Not Enough Extracurriculars?

[medstudent05]

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So I applied to one of the osteopathic schools just to get a rejection a few hours later stating my extra-curriculars were not enough. I've been pondering over this, and just wanted to ask you guys what you think...these are my extra-curriculars:

300+ hours of research over oncogenes found in cancer
600+ scribe hours at the emergency department (as of today)
100+ hours of peer tutoring an advanced level bio class
100+ hrs medical internship with various docs, including intensivists, GI, anesthesiologists, surgeons.
50+ internship with an internist
50+ hrs laboratory assistant for a graduate level course

Any feedback would be helpful, thanks!

 

[polylux]

Do you mean that you just sent in your primary application recently? In March...?

 

[Bea5T]

So I applied to one of the osteopathic schools just to get a rejection a few hours later stating my extra-curriculars were not enough. I've been pondering over this, and just wanted to ask you guys what you think...these are my extra-curriculars:

300+ hours of research over oncogenes found in cancer
600+ scribe hours at the emergency department (as of today)
100+ hours of peer tutoring an advanced level bio class
100+ hrs medical internship with various docs, including intensivists, GI, anesthesiologists, surgeons.
50+ internship with an internist
50+ hrs laboratory assistant for a graduate level course

Any feedback would be helpful, thanks!

That's ridiculous. If anything, that's more than enough EC's.

 

[medstudent05]

No this was my secondary approx a month or two ago.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

What school was it? Your EC look like enough for early/on-time applicants. However, if you amassed this in a very short period of time, that can be concerning.

 

[Bea5T]

What school was it? Your EC look like enough for early/on-time applicants. However, if you amassed this in a very short period of time, that can be concerning.

Why does that matter? As long as it's recent I don't see the issue. Not everyone starts their journey to medical school their freshman year.

 

[medstudent05]

These are all from a period of 2.5 years, so no, its not all from a short span. I emailed the Department chair of admissions for that COM and they said that I didn't have enough ECs and they were not very diverse.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Why does that matter? As long as it's recent I don't see the issue. Not everyone starts their journey to medical school their freshman year.

Everything matters, including if your application comes off as last minute checking boxes.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

These are all from a period of 2.5 years, so no, its not all from a short span. I emailed the Department chair of admissions for that COM and they said that I didn't have enough ECs and they were not very diverse.

Throw us a hint at least of what this school is. Is it a competitive campus or a new one? Do you live close to this school? Is it a west coast, Midwest or east coast school?

 

[WalSlave]

You probably just applied too late in the cycle if this was just a month ago. You'll be fine this cycle (assuming your other stats are competitive).

 

[medstudent05]

Throw us a hint at least of what this school is. Is it a competitive campus or a new one? Do you live close to this school? Is it a west coast, Midwest or east coast school?

If I throw a hint, you'll know...its new and in the midwest.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

If I throw a hint, you'll know...its new and in the midwest.

Oh, if it's where I'm thinking, that school's feedback is trash. When I interviewed there, they said my body language was why they rejected me. I asked what about it and they said to Google body language. I wouldn't worry about that school's opinion. You'll be fine applying this coming cycle in a broader way.

 

[Dreamstoo]

So I applied to one of the osteopathic schools just to get a rejection a few hours later stating my extra-curriculars were not enough. I've been pondering over this, and just wanted to ask you guys what you think...these are my extra-curriculars:

300+ hours of research over oncogenes found in cancer
600+ scribe hours at the emergency department (as of today)
100+ hours of peer tutoring an advanced level bio class
100+ hrs medical internship with various docs, including intensivists, GI, anesthesiologists, surgeons.
50+ internship with an internist
50+ hrs laboratory assistant for a graduate level course

Any feedback would be helpful, thanks!

I don't see how these are weak ECs. I have about 400 hours of volunteering (probably more with non clinical stuff here and there), decent research, part of a few clubs, shadowing for 100 hours (will be around 150 when I apply hopefully), etc.

 

[medstudent05]

Oh, if it's where I'm thinking, that school's feedback is trash. When I interviewed there, they said my body language was why they rejected me. I asked what about it and they said to Google body language. I wouldn't worry about that school's opinion. You'll be fine applying this coming cycle in a broader way.

Really??? Woww, okay I feel a little better. I mean, I honor every schools' decision, but when they told me they rejected me within a couple of hours for that reason, I just felt like I was hit with bricks because ECs are something I think I've had a good build on. Thank you for letting me know...body language?? I'm glad you got accepted to Med school where they place weight on more values than just body language.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

No this was my secondary approx a month or two ago.

That's still pretty late to submit, may have been more of a timing issue. But your ECs look fine to me.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Really??? Woww, okay I feel a little better. I mean, I honor every schools' decision, but when they told me they rejected me within a couple of hours for that reason, I just felt like I was hit with bricks because ECs are something I think I've had a good build on. Thank you for letting me know...body language?? I'm glad you got accepted to Med school where they place weight on more values than just body language.

If you're talking about mucom, they seem to be especially competitive this cycle, that could also have something to do with it.

 

[medstudent05]

That's still pretty late to submit, may have been more of a timing issue. But your ECs look fine to me.

Thanks for letting me know 🙂 Because I'll do more ECs at this point, but just wanted a second opinion of where I stood right now. Thanks!

 

[orangeman25]

If you don't mind me asking, are your stats competitive? If your stats aren't competitive, what the school could be insinuating is that "your ECs aren't good enough to overcome your stats."

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Really??? Woww, okay I feel a little better. I mean, I honor every schools' decision, but when they told me they rejected me within a couple of hours for that reason, I just felt like I was hit with bricks because ECs are something I think I've had a good build on. Thank you for letting me know...body language?? I'm glad you got accepted to Med school where they place weight on more values than just body language.

They probably filled up all their interview seats, so they gave you whatever BS response they wanted.

 

[medstudent05]

If you don't mind me asking, are your stats competitive? If your stats aren't competitive, what the school could be insinuating is that "your ECs aren't good enough to overcome your stats."

Yeah they were...my GPA and awards were far above their requirements, and MCAT was definitely within their range...and you know, even if they still thought the GPA/MCAT weren't good enough, I would have honored their decision. But when they made that remark about my ECs, I just felt they didn't even look at my secondary with the "careful consideration" they rejected me with.