I feel like I'm lacking extra curriculars?

[NDPitch]

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Hey everyone-

For some reason, I feel like I don't have enough of the "awesome" extra curriculars to put down. I don't know, what do you think? I don't think shadowing dentists counts, so I'm not counting any of that.

1) I have been playing the piano for 16 years, and it's really a big part of my life. I play a lot.

2) I have been a co-organizer and worker in a cancer charity that my family put together for the last 9 years. It has raised over $100,000 dollars for cancer research (it's really just an annual golf tournament where all proceeds go to cancer, but there'a a lot of organizing and fundraising that happens along with it).


I feel like that's all there is. I was in the Bio Sciences club in college, but meh. It doesn't seem like that's anything that would make me stand out.

I also took a job right out of college, and I've been there for a little over two years. I've been working in implementing medical software. I'm always working with doctors and nurses to get everything working the way they want, the end goal of which is to improve patient care. So I don't think that can really count towards an extra curricular, but it maybe gives me a unique viewpoint of the healthcare industry? Not sure...

What do you all think?

 

[tayloreve]

I don't have anything awesome either, you just have to butter up what you do have and make it sound really good. lol. I feel this is what a lot of people do.

 

[Bereno]

I don't have anything awesome either, you just have to butter up what you do have and make it sound really good. lol. I feel this is what a lot of people do.

Did, and do... +1

 

[journeybegins]

If you're passionate about anything in your ECs, you should be fine 🙂

There's no point of having all these ECs if you don't sound enthusiastic about it when you talk.

 

[In2Infinity]

Find one or two ECs that you can actually enjoy, it will be easier to talk about them in interview as well as butter them up. For example, i teach guitar and drums to annoying little kids once a week, but I can make it sound much better. Also, I teach a youth group (of impoverished kids) how to work out and exercise.

 

[wizi]

I don't have anything awesome either, you just have to butter up what you do have and make it sound really good. lol. I feel this is what a lot of people do.

Your 4.0 is awesome though 😀

 

[YoHomey]

I don't have anything awesome either, you just have to butter up what you do have and make it sound really good. lol. I feel this is what a lot of people do.

Yeah but schools can spot this from a mile away.

What's more important are leadership positions in ECs and examples of taking the initiatives in ECs. It's these types of people who will actually get involved in dental school. Schools know this from years of experience.

 

[MuskieMan33]

I'm not sure if playing the piano would count as an EC unless it was for like fundraiser dinners or played part in an organized event (band/choir)? I'm sure they will want to talk about some of your leisure activities, and you could mention that.
I try to stay in touch with my Boy Scout Troop when I'm home from school, so if you were in scouts you may be able to join a troop close to your area (eagle scout or not scouts is always looking for people to help). I will be mentioning that in my application.
There are a ton of different student organizations at college campus'. I'd do the things your interested in. Student government, Greek life, departmental clubs, hobby clubs. Most organizations do a lot of things that look good on an application.
The fundraiser/philanthropic golf tournament would be good to put down, because I'm sure people on admissions committees know how much work goes into actually planning, organizing, funding, promoting, and working the events.

 

[tayloreve]

Yeah but schools can spot this from a mile away.

What's more important are leadership positions in ECs and examples of taking the initiatives in ECs. It's these types of people who will actually get involved in dental school. Schools know this from years of experience.

True true..but I know of so many people in these so-called "leadership positions" for a club and they do absolutely nothing. The only person that actually does work is the President/VP and the other people just stand up front at the meetings and look pretty.

 

[YoHomey]

True true..but I know of so many people in these so-called "leadership positions" for a club and they do absolutely nothing. The only person that actually does work is the President/VP and the other people just stand up front at the meetings and look pretty.

Very true. Usually VP don't do anything either lol.

 

[hail2pitt]

True true..but I know of so many people in these so-called "leadership positions" for a club and they do absolutely nothing. The only person that actually does work is the President/VP and the other people just stand up front at the meetings and look pretty.

That sounds like the previous exec. board of one of the clubs I'm in hahaha. Except, they wouldn't even come to the meetings, so they didn't even stand up at the front looking pretty! They still got all the credit for their positions, because they certainly put them on their applications. Pretty unfair to the president who was actually doing all the work, but it's okay .. he's at Johns Hopkins med school now, so life's treated him fairly, I'd say 🙂

 

[belochka]

I feel that I will have the same problem. I am a political refugee, came here in 2006. Started college in 2007, graduated in 2009. I was literally loading myself with subjects each semester, including summers. I just wanted to graduate as soon as possible. I have 3 small children, that is why every day I had to rush back home to them. Basically, I had no time for extra curricular activities, as well as volunteering and etc. Right now I am a member of PTA at my kids school. And back in my country I was a member of student opposition clubs. I am hoping that Adcom can look beyond the standards and find something else in me that would prove my ability and real dedication to become a dentist.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hey everyone-

For some reason, I feel like I don't have enough of the "awesome" extra curriculars to put down. I don't know, what do you think? I don't think shadowing dentists counts, so I'm not counting any of that.

1) I have been playing the piano for 16 years, and it's really a big part of my life. I play a lot.

2) I have been a co-organizer and worker in a cancer charity that my family put together for the last 9 years. It has raised over $100,000 dollars for cancer research (it's really just an annual golf tournament where all proceeds go to cancer, but there'a a lot of organizing and fundraising that happens along with it).


I feel like that's all there is. I was in the Bio Sciences club in college, but meh. It doesn't seem like that's anything that would make me stand out.

I also took a job right out of college, and I've been there for a little over two years. I've been working in implementing medical software. I'm always working with doctors and nurses to get everything working the way they want, the end goal of which is to improve patient care. So I don't think that can really count towards an extra curricular, but it maybe gives me a unique viewpoint of the healthcare industry? Not sure...

What do you all think?

At least you have an interesting application.... I bet you more than half of pre-dents whom get accepted have shadowing and Burger King Drive-thru operator under "Professional experience"

Extracurriculars are overrated.... get good grades and DAT, thats about 90%+ of app

 

[dantemac]

Not everyone can cure AIDS and bless the rains down in Africa. You'll be fine.