Is there a leeway in terms of ECs activities for full-time working students?

[JeTeVu]

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I go to school full time with a 42 hours/week work schedule.

What is the consensus with full time students and full time work schedules for extracurricular activities? I've got near perfect grades.

Sorry if this question has been discussed before. I searched, promise!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Working full-time while in school counts for a lot, IMO! Can you get some shadowing done on breaks, and volunteer for a couple hours per week? If you can do these things, don't worry too much about other ECs. Also, if you can pursue leadership opportunities through work (eg manager, supervisor) this will be a great addition to your application. Very impressive to keep up a near-perfect GPA while working full time, so congrats. 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

What brought about your interest in medicine? How did you test that interest? In other words, how do you know what you know about what a career in medicine will entail?

Are you intellectually curious? Do you have an interest in advancing scientific knowledge or learning about advances in science? How have you demonstrated this interest?

Do you have the heart of a servant? If so, how have you served others, particularly the vulnerable or those whose basic needs would otherwise go unmet?

Are you a "team player"? How have you demonstrated teamwork and collaboration?

 

[JeTeVu]

Working full-time while in school counts for a lot, IMO! Can you get some shadowing done on breaks, and volunteer for a couple hours per week? If you can do these things, don't worry too much about other ECs. Also, if you can pursue leadership opportunities through work (eg manager, supervisor) this will be a great addition to your application. Very impressive to keep up a near-perfect GPA while working full time, so congrats. 🙂

Thank you! I know for very competitive schools, ECs play into a large factor (after MCAT/GPA). I certainly do have my fair share of volunteering work, shadowing, non-clinical volunteering, e.t.c. They're not amazing per se, and I don't have much time to dedicate myself to research, but will that become a hindrance? Am at a disadvantage for working?

What brought about your interest in medicine? How did you test that interest? In other words, how do you know what you know about what a career in medicine will entail?

Are you intellectually curious? Do you have an interest in advancing scientific knowledge or learning about advances in science? How have you demonstrated this interest?

Do you have the heart of a servant? If so, how have you served others, particularly the vulnerable or those whose basic needs would otherwise go unmet?

Are you a "team player"? How have you demonstrated teamwork and collaboration?

Thank you LizzyM for your response! I do work in the hospital with doctors. I'm not a non-traditional student, as I did go to college straight out of high school and began working soon after.

I'm having a little difficulty in answering your questions regarding " Are you intellectually curious? Do you have an interest in advancing scientific knowledge or learning about advances in science? How have you demonstrated this interest?" How does one go about exemplifying this? Does it entail research?

Thank you for the insight. It's really putting things in perspective. I really appreciate your help!

 

[sector9]

I'm having a little difficulty in answering your questions regarding " Are you intellectually curious? Do you have an interest in advancing scientific knowledge or learning about advances in science? How have you demonstrated this interest?" How does one go about exemplifying this? Does it entail research?

I think LizzyM's post was a list of rhetorical questions that will be asked by adcoms when reviewing your file. If the only thing on your application is grades and work, then you will be in trouble. However, if your time is limited and you still squeeze in some EC's to fill the gaps, the answers can still be positive toward the questions posed.

 

[StudyShy]

Pretty much, I've been told that they want to see the standard things no matter if you must work full time. The questions that Lizzy asked need to be answered. Sometimes these answers are but fulfilled through volunteering, shadowing, and so forth. It all depends. If through your work, you can answer many of those questions than this is a different story.

I didn't think that it was possible, at first, for me to fit more than school and work into my schedule with three little ones. There are many opportunities out there to help other people. One thing that I have learned is try to combine as many things together as possible. For instance, I started a note taking job this semester and I take notes (for pay) in a class that I already have to take for someone who is disabled.

At work, I can stay over an hour and organize clothes and toiletry supplies for the food kitchen the hospital helps out in. I'm already at work. Staying over an hour a month is no big deal to me.

There are so many possiblities and opportunities out there. You'll figure out someway to get everything done! 🙂