Pre-Med Extracurriculars and Classes

[vsg299]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi All, So I am finishing up my first year in college as a pre-med and I have been doing well in all of my classes and joined many organizations but I have some questions about extracurriculars/ classes.
-what are some typical options for volunteering and how did you gain access to these?
-how much research is typically expected?
-how much shadowing is typically done during undergrad?
-Is it ok to take classes that are really exploratory as well, i.e. dance or music


Any help is greatly appreciated, I am picking classes for next year and I'm unsure what to take or which extracurriculars to stick with next year.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

First of all, you state that you joined many organizations... this may be worrying because the point is not to "do many things." This is the first temptation of the burgeoning pre-medical student. Quality > Quantity.

To answer your four questions:

1. There are two distinctions: clinical and non-clinical volunteering. Both are important and almost required.

Clinical volunteering can be anything: hospital volunteering, hospice care, patient visiting, ED. No need to be creative. Just be effective and find something where a) you will get a good view of medicine, from the physician's standpoint if possible and b) you ideally have an opportunity to talk or interact with patients. Doesn't have to be life saving (in fact, it probably won't); just has to be meaningful.

For non-clinical, its extremely broad. But the best advice says to partake in an activity of service to an underserved population. Homeless shelters, tutoring in poor educational neighborhoods, working with the mentally ill (this might be clinical though too), the elderly et cetera. Search the forums

2. Depends on what you want to do. I think every pre-medical student should partake in research in some way shape or form. It does not have to be medically related. If you enjoy it, do more. If not, be happy with the experience and move on. Hours are not generally utilized for research I have heard.

3. SDN says between 50 and 100. Anything above that that is not volunteering I think is a waste of time.

4. Yes. Do. Major in something non-science if you want. Just get your prereqs.

With ALL of your important EC's, COMMIT. This is what 'looks good' and what is most satisfying. Dancing around checking boxes and being a shallow pre-med propagates the stereotype.

 

[Dr.Barker&Mr.Scootches]

Would it still be a clinical even if it counts for a degree? Like internships, shadowing, research, etc?

 

[Deleted member 737595]

Would it still be a clinical even if it counts for a degree? Like internships, shadowing, research, etc?

Yes. If you can smell patients, its clinical.

Clinical work doesn't have to be volunteer. That's not what matters there, its more about clinical experience.