Is this a good EC list?

[SoulinNeed]

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This is what I've done or plan on doing. Some of it are ECs I did when I still planning on becoming an attorney, don't know if they matter AT ALL. Thanks for the advice.

40 hours of comprehensive court watching for a local non-profit group trying to improve the Cook County Judicial system.

Semester long internship at a Public defender's office in Chicago.

40 hours of shadowing a DO.

80 hours of shadowing a MD.

Semester long research done in a Psychology lab.

400 hours of volunteer work at a Public health clinic in an impoverished area.

 

[mstp2011]

As long as each one is meaningful and you are able to talk about it at length, all is good.

 

[SoulinNeed]

As long as each one is meaningful and you are able to talk about it at length, all is good.

Well, good, because the ones I have done are all meaningful and play a role in my decision to become a doctor.

 

[Catalystik]

Any plans for leadership or teaching? Either or both are desirable on a med school application. Your clinical experience and shadowing look to be above the average. Your research will be on the low side, but better than not trying it at all.

The law related ECs are different. Be sure to articulate in the narrative or in your PS why they were meaningful to you.

 

[mstp2011]

What schools are you aiming for? I think Top20 schools will want to see more research.

 

[SoulinNeed]

What schools are you aiming for? I think Top20 schools will want to see more research.

UIC would be my dream school, and I'm in-state.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

to have a well-rounded EC's do this:

medical volunteering (American Heart Association office for example)
Community volunteering (church volunteering for example)
medical shadowing
some type of medical responsibility (EMT)
research
possible employment somewhere/anywhere

to have well-rounded EC's, this would prob do it..

 

[SoulinNeed]

to have a well-rounded EC's do this:

medical volunteering (American Heart Association office for example)
Community volunteering (church volunteering for example)
medical shadowing
some type of medical responsibility (EMT)
research
possible employment somewhere/anywhere

to have well-rounded EC's, this would prob do it..

EMT? I don't know anyone who went to medical school who had to do an EMT, or any job in medicine.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

EMT? I don't know anyone who went to medical school who had to do an EMT, or any job in medicine.

it helps... i am emt, and have been asked about it at EVERY interview.... and its fun too... the course is annoying, but at the same time a necessity....

i forgot to add campus ec's like intramural basketball, premed society, etc..

 

[SoulinNeed]

it helps... i am emt, and have been asked about it at EVERY interview.... and its fun too... the course is annoying, but at the same time a necessity....

i forgot to add campus ec's like intramural basketball, premed society, etc..

You need that many things to be a competitive applicant? WTF?

I've also done some volunteer work for an honor society that I'm a part of (blood drives, etc.) but I don't know how I can prove that. I'm afraid of putting down a name, and they called, but have no idea who I am.

 

[SoulinNeed]

BTW, to explain my research. I am a Poli Sci major, with a minor in Psychology, so it was either this or no research at all.

 

[Evergrey]

You need that many things to be a competitive applicant? WTF?

I've also done some volunteer work for an honor society that I'm a part of (blood drives, etc.) but I don't know how I can prove that. I'm afraid of putting down a name, and they called, but have no idea who I am.

No, IMO you don't need all those things. Your ECs shouldn't read like a grocery list, but rather a description of your interests and personality. Here's what you do need:

Evidence of understanding how hospitals work/what a doctor does (get this by shadowing and volunteering/work)
Evidence of compassion (community volunteering)
Evidence of passion (become involved in something that you love and do it for an extended time period)
Evidence of maturity (work/leadership activities)

That will (IMHO) make a stronger application that what nonsciencemajor listed.

 

[circulus vitios]

to have a well-rounded EC's do this:

medical volunteering (American Heart Association office for example)
Community volunteering (church volunteering for example)
medical shadowing
some type of medical responsibility (EMT)
research
possible employment somewhere/anywhere

to have well-rounded EC's, this would prob do it..

 

[SoulinNeed]

No, IMO you don't need all those things. Your ECs shouldn't read like a grocery list, but rather a description of your interests and personality. Here's what you do need:

Evidence of understanding how hospitals work/what a doctor does (get this by shadowing and volunteering/work)
Evidence of compassion (community volunteering)
Evidence of passion (become involved in something that you love and do it for an extended time period)
Evidence of maturity (work/leadership activities)

That will (IMHO) make a stronger application that what nonsciencemajor listed.

How do you rank mine? Any advice?

 

[SoulinNeed]

Anyone else. 🙂

 

[Evergrey]

How do you rank mine? Any advice?

👍 Evidence of understanding how hospitals work/what a doctor does -- the law stuff is also good for this because it helps you answer the question "why medicine?" because you can say "well I looked into <insert field here> but realized that I wanted <stuff that it didn't have but that medicine does>"
👍 Evidence of compassion
Evidence of passion -- I'm not convinced on this one, but I might be if you explained your ECs in more detail and in regards to their impact on your life
👍 Evidence of maturity

P.S. If I had to rank myself, I'd say thumbs up on the last two, thumbs sideways on the first two. So that kind of gives you an idea.

 

[SoulinNeed]

👍 Evidence of understanding how hospitals work/what a doctor does -- the law stuff is also good for this because it helps you answer the question "why medicine?" because you can say "well I looked into <insert field here> but realized that I wanted <stuff that it didn't have but that medicine does>"
👍 Evidence of compassion
Evidence of passion -- I'm not convinced on this one, but I might be if you explained your ECs in more detail and in regards to their impact on your life
👍 Evidence of maturity

P.S. If I had to rank myself, I'd say thumbs up on the last two, thumbs sideways on the first two. So that kind of gives you an idea.

It's hard to explain, but the most important is the volunteer work. I've started, and I do about 4 or 5 hours a week, and I will continue for another 2 years (so in total, it will be a bit more than 400). It's a great experience where you get good contact with patients and see their experiences. This is a public clinic where medicine isn't about the $ signs, and thus you see the genuine appreciation of these patients and learn about what the average person needs. It's valuable because I plan on going into IM, and this shows me how I can be a good, practical doc. Plus, I get to help out around the clinic, and I even take time to pick up and drop off patients on my way to the clinic, because they can't afford public transportation. The shadowing was done previously, at this very same clinic, and I felt such a connection that I wanted to dedicate my time to this place where I saw the actual primary care need that is always talked about on TV. the doctors also thoroughly explain to me what needs to be done, and what is being done, and how to best communicate with a patient, read their charts, etc.

The court stuff was me being a bit naive in wanting to be a Public defender because I wanted to help the unjustly accused. Unfortunately, I found a corrupt system that was based around simply trying to get innocent people to plead guilty simply because the workload called for it. More to it than that, but you get the picture.

 

[s3rb14nt3rrch3m]

This is what I've done or plan on doing. Some of it are ECs I did when I still planning on becoming an attorney, don't know if they matter AT ALL. Thanks for the advice.

40 hours of comprehensive court watching for a local non-profit group trying to improve the Cook County Judicial system.

Semester long internship at a Public defender's office in Chicago.

40 hours of shadowing a DO.

80 hours of shadowing a MD.

Semester long research done in a Psychology lab.

400 hours of volunteer work at a Public health clinic in an impoverished area.

😀 good job, guy. SMILEY FACE for you.

 

[SoulinNeed]

😀 good job, guy. SMILEY FACE for you.

WTF?

I'm also thinking about doing some tutoring for GED candidates over the summer, but I am only allowed 4 hours a week max. 🙁

 

[akinetopsia]

I think several people have mentioned that it's not a good idea to be a "check-box" applicant. Your ECs should reflect things that are meaningful to you, and it's a better idea to have a committed involvement (of some duration, not a one-shot/one-off deal) in a handful of things than a superficial involvement in dozens.

It sounds to me that you have some good ECs. Be prepared to speak about them, what they meant for you, what you learned from them, and why you were involved with them. Good luck.

 

[rockymhs]

WTF?

I'm also thinking about doing some tutoring for GED candidates over the summer, but I am only allowed 4 hours a week max. 🙁

I would add some more hours in research.

Only a semester worth of research won't show much of a presentable result good enough to impress the adcom. Make sure you continue to put in good portion of your time into the same lab you are involved with.

Also, I highly recommend getting involved in summer-long research programs that requires 40 hours a week schedule for 10+ weeks. There are plethora of biomedical science related undergraduate research programs out there that you can take advantage of.

 

[SoulinNeed]

I would add some more hours in research.

Only a semester worth of research won't show much of a presentable result good enough to impress the adcom. Make sure you continue to put in good portion of your time into the same lab you are involved with.

Also, I highly recommend getting involved in summer-long research programs that requires 40 hours a week schedule for 10+ weeks. There are plethora of biomedical science related undergraduate research programs out there that you can take advantage of.

I'll try to see if I can do more research in my Psychology lab.

 

[circulus vitios]

I think several people have mentioned that it's not a good idea to be a "check-box" applicant. Your ECs should reflect things that are meaningful to you, and it's a better idea to have a committed involvement (of some duration, not a one-shot/one-off deal) in a handful of things than a superficial involvement in dozens.

I hear that over and over and over. I hate doing ECs. I think they're stupid. The only ones that I like doing wouldn't be listable on an application.