- Joined
- Apr 16, 2000
- Messages
- 996
- Reaction score
- 6
Hey, I was just curious to hear what people think about my EC's. I am planning to apply in June, and have worked in a reproductive health clinic serving low income/uninsured patients for going on 6 years (also volunteered there for 2 years in HS). This is paid work, and I get a lot of direct patient contact there--HIV & pregnancy testing and counseling, medical assistant type duties (vitals, preparing lab specimens, etc). However, as I have had to work part-time (15-20 hrs/wk, on average; full time over breaks) all through undergrad since I am paying for college entirely on my own, I have had limited time to participate in other EC's. Here's what I have done outside of this:
-counselor at week-long camp for kids with HIV/AIDS
-summer of research at NIH
-week in Ecuador observing in maternity hospital
As you can see, I have not participated in any school activities (clubs or the like), and have mainly done volunteer work when I have had blocks of time to devote to something rather than, say, spending 2 hrs/wk for a year or something. I have contacted various organizations in my area about volunteering over the years, but I never seem to be able to find the time between work, school, and all the other various responsibilities that seem to be constantly arising in my life. I know other people manage it, maybe I'm just lazy. This may sound bad too, but I sort of feel like I do my part for the community at my job, and don't really feel like I have a lot of energy to devote to other causes outside of it. I plan to do more volunteer work after the MCAT in April, but obviously there won't be much more on my app in June. Will all my clinical experience, combined with the EC's I have done, outweigh the lack of regular volunteer work to adcoms? Also, do adcoms take into account the fact that some of us have to work, year-round, not just for spring break money but to feed ourselves and pay rent, thereby seriously cutting into our time to engage in other EC's?
-counselor at week-long camp for kids with HIV/AIDS
-summer of research at NIH
-week in Ecuador observing in maternity hospital
As you can see, I have not participated in any school activities (clubs or the like), and have mainly done volunteer work when I have had blocks of time to devote to something rather than, say, spending 2 hrs/wk for a year or something. I have contacted various organizations in my area about volunteering over the years, but I never seem to be able to find the time between work, school, and all the other various responsibilities that seem to be constantly arising in my life. I know other people manage it, maybe I'm just lazy. This may sound bad too, but I sort of feel like I do my part for the community at my job, and don't really feel like I have a lot of energy to devote to other causes outside of it. I plan to do more volunteer work after the MCAT in April, but obviously there won't be much more on my app in June. Will all my clinical experience, combined with the EC's I have done, outweigh the lack of regular volunteer work to adcoms? Also, do adcoms take into account the fact that some of us have to work, year-round, not just for spring break money but to feed ourselves and pay rent, thereby seriously cutting into our time to engage in other EC's?
