Interesting Extracurricular Activity Ideas?

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I dunno how unique this is or not but one of my more interesting activities is volunteering at a suicide prevention hotline. I've learned a lot from this experience and I think it really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I would encourage everyone to try this out if you have a hotline in the city you live in.
 
Lets start with Nobel Prize. If that doesnt work out, move down the line til you reach first author Nature or Science.


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I performed with an a cappella group, did a ton of mental health advocacy, and worked with forensic psych patients after graduating.

But I did all of these things solely because I wanted to, not because I thought adcoms would think they're cool. Anything you become involved in that you're passionate about and make a positive impact on, and then later can write intelligently about in applications, will be seen as cool. There are so many ways to check the boxes, you just have to think outside the box a little bit. Even just browsing through a site like volunteermatch.org should give you a few ideas!
 
mcatjelly said:
I performed with an a cappella group, did a ton of mental health advocacy, and worked with forensic psych patients after graduating.

But I did all of these things solely because I wanted to, not because I thought adcoms would think they're cool. Anything you become involved in that you're passionate about and make a positive impact on, and then later can write intelligently about in applications, will be seen as cool. There are so many ways to check the boxes, you just have to think outside the box a little bit. Even just browsing through a site like volunteermatch.org should give you a few ideas!
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as if anyone believes that
 
Aside from the traditional stuff, I was a professional musician for a few years in NYC. That was super fun. I've organized ongoing charity events through my command to get Sailors involved in the community. I wrote for a living and then turned to fiction and have published/sold a number of short stories.

As @mcatjelly mentioned, I did this stuff because I wanted to. I have the standard premed research/pubs/volunteering/clinical experience too, but even most of those were done out of interest/altruism.
 
Advocate for foster care children (such as Guardian Ad Litem in Florida) sounds pretty cool
 
I currently am the president of my school's cooking club, we teach students how to make different dishes using simple ingredients and devices like the George Forman grill, microwave etc. We also go and volunteer at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, etc. Im also the recruitment chair for the sleep club on campus, basically it came out of my research lab and we advocate for good sleep routines and are thinking about holding sleep conferences in the near future.

I like to think these arent cookie cut EC's but i really enjoy them and they are extremely different from joining AMSA or other pre-med clubs.
 
snow1010 said:
as if anyone believes that
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"imagine you were a doctor.
patient shares her personal opinion with you about something she has done.
doctor says "as if anyone believes that."
patient did not go see a doctor to get that type of answer."

Why didnt you treat mcatjelly like one of your patients? #hypocrite

@ZPakEffect @summergirl
 
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer firefighter
Nat'l Guard or Reserves member or veteran
Paramedic
Hospital translator
Teach for America
Americorps
Peace Corps
Olympic athelete
Establish a successful foundation
Hospice volunteer
Counselor at camp for sick kids
anything to do with the disabled, elderly or developmentally disadvantaged
Crisis hotline counselor

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 Alzheimer's 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.


LIbra1014 said:
What are some extracurricular activities that you do that are not typical of most premeds (i.e. hospital volunteering, premed club)? What are some things you all do that you personally find very interesting that are not common and unique to your resume?
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WedgeDawg said:
I was the most cookie cutter applicant possible
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Haha, me too. This year I was asked by a preceptor what I did to get into the medical school... "Uh, I got good grades and a decent MCAT and did research and a few EC's." He gave me such an incredulous look.

Honestly, do what you enjoy. If you do something just to look "different" on your application it will become obvious when you are on the interview trail. I think there is a limit to "uniqueness" anyway, as it seemed like a quarter of my class were marathon runners.
 
runnymede said:
I know it isn't a competitive time but my PR on a 3x3 is 15.3 seconds lol. Love me some cubes.
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Mine is between 14-18 seconds (range given for privacy) but was done in international competition. Speedcubing ftw!
 
Goro said:
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer firefighter
Nat'l Guard or Reserves member or veteran
Paramedic
Hospital translator
Teach for America
Americorps
Peace Corps
Olympic athelete
Establish a successful foundation
Hospice volunteer
Counselor at camp for sick kids
anything to do with the disabled, elderly or developmentally disadvantaged
Crisis hotline counselor

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 Alzheimer's 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.
Click to expand...
For a second there I thought you were listing your OWN ecs and was very impressed.
 
snow1010 said:
which is what you did as well but apparently you forgot
Click to expand...

What are you referring to? I just searched through your posts on SDN and have never replied to your username before this thread. Feel free to link me but I am honestly confused...
 
in line with some previous posts (developmental issues)

i think working with children with autism has been essential to my application

trying to help someone who is hitting you every few minutes is a great learning experience

but it's quite draining unless you really like working with youth
 
lol to Olympic athlete... Habitat for Humanity takes 24 hours notice to sign up while being an Olympian requires 24/7 dedication for 24 straight years of life
 
walk to legalize Mary J.
 
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