Minimum number of hours for EC's?

[deleted307836]

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I know there's no hard and fast rule about this. But when are EC's too insignificant to include on an application?

I have a 25 hour EC that was 1.5 hours a week for four months. I think it's kind of a cool EC but is that time commitment too insignificant to include on an app? It wouldn't be replacing anything else. Thanks for any opinions.

 

[milkandcereal]

If it's impressive, interesting, and/or something important to you, I don't see anything wrong with putting it. If it's just serving as application fluff, I would skip it. My two cents.

 

[deleted307836]

Yeah I just fear it would come off as "fluffing" my application.

It's not "impressive" but it's something that I could tie in with the rest of my app.

 

[milkandcereal]

If you believe that it ties in with the rest of your app and fits your story, then I would include it. If it's something that you would like to potentially talk about at interviews, then I would definitely put it on your application. As long as your other activities are solid and it doesn't look like you're trying to make up for no clinical experience with 25 hours of hospital gift shop volunteering or something, you should be fine.

 

[occams_razor]

I know there's no hard and fast rule about this. But when are EC's too insignificant to include on an application?

I have a 25 hour EC that was 1.5 hours a week for four months. I think it's kind of a cool EC but is that time commitment too insignificant to include on an app? It wouldn't be replacing anything else. Thanks for any opinions.

quality > quantity

If this EC was important to you, if it was enjoyable, you learned something valuable, etc. then definitely include it.

 

[deleted307836]

Thanks for the advice! Any more thoughts?

 

[Vans42]

I agree, if it fits your story, write it down. If it is something that you would want to talk about in an interview (above other things), but it down. If it is just something that you think is filler, don't worry about it, and focus on the more important things. Don't worry about filling all 15 EC spots, quality>quantity.

 

[Aerus]

Ones I would add to your list to avoid including:

-One time volunteer events like marathons.
-Short term commitments like "volunteered for 2 weeks at a random place and never did it again".
-"Medical Missions" in which you only went to another country for like 2-3 weeks and barely did anything outside of handing out medical supplies or holding babies.

There ARE short term things that you can include, like research programs (SURF) or things that you were recognized as outstanding, like an award or certificate or something was given.