Joining Student Organizations in Undergrad

[Sweet_Tooth]

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Hello everyone,
I tried to search for a thread on this but couldn't find one, so apologies if this has already been asked before.

I was wondering whether it is beneficial to join student organizations in undergrad ie would it help one gain admission into dental school? Currently I'm a member of a pre-health organization that encompasses pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy etc programs and am currently the treasurer of another organization, but it's a religious one so I'm not sure how admissions committees would view that.

I would like to join more organizations but with a full time course load, my job as an SI leader, volunteering and shadowing, I just do not have the time for it. Organizations on my campus are actually pretty active so being on the board of an organization actually requires a lot of time and commitment, ranging from weekly meetings to events--the time commitment ends up being 2-3 hours a week which is a lot considering the other weekly time commitments I have.

Should I actually try to join more organizations or is the 2-3 organizations that I'm currently in suffice? Would people already accepted into dental school might share how active they were on their respective undergraduate campuses?

 

[A Pre-dent]

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[RuffDay]

I believe joining organizations is a perfect way to build friendships, life-long relationships, and resume for professional schools. During my freshmen and sophomore year, I wasn't actively involved in any organizations. As I began to build my resume, I had noticed my GPA was below average, and my resume was completely blank.

I started looking into organizations that I genuinely wanted to be a part of, these include Red Cross, Salvation Army, and a pre-dental organization. Eventually, I held a couple of leadership positions as well, which helped me in becoming well-rounded. After going through a few interviews, I have only received compliments regarding my contributions in various organizations.

 

[Sweet_Tooth]

Yes, it is definitely beneficial. For some adcoms, it is tacitly expected. 2-3 organizations is fine. They want to see leadership experience, and being the treasurer of a religious club is a great example. Don't do anything for resume-padding; join organizations because you genuinely want to. Although, you can kill two birds with one stone by becoming a leader in a community service organization.

Any examples of of community service organizations? Would that be something like Food Recovery Network (that's an org that I'm looking into joining, they try to prevent food wastage by repackaging food leftover from the university catering service and sending it to food banks?)

btw, thanks for the reply!

 

[BioForLife]

I think 2 or 3 organizations is good, especially if your time is already maxed out. It's no good to join 10 organizations and see your grades suffer, since academics should be the top priority. If you can get a leadership role in the organizations you're already in, then you should be good to go.

 

[A Pre-dent]

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[7331poas]

Do adcoms really care about clubs? Seems like the most useless thing in many cases and would be an easy target for resume padding.

 

[fogorvostan]

Do adcoms really care about clubs? Seems like the most useless thing in many cases and would be an easy target for resume padding.

Being active and involved in student organizations is a great way to boost your application. Many organizations are focused around community service, provide leadership opportunities, and help with networking. I joined a very silly club when I was a freshman by the end of my senior year, I had become president and turned it into one of the most popular clubs on campus. The yearly event that we put on even became an official school tradition and has expanded to other colleges around the US. Adcoms were very impressed by what I did, so no, it was not useless.

 

[7331poas]

Being active and involved in student organizations is a great way to boost your application. Many organizations are focused around community service, provide leadership opportunities, and help with networking. I joined a very silly club when I was a freshman by the end of my senior year, I had become president and turned it into one of the most popular clubs on campus. The yearly event that we put on even became an official school tradition and has expanded to other colleges around the US. Adcoms were very impressed by what I did, so no, it was not useless.

Is it any better than just volunteering on your own?

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Is it any better than just volunteering on your own?

Yes if you don't have any leadership experience. If you're very averse to joining a club, think about why. If it's because you hate working with other people, maybe rethink dentistry lol.
I'm sure your university has at least one club that would interest you. Join that. Not just so it looks good to adcoms, but for your own enjoyment as a college student. I'm sure any adcom would take someone with a slightly lower GPA (within reason) with cool club involvement, which makes nice talking points in an interview, than a 4.0 student with no club involvement whose every activity appears to serve to enhance their application.

 

[7331poas]

Yes if you don't have any leadership experience. If you're very averse to joining a club, think about why. If it's because you hate working with other people, maybe rethink dentistry lol.
I'm sure your university has at least one club that would interest you. Join that. Not just so it looks good to adcoms, but for your own enjoyment as a college student. I'm sure any adcom would take someone with a slightly lower GPA (within reason) with cool club involvement, which makes nice talking points in an interview, than a 4.0 student with no club involvement whose every activity appears to serve to enhance their application.

Im adverse to it because I think it will waste my time which could have been used getting volunteering hours. I dunno, im just a little skeptical

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Im adverse to it because I think it will waste my time which could have been used getting volunteering hours. I dunno, im just a little skeptical

Join a volunteering club! Also, I just noticed you're pre-med. This is the pre-dent forum. Not sure how you guys' admission works, but I know at least for dental it looks much better to have some type of leadership, which you'd normally get from a club

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[fogorvostan]

Averse, not adverse. Sorry I just couldn't let that one slide.

If you're averse to something because you'll think it'll be a waste of time then that's a big red flag. Only get involved with organizations that you're passionate about.

A good rule to follow would be to think about whether or not you'd join that organization if you weren't trying to accumulate volunteer hours/ECs for professional school. If you would get involved regardless, get involved. If you wouldn't, then don't. Very simple rule of thumb and it'll ensure you aren't hating yourself for doing something you're not passionate about.

Exactly. Plus, don't be afraid to join something just because it's fun. That's what I did my freshmen year. I joined one organization because I wanted to hang out and meet people. I had no idea at the time that I would get the ideas that I had and turn the club into the huge success that it was. But, I was super passionate about it because of how much I loved it! I was in other organizations that were more serious but those didn't even come up once during any of my interviews.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Averse, not adverse. Sorry I just couldn't let that one slide.

If you're averse to something because you'll think it'll be a waste of time then that's a big red flag. Only get involved with organizations that you're passionate about.

A good rule to follow would be to think about whether or not you'd join that organization if you weren't trying to accumulate volunteer hours/ECs for professional school. If you would get involved regardless, get involved. If you wouldn't, then don't. Very simple rule of thumb and it'll ensure you aren't hating yourself for doing something you're not passionate about.

Notable exception would probably be the pre-dental club lol

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[fogorvostan]

Notable exception would probably be the pre-dental club lol

I didn't join my school's predental club, but I did show up to the premed club meetings because there was always free pizza.

No regrets

 

[A Pre-dent]

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[ncide]

Do adcoms really care about clubs? Seems like the most useless thing in many cases and would be an easy target for resume padding.

I felt the same way after going to a few pre-dental club meetings. Decided to go work in the hospital, a genetics lab, and then work in a dental clinic for patients with developmental disabilities. Sometimes working with professional organizations is a better use of your time, especially if you can eventually attain a leadership r0le.