Improvements/tips for ECs

[mscott.115]

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Hey! I’m relatively new! I am a first year pre med and wanted to hear from you all any advice you have. Since I’m so early in the process I can tweak my plan as needed! I hope to be a psychiatrist or OB/Gyn and my major is Psychology

ECs:

Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line (I will have 4 years by the time I apply)
Hospital/Hospice Volunteer
Shadowing a psychiatrist as well as an OB/GYN and family med doctor
Clubs - Girls Code (mental health group for feminine people), Black Student Union, pre-med club and crochet club.
Social media campaign/business dedicated to mental health awareness through art and informative videos. (The Kiwi Initiative)
Psychology research w a professor (may not be able to do this until sophomore year)
Working with an organization (not school affiliated) for at risk youth in crisis
Social justice work (Protests, speaking at events, community organizing)

I’m worried about my research hours but everything else I have a solid plan for. Just looking for feedback 🙂!

 

[eigen]

Make sure as you're doing these things that you think about *why* you're doing them, what you've learned by doing them, and what they've taught you about the practice of medicine. You especially want to be able to articulate why you did these specific things and how they fit together to show what is important to you in the activities you choose to pursue.

I see too many of my students approaching preparation as a checklist of things they were told they should do, rather than coming naturally from doing things that will help them grow and using their skills to help better the world and people around them.

If you haven't done so, I strongly recommend students in their first few years of undergrad (or really anytime) sit down with AAMC's Anatomy of an Applicant, and think carefully about things from a standpoint of narrative and competencies.

 

[mscott.115]

Thank you! I have my whys written out for the activities if that makes a difference!

I haven’t heard of that, I’ll check it out now!

 

[eigen]

Premed Competencies Resources is the main page, it's got the link to the Anatomy of an Applicant self-assessment guide down the page.

 

[LunaOri]

If you find yourself too busy, premed club most likely doesn’t add value to your application.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Review our Expert Advice Live series. We finished our chat on Prehealth Competencies. Here are the links.

Thread 'Core Competencies Q&A - June 8, 2025 @ 9 PM Eastern'

May 29, 2025

Holistic admissions are about more than your grades and test scores; they want to know you have the skills to be successful as a healthcare professional. Learn how to identify and highlight your academic and pre-professional competencies.

• WildWing
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Expert Advice Live

• 

The Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students

Successful medical school applicants are able to demonstrate skills, knowledge, and abilities in these areas.

students-residents.aamc.org

How to Assess Your Academic Competencies | SDN

Over a decade ago, I wrote a series of articles (here is Part 1) that heralded the growing importance of understanding “competency.” Over the last decade,

www.studentdoctor.net

How to Assess Your Pre-Professional Competencies | SDN

In 2023, AAMC revised the AAMC Premed Competencies to align with the PREview situational judgment test, incorporate changes in medical education after the

www.studentdoctor.net