How to improve ECs as a current second-year + some specific questions

[astrelin]

I'm currently a second-year at a T15 undergrad planning on taking 1-2 gap years before medical school to work in either research or a clinical job. I have a 4.0 GPA but currently do not have any shadowing experience.

Current ECs:

Volunteering:

• Hospital (50 hours so far, around 4hr/wk): stuff like helping patients eat/walk, bringing patients food/water/other items, general things like answering call lights and phones
• Club (~20 hours): volunteer at health fairs and perform basic exams like blood pressure, vision, etc.
• Hospital music program (50 hours so far, around 2hr/wk): not clinical, but have a lot of one-on-one interactions with patients

Research:

• Research lab (200 hours so far, around 10hr/wk): translational radiation oncology research. My concern with this is that my PI is literally never in the lab and I don't see him at all. Not really sure what I can do about this because I know I'll need his rec letter for med school. Should I look for a new lab?
• Research w/ club (~75 hours so far, around 2hr/wk): we've created questionnaires that we give to service recipients at health fairs for stuff like social factors on health, etc. Had a poster presentation last year at our undergrad research symposium, and will have another this year
• One journal publication (2nd author) from high school in ecology (I was in a lab for a summer), don't know if this can be written on a med school application though

Leadership:

• President of a music club for non-music majors (~100 hours so far)
• Officer (incoming president) of the club that runs the above music program at the hospital (~150 hours so far)

Other:

• Music (~400 hours so far): two instruments; I'm just lumping everything in here (includes group performances, solo stuff, being in my school's orchestra, and working as a staff accompanist for the music school)
• Work (100 hours last summer, not continuing): just a minimum wage service job

Right now my primary concerns are the lab/PI issue, lack of shadowing, and also I would like to look for a clinical job at some point. I also feel like I don't have much clinical experience in general and I lack nonclinical volunteering. I also feel like what I'm doing right now doesn't really have "cohesiveness". If anyone has any general suggestions on ECs I could add to what I'm currently doing or any general advice, it would be really appreciated!

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

I presume you picked the lab, so you should have asked the lab group how available the PI is. Maybe it's different as grants are getting cancelled, but you chose your lab. Ask the other members what they are doing to get a solid LOR for their purposes (grad school or whatever).

Your future may involve a full-time position as a scribe. That ought to knock out your concern about shadowing. You could also pursue a medical assistant position, especially as a post-degree job. Connect with your career services office. Depending on where you go to university, your prehealth advising office (or career services) could promote some clinical opportunities. Just don't go overseas or out of the country.

If your plan is to apply after a 1-2 year gap, I'd defer your MCAT until you're closer to your cycle (also 1-2 years after graduation). Are you willing to do that? You need all the hours if you want a shot, including community service (not tutoring/mentoring). Defer until you get a better idea of your cohesiveness with CONSISTENT experiences and effort. Service orientation activities: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation.

 

[astrelin]

Welcome to the forums.

I presume you picked the lab, so you should have asked the lab group how available the PI is. Maybe it's different as grants are getting cancelled, but you chose your lab. Ask the other members what they are doing to get a solid LOR for their purposes (grad school or whatever).

Your future may involve a full-time position as a scribe. That ought to knock out your concern about shadowing. You could also pursue a medical assistant position, especially as a post-degree job. Connect with your career services office. Depending on where you go to university, your prehealth advising office (or career services) could promote some clinical opportunities. Just don't go overseas or out of the country.

If your plan is to apply after a 1-2 year gap, I'd defer your MCAT until you're closer to your cycle (also 1-2 years after graduation). Are you willing to do that? You need all the hours if you want a shot, including community service (not tutoring/mentoring). Defer until you get a better idea of your cohesiveness with CONSISTENT experiences and effort. Service orientation activities: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation.

Thank you for your response!

Regarding the lab, at my (large public) school, it's very difficult to get research opportunities - often 40+ cold emails for one offer - so when I got an offer, I just took it and didn't think much of it. It was my mistake for not asking a lot of these questions since I wasn't aware of how it might be a problem. I'm staying on campus for the summer so I might email around to find summer research and see if I want to stick around afterward, but I'm not sure if this is a good idea.

My current plan is to take 1 gap year so I would apply directly after my fourth year ends. I'm willing though to take more, depending on how things are going in a year or two. I will graduate in December of my fourth year, leaving me around 6 months to work full-time before applying to get hours. When would be a good time to take the MCAT? Summer before fourth year?

 

[Goro]

Keep on doing the patient contact work, and forget the clubs.

If you can get a Post-doc in the lab to writ you a LOR, and have the PI co-sign, you'll be fine.

Don't forget the nonclinlical volunteering (off campus!!!)

 

[LindaAccepted]

I wouldn't worry too much about cohesiveness. Part of what you're doing now is exploring medicine and cohesion may come in the future. Also the common thread tying your activities together may be your desire to explore medicine and that's OK.

Realize that your life isn't a plot in a movie. You are a multi-faceted individual with different interests, obligations, and experiences. That's OK. That's life. And isn't as neat or well ordered or focused as a movie plot. It can actually be really messy and varied.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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