My stats are fine, but what about these EC's?

[hiphopapotamous]

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Here's a list...

1. Genetics research for 2 summers, 60 hrs/wk for 11 weeks each
2. 2010 summer research, whatever it is
3. Junior independent research 2 semesters, 5 hours a week
4. ______ Neuro Inst. “research”/volunteering 2 semesters, 5 hours a week
5. Volunteer EMT-B 2 years, 12 hours a week
6. Hospital volunteer 3 years, 3 hours a week
7. Other volunteer work involving tutoring underprivileged students, 3 semesters, 2 hours a week
8. Shadowing, 42 hours
9. Chem lab technician – 3 semesters, 5 hours a week
10. Tutoring (paid) – econ, SAT reasoning, SAT Math level 2, 3 semesters, 3 hours a week
11. ______ Pre-Medical Society executive committee
12. ______ Ski/Snowboarding team – 2 semesters, snowboarding in general
13. ______ Prize for Academic Excellence

I feel like it's pretty shallow and subpar at top med schools. I have excellent stats though (>3.8, >37), so I hope I at least get a decent number of interviews.

 

[Catalystik]

what about these EC's?

You have lots of good activities to list. I'd suggest getting in at least 60-80 hours of shadowing, to include a primary care doc. To better appeal to "top schools" be sure that your one leadership activity really stands out when you describe what you did. Ideally, this would be more than attending meetings and casting an occasional vote. You want to show initiative and that you can manage groups of peers, so aim toward that for this next semester if it's not what you're already doing (or else seek out an activity with a wider scope for helping you to stand out in this respect). Also, if you can get your own project in a lab, or a pub accepted before you apply, that would help.

 

[hiphopapotamous]

You have lots of good activities to list. I'd suggest getting in at least 60-80 hours of shadowing, to include a primary care doc. To better appeal to "top schools" be sure that your one leadership activity really stands out when you describe what you did. Ideally, this would be more than attending meetings and casting an occasional vote. You want to show initiative and that you can manage groups of peers, so aim toward that for this next semester if it's not what you're already doing (or else seek out an activity with a wider scope for helping you to stand out in this respect). Also, if you can get your own project in a lab, or a pub accepted before you apply, that would help.

Thanks a lot! Very helpful.

I had my own project over the summers, which led to a publication submission but it wasn't strong enough to be published and my PI thought we shouldn't resubmit.

 

[Telomeres]

Wow hiphop you definitely set a good bar for things I need to do in order to get into a top tier medical school.
Anyways, how did you propose your own research and how did you think of something good to research on?

Why don't you think you stand out as a stellar candidate for top medical schools?

 

[hiphopapotamous]

Wow hiphop you definitely set a good bar for things I need to do in order to get into a top tier medical school.
Anyways, how did you propose your own research and how did you think of something good to research on?

Why don't you think you stand out as a stellar candidate for top medical schools?

Hi Telomeres - thanks for the compliment! Actually at my school it's very common for students to engage in their own independent research their junior and senior years. The independent research programs are highly structured and I was paired up with an adviser who helped me pinpoint my topic (it's on sudden infant death syndrome).

I feel like most of the stuff I have are just pretty standard things that pre-meds have down... EMT, hospital volunteering, summer research, etc. No major leadership or anything unique =/.

 

[Telomeres]

Well I'm sure there's something unique that sets you apart from many other applicants, especially some of the things you encountered while doing so much volunteering and etc. I think summer research programs already makes you stand out because they are still competitive, some more so than others. In my opinion leadership opportunities are the most difficult to come across, and I've been coming across alot of SDN forums where our feline expert has had to make mention of it. Leadership requires a go getter type personality where one really has to put his ideas out there and hope that he/she can make a difference. One of the things I've done is to talk to the physicians I've shadowed and met while volunteering is to come down to our medical club and discuss some of the challenges medicine faces today. Provide opportunities for your younger peers in your pre med society.