how to improve ECs

[Shayla Flowere]

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Hi,
So these are my ECs so far. I'm a sophomore.

Editor of a section in the campus newspaper (second year with the paper)
Emergency Room Volunteer at hospital (going to have about 40 hours of volunteering as of this summer)
tutor for disabled college students 4 hours a week
math and science tutor for elementary school students 2 hours a week
long term art gallery volunteer 2 years+

Research:
gender studies research going to present at a conference

I've been told that they are weak, what can I do to improve them?

 

[mybluedog]

Hi,
So these are my ECs so far. I'm a sophomore.

Editor of a section in the campus newspaper (second year with the paper)
Emergency Room Volunteer at hospital (going to have about 40 hours of volunteering as of this summer)
tutor for disabled college students 4 hours a week
math and science tutor for elementary school students 2 hours a week
long term art gallery volunteer 2 years+

Research:
gender studies research going to present at a conference

I've been told that they are weak, what can I do to improve them?

-you need more clinical volunteering. ER volunteering is also very common amount apps. Find something else where you can do more pt contact.
-I'd also like to see some non-clinical volunteering that is not related to academics.
-do you have any shadowing? (if not, jump on that soon)

 

[Shayla Flowere]

-you need more clinical volunteering. ER volunteering is also very common amount apps. Find something else where you can do more pt contact.
-I'd also like to see some non-clinical volunteering that is not related to academics.
-do you have any shadowing? (if not, jump on that soon)

I have about 16 hours of shadowing, and I'm planning on getting a few more. How many shadowing hours should I aim for? I'm planning on volunteering at the same hospital until I graduate, would that help with the clinical volunteering hours or should I look into something else?

 

[mybluedog]

I have about 16 hours of shadowing, and I'm planning on getting a few more. How many shadowing hours should I aim for? I'm planning on volunteering at the same hospital until I graduate, would that help with the clinical volunteering hours or should I look into something else?

Minimum 40 hrs of shadowing is good to me. But that’s a minimum.

I think you should branch out to possible small community clinics, free clinics, etc.

 

[doc05]

I have about 16 hours of shadowing, and I'm planning on getting a few more. How many shadowing hours should I aim for? I'm planning on volunteering at the same hospital until I graduate, would that help with the clinical volunteering hours or should I look into something else?

Look into something else. There is limited room for growth as an ER volunteer. Doing that for more than a couple months is a a waste of time.

Art gallery is nice but not a good use of your limited free time.

I agree with the other poster. You need more exposure to real people and real life in your volunteering.

And I hope you're getting paid for all that tutoring!

 

[Shayla Flowere]

Minimum 40 hrs of shadowing is good to me. But that’s a minimum.

I think you should branch out to possible small community clinics, free clinics, etc.

Thanks for the advice! I live in a small town that is kind of the definition of medically underserved so I have limited options for variation in volunteering, and I can't afford a car right now so kind of trapped. I'm going to try and see if the volunteering director at the hospital is open to me volunteering on different floors of the hospital to get a better variation of things to see.

 

[Shayla Flowere]

Look into something else. There is limited room for growth as an ER volunteer. Doing that for more than a couple months is a a waste of time.

Art gallery is nice but not a good use of your limited free time.

I agree with the other poster. You need more exposure to real people and real life in your volunteering.

And I hope you're getting paid for all that tutoring!

haha yeah I am! I actually am getting a lot out of the one tutoring gig with disabled college students because its opened my eyes up to all the difficulties and challenges that they have to go through in order to get an education and also in maneuvering the medical system.

 

[ferrous_wheel_92]

Hi,
So these are my ECs so far. I'm a sophomore.

Editor of a section in the campus newspaper (second year with the paper)
Emergency Room Volunteer at hospital (going to have about 40 hours of volunteering as of this summer)
tutor for disabled college students 4 hours a week
math and science tutor for elementary school students 2 hours a week
long term art gallery volunteer 2 years+

Research:
gender studies research going to present at a conference

I've been told that they are weak, what can I do to improve them?

You could also consider medical employment. That's a great way to get meaningful experience.

 

[Goro]

Hi,
So these are my ECs so far. I'm a sophomore.

Editor of a section in the campus newspaper (second year with the paper)
Emergency Room Volunteer at hospital (going to have about 40 hours of volunteering as of this summer)
tutor for disabled college students 4 hours a week
math and science tutor for elementary school students 2 hours a week
long term art gallery volunteer 2 years+

Research:
gender studies research going to present at a conference

I've been told that they are weak, what can I do to improve them?

You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanistic side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

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". 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 ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

 

[PreMedCatLover]

I would love some advice too. I'm finishing up my sophomore year, for ECs I have
3.5 years volunteering with a no kill animal rescue, fostered and adopted out 100-200 cats and dogs, drastically grew the rescue (got us to start taking cats again), will be on the board soon. I will be with the rescue for 5 years by the time I apply.
7 years working as a Registered Nurses Assistant doing in home care giving for DD adults, experience working in hospice, working with people with extreme behavioral challenges, working with all kinds of physical and mental disabilities, minor medical care, and helping them become more independent. I will have had this job for 9 years by the time I apply.
2 years working with seniors, experience with hospice in this job
I also have won quite a few academic awards and won a trip, all expenses paid, to Europe with an international travel group with a mission of spreading world peace through experiencing other cultures, though I was 15 when I went on this trip and I'm 25 now.
How essential is shadowing and getting clinical volunteer hours when you already have extensive work experience and non clinical volunteer work. I am finishing up my AST in Bio with a 3.89 and will be taking the MCAT in September. I do want to go to an OOS school though.