Is This 4-Year "Road-map" Problematic?

[NMA2018]

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Hi everyone,

I am a newer member of SDN, and have been browsing the forums for quite some time now.

As a first-year undergrad, I entered my freshman year with a specific road-map of things I'd like to accomplish before applying to med schools. It may seem early (or perhaps not) to think ahead for the next three years, but I'd really like to accomplish:

- Freshman year: Clinical/Volunteering/Work Experience Intensive

• Have and am currently volunteering approximately 4 - 8 hrs/week (depending) for the Fall/Spring semesters
• Will shadow a doctor this summer for 2 half shifts/week
• Will volunteer in Intensive Care/Neurology Intermediate through hospital summer program
• Will continue to volunteer at local Nursing/Rehab Center
• Applying for jobs as Pharm-Tech, Front Desk/Reception, and Scrub Technician for the summer (waiting on)

- Sophomore year: Research Intensive

• Hoping to get involved in research at this stage through University or some internship program (maybe both)
• Details to come when I reach this stage

- Junior year: Internship Intensive

• Hoping to score an internship in an area where my passions for STEM and International Affairs intersect (bioinformatics, WHO, science and public policy, etc.)
• Details to come when I reach this stage

- Senior year: ...

My question is, if I spend a particular amount of time focusing on one facet over others, will I seem less altruistic/favorable admissions-wise than someone who does each of these things all throughout their undergraduate career?

If I group my goals in a fashion such as this, I feel as if I can perform a greater quality of work and become more attached/invested in the opportunity than if I just tried to throw all these things together - if that makes sense. However, I am worried that it may seem odd if a majority or relatively large chunk of my clinical experience was obtained during my freshman year.

Otherwise, this is my first post so hello all. 🙂 If I posted this somewhere else and this needs to be moved, I apologize and by all means move this to where it'd be best noticed.

 

[ndafife]

My question is, if I spend a particular amount of time focusing on one facet over others, will I seem less altruistic/favorable admissions-wise than someone who does each of these things all throughout their undergraduate career?

Yes. Its going to look like you are checking boxes as opposed to doing things because you are genuinely interested in them, which cheapens the experience.

 

[radiologyology]

You know so much more about the process than I did as a senior in undergrad. Just do what you like and don't spread yourself too thin just to check the boxes.

 

[MaybeDr]

Just some words of advice, when you get into a research lab make sure to give no hint that you are doing this to check boxes. Researchers do not like this. My lab frequently jokes about it.

 

[NMA2018]

I appreciate the insights, guys.

I don't want to come off as if I'm checking off boxes on some to-do list; I want to emphasize that in this plan, each year would be experience/research/internship-intensive. I would still remain active in each of these areas, but would more or less give more areas attention at certain times.

Ndafife, I can see where you think that seeing the admissions process as a box-checking activity cheapens the experiences, and I agree wholeheartedly. But assuming I follow this plan, I wouldn't - for instance - stop working or volunteering at the beginning of my Sophomore year. Instead, I'd hold back a bit and explore another branch of the health professions. Wouldn't it then enrich the experience, as my efforts are more concentrated on a particular job? Just wondering.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

Hi there, and welcome to SDN, a wonderful and terrible place where you often feel inadequate, but get lots of wonderful advice.

My two cents:
1. Make sure the experiences are longitudinal, so do it for a while and continue to work on it. I think there is no need to particularly focus on one facet and then another, and it does look planned/contrived, which might not be ideal.
2. make sure you keep up good grades, as you can always add in extra experiences, but it is very difficult to remedy bad grades
3. make sure you enjoy your college experience too, have something that you do for fun, and that will actually aid your application as well.
4. Oh and don't feel rushed/pressured to apply the summer of your junior year. I am personally taking 2 gap years, and I am glad for it.

 

[palatopharyngeus]

Hi there, and welcome to SDN, a wonderful and terrible place where you often feel inadequate, but get lots of wonderful advice.

My two cents:
1. Make sure the experiences are longitudinal, so do it for a while and continue to work on it. I think there is no need to particularly focus on one facet and then another, and it does look planned/contrived, which might not be ideal.
2. make sure you keep up good grades, as you can always add in extra experiences, but it is very difficult to remedy bad grades
3. make sure you enjoy your college experience too, have something that you do for fun, and that will actually aid your application as well.
4. Oh and don't feel rushed/pressured to apply the summer of your junior year. I am personally taking 2 gap years, and I am glad for it.

+1 great advice

 

[PlaqueBuster]

1. getting involved in research will take time. Make sure you are reaching out to faculty and showing your interest now for next fall. Also, research is typically 15+ hours a week (2-3h a day) committment if you want to publish papers and get a solid LOR.
2. Don't volunteer in so many places in freshman year. Pick 1 or 2 and continue throughout college.
3. Be realistic in your activities. You need to allot time to classes, studying, sleeping, and having fun. You cannot do that from your list.

 

[ndafife]

Ndafife, I can see where you think that seeing the admissions process as a box-checking activity cheapens the experiences, and I agree wholeheartedly. But assuming I follow this plan, I wouldn't - for instance - stop working or volunteering at the beginning of my Sophomore year. Instead, I'd hold back a bit and explore another branch of the health professions. Wouldn't it then enrich the experience, as my efforts are more concentrated on a particular job? Just wondering.

Here are a few things to think about:
1. On your application you have to designate 3 experiences as your most meaningful. Its going to be hard to consider something as super meaningful if your involvement in it stops or goes way down after your freshman year.
2. I know premeds are notoriously Type A, but seriously stop trying to plan this out so much. You're a freshman in college, relax. Stuff happens that break plans. You end up with a hard semester, you struggle to get into a lab you like, interests change (or you discover a new interest you want to explore), are given opportunities to do X, Y, Z. Its really hard for a plan to just line up.
3. Almost every single person on here will be in agreement that it is better to have experiences spread out over 4 years. Pick a place to volunteer at and stick with it for 4 years. Volunteering a lot one year, then volunteering just a little for the rest of your career (same with research) will look like you volunteered just to check a box on the application and not because you really cared about volunteering. Hence why it cheapens the experience

 

[PleaseCallMeDoc]

My suggestions:

• Keep your grades up. As a freshman, you might not realize the change from high school to college
• Volunteer at 2-3 different things (3 max) for a longer period of time. Make 1 clinical
• Shadow when you can (you can literally get all of the hours over a break)
• Join some clubs that you enjoy. Get some leadership via these experiences
• Apply to summer research programs if you do not want to research during the year. Keep in mind you need a high GPA and good letters. Apply early (November for most)
• Have fun. YOLO. Go out, socialize, meet people
• Build solid relationships with teachers. You'll need their help and you can learn a few thins from them

Good job being motivated this early on. I was the same way as you. PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[Time Table]

Holy ****, and I thought I had it planned. Once you actually get into research and volunteering, it eats your time up like crazy. I'm taking 17 credits from me and then 9 hrs of research and it's so time consuming. You never really realize how much of a time sink a lot of things are on paper until you actually get to doing them. I want to volunteer this semester at the hospital, and then, I'll literally have no time on Friday. 9-12 research, 1-2:20 class, 2:30-5:30 volunteering, I'd get back to campus at like 6ish, eat dinner, and then I'd get back to my room around 7ish, without even doing any classwork the entire day.

 

[JulioJones]

Don't overdo it and forget about the MCAT as well!