Is this enough ECs?

[Chankovsky]

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Is this enough?

1) volunteer in ER of a hospital(1 year)
2) shadowed a doctor(1 semester)
3) Research(1 year)


what do you guys think. Should I do more?

 

[TTSD]

Well, while you have a good diversity going there. You may want to show commitment and passion towards one of those.

Just for kick and giggles, you may want to try things outside of medicine as well to present yourself as well rounded with many interests and a diverse background and experience you can bring with you to this field.

Such as becoming active in a club, sports, music, dance.. doing community service. Religion. Writing.. any number of these.

 

[CalBeE]

Originally posted by Chankovsky
Is this enough?

1) volunteer in ER of a hospital(1 year)
2) shadowed a doctor(1 semester)
3) Research(1 year)


what do you guys think. Should I do more?

I actually feel that there's not very adequate in terms of EC's. It doesn't neccessarily mean you have get involved in other stuff, but I think a longer period of involvement in each will be better.

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by CalBeE
I actually feel that there's not very adequate in terms of EC's. It doesn't neccessarily mean you have get involved in other stuff, but I think a longer period of involvement in each will be better.

I only started doing EC's this past year. Is it better to add more EC's or simply do more hours?

 

[CalBeE]

Originally posted by hamhamfan
I only started doing EC's this past year. Is it better to add more EC's or simply do more hours?

Well it'll depends, increasing # of activities allows exposure to different things, but superficial involvement in something is simply not enough.

In the end, what it really comes down to is what you gain from the experience and if you can talk about it meaningfully in your Personal statement or interviews

 

[jlee9531]

and most of the time it is hard to gain something out of volunteering unless you put in the hours.

 

[BklynWill]

Variety, not necessarily length of time at one EC, is what will give you plenty to talk about in your Personal Statement and interviews. Try EMS or volunteer in another department at your hospital. I think a year in each department shows a ton of commitment and curiosity.

 

[hamhamfan]

Well what I usually do is do 40-60 hours a week of volunteering during beaks (in addition to the usual 4 hours a week during school time), so my total number of hours isn't as bad as it would be since I started to volunteer this past September.

I volunteer at two hospitals (one is because I am stuck with a commitment and it's the only one that's willing to write me a letter in less than a year). The other hospital lets me rotate around different parts of the hospital.

Should I start bringing a journal when I volunteer so I can remember anything that the schools might want to hear?

 

[CalBeE]

Originally posted by hamhamfan

Should I start bringing a journal when I volunteer so I can remember anything that the schools might want to hear?

I've never thought of that. When I looked back at my volunteering experience, that were always a few experience that stood out and that I could talk about during interview. I didn't specifically try to write them down on paper.

 

[lola]

if you don't have ec's outside of medicine, you should deifniteley do them otherwise you might come off as not very well rounded or interesting.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Are EC's less important if grades and mcat are good?

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Are EC's less important if grades and mcat are good?

Yeah... I'd like a response to that from someone please.