Question about ECs and Internships - what do they look for?

[PullMyFinger]

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Well I haven't volunteered at the hospital a whole lot, in fact, I'm starting this semester before my application process this summer and will most likely just complete 1 semester in the ER.

However, this summer I'm planning to do an internship in Washington DC with the federal government or CNN.

Will that internship boost my standing with the admissions committee even though it really has no relation to medicine? It's not like I'm entirely eliminating the hospital stuff, because i'm doing it this semester too and will hopefully knock in 30 hours.

 

[armybound]

the internship is a unique experience and might have a small impact

 

[HumbleMD]

Well I haven't volunteered at the hospital a whole lot, in fact, I'm starting this semester before my application process this summer and will most likely just complete 1 semester in the ER.

However, this summer I'm planning to do an internship in Washington DC with the federal government or CNN.

Will that internship boost my standing with the admissions committee even though it really has no relation to medicine? It's not like I'm entirely eliminating the hospital stuff, because i'm doing it this semester too and will hopefully knock in 30 hours.

You indeed need to have plenty of clinical experience. But schools also look for people with interests beyond becoming a doctor (but of course, expect that it is the only profession you've ever wanted). What they look for in extra-curriculars is commitment and leadership. It's also good if you genuinely delight in it, because then you can enthusiastically talk about it in interviews when/if they ask. Word of caution, is to think about ECs and other experiences not in terms of "what will an adcom think" but more in terms of "how will this mature me and better me as a person and eventually as a medical professional?"

 

[PullMyFinger]

You indeed need to have plenty of clinical experience. But schools also look for people with interests beyond becoming a doctor (but of course, expect that it is the only profession you've ever wanted). What they look for in extra-curriculars is commitment and leadership. It's also good if you genuinely delight in it, because then you can enthusiastically talk about it in interviews when/if they ask. Word of caution, is to think about ECs and other experiences not in terms of "what will an adcom think" but more in terms of "how will this mature me and better me as a person and eventually as a medical professional?"

Thank you, that final thing you wrote will definitely be something that I'll ask myself (no sarcasm either, I'm serious).

But I'm wondering though, what would be better? Me taking up the internship at Washington DC or me volunteering at a hospital all summer long?

Also, there is a specific science field to do internship in this summer but I'll be honest, the options don't look too appealing when compared to the other ones.

ie "Placement sites have included the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy, Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard , Friends of the Earth, Council on Environmental Quality, Senate Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Health and Human Services, National Association of Conservation Districts, Department of Veterans Affairs, and many more. " I don't see how these can really help out a medical student.

BUT something that would be great IMO if I could get it worked out would be to have an internship with congressional committees/lobby firms on health care

 

[PullMyFinger]

And btw, I really appreciate you two helping me out here, thanks!

 

[ADeadLois]

You indeed need to have plenty of clinical experience. But schools also look for people with interests beyond becoming a doctor (but of course, expect that it is the only profession you've ever wanted). What they look for in extra-curriculars is commitment and leadership. It's also good if you genuinely delight in it, because then you can enthusiastically talk about it in interviews when/if they ask. Word of caution, is to think about ECs and other experiences not in terms of "what will an adcom think" but more in terms of "how will this mature me and better me as a person and eventually as a medical professional?"

I don't necessarily agree with the last part. I think it's important to engage in (worthwhile) activities that don't necessarily correlate with a future in medicine. For example, I wrote for my school's newspaper. I put it down on my AMCAS and it was the first EC that I was asked about by two different interviewers (in a complimentary light). My interest in journalism won't make me a better medical professional, but I think shows that I have interests/experiences OUTSIDE of medicine.

Bottom line: The only EC that has to correlate to a future in medicine is clinical experience. Otherwise, Go nuts. Have fun.

 

[SilkandSteel]

Why not do both? That's what I did.

I was actually in a very similar position last summer. I had an internship lined up on the hill that I was really excited about. I also hadn't done much clinical stuff since high school, but I wasn't really concerned about it since I planned on volunteering concurrently. DC hospitals provide GREAT exposure because of patient diversity and the sheer workload they are under. It's always nice to volunteer at an overworked hospital because you're allowed to do so much more. There are also a lot of free clinics you can get involved in...I split my time between a big hospital and a small free clinic.

IMHO, 30 hours is not a lot of volunteering. Even 10 hrs a week of volunteering this summer will give you 100-125 hrs total that would make your dedication to clinical exposure look a lot more sincere. It's not that hard to manage an extra 10 hrs a week - that's what weekends are for. Keep in mind that, unlike school, when you work in an office your work doesn't go home with you, so you actually have more time than you think.

Just my 2 cents, from personal experience. Best of luck, and enjoy DC! It's a fine, fine city.

~Silk and Steel

 

[HumbleMD]

I don't necessarily agree with the last part. I think it's important to engage in (worthwhile) activities that don't necessarily correlate with a future in medicine. For example, I wrote for my school's newspaper. I put it down on my AMCAS and it was the first EC that I was asked about by two different interviewers (in a complimentary light). My interest in journalism won't make me a better medical professional, but I think shows that I have interests/experiences OUTSIDE of medicine.

Bottom line: The only EC that has to correlate to a future in medicine is clinical experience. Otherwise, Go nuts. Have fun.

Ah, but many would argue that your interests in journalism do make you a better medical professional. Back to my original litmus test, I was stating, don't do something because you think the adcoms will like it. My comment about growth was trying to convey that there are many experiences which will grow you as a person. That person is eventually going to become a physician, and, thus most positive experiences can be regarded as improving your future as a physician (whether it's health related or not).

 

[PullMyFinger]

Why not do both? That's what I did.

I was actually in a very similar position last summer. I had an internship lined up on the hill that I was really excited about. I also hadn't done much clinical stuff since high school, but I wasn't really concerned about it since I planned on volunteering concurrently. DC hospitals provide GREAT exposure because of patient diversity and the sheer workload they are under. It's always nice to volunteer at an overworked hospital because you're allowed to do so much more. There are also a lot of free clinics you can get involved in...I split my time between a big hospital and a small free clinic.

IMHO, 30 hours is not a lot of volunteering. Even 10 hrs a week of volunteering this summer will give you 100-125 hrs total that would make your dedication to clinical exposure look a lot more sincere. It's not that hard to manage an extra 10 hrs a week - that's what weekends are for. Keep in mind that, unlike school, when you work in an office your work doesn't go home with you, so you actually have more time than you think.

Just my 2 cents, from personal experience. Best of luck, and enjoy DC! It's a fine, fine city.

~Silk and Steel

I also have to take a course while doing this, so I don't think I'll be able to have much time to volunteer there over that 10 week period. We'll see though. And thanks! =)

 

[ADeadLois]

Ah, but many would argue that your interests in journalism do make you a better medical professional. Back to my original litmus test, I was stating, don't do something because you think the adcoms will like it. My comment about growth was trying to convey that there are many experiences which will grow you as a person. That person is eventually going to become a physician, and, thus most positive experiences can be regarded as improving your future as a physician (whether it's health related or not).

Agreed. I was saying that it wasn't necessary to view every activity through the lens of medicine as long as it's worthwhile and you enjoy it.