to that question. Every activity can be a positive if you devoted yourself to it and can speak positively about. Similarly, every activity can be a negative if you didn't seem to get anything out of the experience. There's no clear list of "better" activities.