I feel like none of my EC's are meaningful

[SovietDoctor]

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So I'm currently in a research lab, I volunteer at hospital surgery lounge (which I've determined doesn't really count as clinical volunteering), and I am a peer tutor and peer mentor for my university. I feel like I'm not getting anything really meaningful out of any of these experiences.

For example, at the surgery lounge thing, I'm basically a front desk secretary and even though I know that my job is very helpful, the only two meaningful things I've really seen was that there was a prisoner who we checked in for surgery and seeing all of that and seeing a family learn that a major surgery for their loved one had failed, but this is over the course of 6 months and I doubt that I'm going to have any really enlightening experience.

Then with the peer tutoring/mentoring, yes its fun and yes I do think it's really helpful for a lot of the students that I work with, but I don't work many hours and I don't deal with students the entire time I work because often no one comes in for help.

Then with my lab, I finally have my own independent project, but it isn't one that is going to be used for a journal article or anything, it's only to help out with what they need to get done at the lab. I know that with time this EC will be more meaningful, but right now I just feel sort of stuck.

So I'm not really sure what I should do about this because I want my time spent on extracurriculars to feel meaningful, but right now it seems to be just fluff...

 

[DocFarnsworth]

Then do other things

 

[AlfonsTheGuru]

Do you have anything else in mind that you'd like to try?

 

[SovietDoctor]

Do you have anything else in mind that you'd like to try?

I was thinking of volunteering as a patient visitor instead of at the surgery lounge because I think that would be a lot of fun and it would let me have more patient interaction. Other than that I was thinking of trying to get scheduled for busier times for peer tutoring and trying to devote more time to my research since I've made my academic load a bit lighter this next semester.

 

[AlfonsTheGuru]

I was thinking of volunteering as a patient visitor instead of at the surgery lounge because I think that would be a lot of fun and it would let me have more patient interaction. Other than that I was thinking of trying to get scheduled for busier times for peer tutoring and trying to devote more time to my research since I've made my academic load a bit lighter this next semester.

It seems you don't have much clinical experience, so this is a good fit. Patient visiting is probably going to give you the experience you're looking for. Try it.

 

[SovietDoctor]

It seems you don't have much clinical experience, so this is a good fit. Patient visiting is probably going to give you the experience you're looking for. Try it.

Sounds good, thanks! Do you have any other recommendations on how I could get clinical experience? (like being an EMS or a scribe)

 

[hailbate]

What about hobbies? What do you do outside of school/clubs/work or is there something you've always wanted to try?

 

[SovietDoctor]

What about hobbies? What do you do outside of school/clubs/work or is there something you've always wanted to try?

I love watching classic movies and I've always been into fitness but, unfortunately, my class schedule this past semester and over the summer was a bit too intense and I ended up not doing for the past six months, but I'm getting back into it now that I have time and my class schedule is going to be more forgiving. Also, I cofounded a Russian language club to help students get more into Russian language learning because I am of Russian heritage and the current club at my school is more of an advertising group for Russian social events rather than an academic club. Beyond that, I've always wanted to try boxing and rock climbing.

 

[hailbate]

I love watching classic movies and I've always been into fitness but, unfortunately, my class schedule this past semester and over the summer was a bit too intense and I ended up not doing for the past six months, but I'm getting back into it now that I have time and my class schedule is going to be more forgiving. Also, I cofounded a Russian language club to help students get more into Russian language learning because I am of Russian heritage and the current club at my school is more of an advertising group for Russian social events rather than an academic club. Beyond that, I've always wanted to try boxing and rock climbing.

Then do it! Starting boxing/rock climbing! Someone more knowledgable can correct me if I'm wrong but it's always nice to have things on your application that you're passionate about and make you interesting outside of the clinical experience you're getting.

 

[AlfonsTheGuru]

Sounds good, thanks! Do you have any other recommendations on how I could get clinical experience? (like being an EMS or a scribe)

I believe volunteering at a hospice is the way to go. Facing our morality might make you appreciate the simple fact we're healthy and alive. It could really give you the drive to pursue medicine for the sake of keeping mankind physically and psychologically at our best.

 

[bwc]

For activities, quality trumps quantity. Are you doing something because you are trying to get something out of it, or are you just trying to "check boxes"?

 

[SovietDoctor]

For activities, quality trumps quantity. Are you doing something because you are trying to get something out of it, or are you just trying to "check boxes"?

I do really enjoy the clubs and EC's I participate in. I just don't feel like I'm necessarily getting anything super deep out of them that I could write/talk about when I apply to med school.

 

[SovietDoctor]

I believe volunteering at a hospice is the way to go. Facing our morality might make you appreciate the simple fact we're healthy and alive. It could really give you the drive to pursue medicine for the sake of keeping mankind physically and psychologically at our best.

That actually sounds like an awesome activity! I found that there is one about a mile from where I live so I'll definitely check it out.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

If you can afford it, look for an abroad summer program that will put you out with a home stay for one or more months. I guarantee it will be meaningful for you.

 

[Wolf3D]

Well that's unfortunate

 

[Psai]

They don't have to be meaningful. They just have to be meaningful to you. As long as it looks pretty on paper and you can talk about how it helped your journey to medicine, you're golden.

I'm currently in a hospital lounge where I help direct people but one time there was a prisoner who we checked in for surgery and seeing all of that and seeing a family learn that a major surgery for their loved one had failed made me realize my compassion for patients blah blah blah. I mentor students at my school in various subjects which helped spark an interest in teaching and mentoring others which I hope to continue as a physician blah blah. I'm also in a research lab where I am learning how the research process works, we are going through things step by step and I learned how to pose a scientific question, figure out how to troubleshoot problems and evaluate literature etc.

 

[kwu]

Even though you think these experiences are not as important but they are indeed very good and very helpful. If you can illustrate and elaborate more in your interview they may have a really good impact on your application. For example volunteering for 6 months will show that you are committed to the stuff that you like. Moreover, it will improve your communication skills, especially when dealing with diverse types of visitors. I am sure you dealt with angry, shy, uncooperative, uneducated visitors before. This type of communication skill is very important for you as a future doctor.

 

[ls2412]

I believe volunteering at a hospice is the way to go. Facing our morality might make you appreciate the simple fact we're healthy and alive. It could really give you the drive to pursue medicine for the sake of keeping mankind physically and psychologically at our best.

This. I have said this on several threads because my hospice volunteering gave me material for my personal statement, was brought up and talked about in all of my interviews, and I think was one of the reasons for my successful cycle. As long as you get patient contact there, this should help add some meaning to your ECs.

 

[italiancowgirl]

Some of the things that have helped me grow are completely unrelated to medicine. Are these activities helping you hone skills or try new ways of communicating or are they just to pass time. Your job right now is to learn how to be a better you. I didn't see it all until the end, but think about the skills and qualities a physician must possess to successfully navigate the demands of the jo. How are you cultivating those qualities? For clinical experience, just go find a way into clinic and learn. I shadowed tons, some work or volunteer. Decide what you want to see to learn more about this complex field, and ask how people learn about it. I volunteered for years doing animal assisted therapy and got valuable experience about patient care but didn't truly learn about different physicians until I shadowed. Each experience will build on what you have done before that.

 

[SovietDoctor]

If you can afford it, look for an abroad summer program that will put you out with a home stay for one or more months. I guarantee it will be meaningful for you.

In high school, I actually did do that. It was only for a week, but it was very interesting. A trip over the summer is probably too cost prohibitive and doesn't fit in with my summer plans, but I'll try to see if there is anything that could work!

 

[Lysinee]

You make the experiences meaningful when you write your CV.

Reality - Shadowed Dr for 2 minutes and waited outside for 30 minutes.

CV - Shadowed Dr around, asked questions, interacted with patients, learned about x, studied about y, etc.

 

[WingedOx]

For activities, quality trumps quantity. Are you doing something because you are trying to get something out of it, or are you just trying to "check boxes"?

Hell, if you want to be real about it, it's not so much the quality of the activity but your ability to discuss it eloquently and passionately. Of every "activity" I discussed on my application to med schools, the time I wasted most of the summer watching the 06 world cup ended up coming up the most in interviews. After a while people get sick of hearing for the Nth time about being vice president of the saving orphans club.

 

[El-Rami]

You make the experiences meaningful when you write your CV.

Reality - Shadowed Dr for 2 minutes and waited outside for 30 minutes.

CV - Shadowed Dr around, asked questions, interacted with patients, learned about x, studied about y, etc.

There's a difference between making an experience sound like it has substance when it's true and lying about it, though.

 

[Lysinee]

There's a difference between making an experience sound like it has substance when it's true and lying about it, though.

Who said lying. The CV will summarize the 2 minute experience with the dr. Do you want to put in the CV that you were waiting outside for 30 min. And what I described in the CV activities can easily be done in 2 minutes of shadowing and patient interaction.

 

[El-Rami]

Who said lying. The CV will summarize the 2 minute experience with the dr. Do you want to put in the CV that you were waiting outside for 30 min. And what I described in the CV activities can easily be done in 2 minutes of shadowing and patient interaction.

I didn't imply you were. What I meant to say is that people should only list things they did in their activities IF they actually happened. People who twist their activities in such a way that they are being dishonest may never get caught, but their careers and reputations may be shattered if they are.