Nervous about ECs

[MedWonk]

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So, I've been looking over ECs of a few non-trads who have applied or have are applying this year. The one thing that sticks out is that quite a few people have leadership experience and research experience.

I already have decent GPA, I hold down a part-time job, do clinical volunteering at a hospital and volunteer at my local food pantry (food bank). I would love to do some research, and I could probably find something through my post-bac or hospital. But meaningful leadership experience seems like something that would hard to get at this point.

I don't want to do something just to check something off on the application when the time comes. I'm worried that adcoms will look at my application and see little or no leadership and research, and write it off despite having clinical and non-clinical volunteer activity and full-time teaching experience in a foreign country that not only covered a significant amount of time, but I truly love doing, as opposed to filling up the research and leadership sections just for the sake of writing something there.

I get the feeling that by omitting those two things I'm shooting myself in foot, because I'm not "unique" enough.😡

 

[ChE04]

Sounds like a classic case of "SDN premed paranoia." All of us have had it at some point; I'm pretty sure it's contagious.

The only prescription is more cowbell.

 

[aerodoc]

I don't want to do something just to check something off on the application when the time comes. I'm worried that adcoms will look at my application and see little or no leadership and research, and write it off despite having clinical and non-clinical volunteer activity and full-time teaching experience in a foreign country that not only covered a significant amount of time, but I truly love doing, as opposed to filling up the research and leadership sections just for the sake of writing something there.

I get the feeling that by omitting those two things I'm shooting myself in foot, because I'm not "unique" enough.😡

You do have leadership experience.....If you were a full-time teacher that is leadership experience....If you get an essay question asking about it, that's a perfect example and frankly a lot more relevant than someone who was just treasurer of their pre-med club or something.

Just being a non-trad and having teaching experience abroad alone would qualify you as "unique" in my opinion. Remember that most people applying to med school are 21-22 years old, did a token amount of volunteer experience at a hospital or nursing home during undergrad because they thought it was good for their application, and got their name placed on a research paper. You'll be a breath of fresh air, and you'll be able to speak passionately about your EC's because you really cared about them.

Just apply, you'll be fine!

 

[QofQuimica]

OP, doing research is not necessary unless you're applying to a combined degree research program (MD/PhD or MD/MS). By all means, try your hand at it if you're interested, but don't feel obligated to do any.

Leadership experience is likely something you already have without realizing it. You don't have to be a premed club officer to demonstrate leadership. Ever done any tutoring/teaching/mentoring? Helped new people at your job or volunteer gig learn the ropes? Coached a children's sports team, scouting troop, etc? Organized a fundraising event? Led a prayer group? Served in the military? Been on a sports team? The list of possibilities goes on and on.

Basically, anything you've ever done that involves working with other people provides you with an opportunity to take a leadership role at least some of the time. You said you've done some teaching; teachers are inherently leaders as part of the job. You may not classify it that way on your AMCAS, but you *do* have significant leadership experience via teaching. If you think about it, you could probably come up with some other examples where you've demonstrated leadership also. 🙂

 

[Leader813]

Leadership experience is likely something you already have without realizing it. You don't have to be a premed club officer to demonstrate leadership. Ever done any tutoring/teaching/mentoring? Helped new people at your job or volunteer gig learn the ropes? Coached a children's sports team, scouting troop, etc? Organized a fundraising event? Led a prayer group? Served in the military? Been on a sports team? The list of possibilities goes on and on.

🙂

Totally never thought of tutoring as a form of leadership! Thanks Q!!