Question about ECs - Number vs. Commitment

[calnation]

---

Members don't see this ad.

As far as ECs go, I've only got a few. I had a medically related job I worked at for 2 years and I've volunteered extensively at a clinic for the underserved (where I've gained a lot of clinic experience) for over a year now. Besides that I don't have many ECs, awards, or leadership experience. I've taken some acting classes here and there but other than that I don't really have very many ECs.

My question is, have I disadvantaged myself by committing a lot of my time to only a few ECs as opposed to having engaged in many more short term ECs? I've worked hard and I feel good about what I've done but I can't escape feeling like my application will look bare compared to applications that have 15 ECs listed.

 

[loveoforganic]

commitment to something good > variety of things without commitment to any

 

[alibai3ah]

As far as ECs go, I've only got a few. I had a medically related job I worked at for 2 years and I've volunteered extensively at a clinic for the underserved (where I've gained a lot of clinic experience) for over a year now. Besides that I don't have many ECs, awards, or leadership experience. I've taken some acting classes here and there but other than that I don't really have very many ECs.

My question is, have I disadvantaged myself by committing a lot of my time to only a few ECs as opposed to having engaged in many more short term ECs? I've worked hard and I feel good about what I've done but I can't escape feeling like my application will look bare compared to applications that have 15 ECs listed.

Comittment is FAR BETTER than having lots of different EC's. You will get a better letter of recommendation and ur passion will show during ur interviews (b/c u spent so much time there).

 

[CoolWhipp]

Comittment is FAR BETTER than having lots of different EC's. You will get a better letter of recommendation and ur passion will show during ur interviews (b/c u spent so much time there).

Who is to say that those people who volunteer or work in a certain EC 4 hours a week for 2 years can't get a good LOR? I'm sure this person could show passion during interviews just fine.

You have to sell yourself here and if your spending 20 hours in a certain EC, then you are probably doing too much. Unless your a prospective MD/Phd student and the certain EC of mention is research, you might want to spread out your "EC Hours."

 

[apumic]

COMMITMENT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lots of little "internship" and "shadowing" gigs...

if your spending 20 hours in a certain EC...

...full time clinically oriented job comes to mind... pretty sure 40 hours/wk working with patients for 2 yrs is FAR BETTER than 10 hrs/wk doing the same thing as a volunteer for those same 2 yrs -- it's a matter of depth (which will later has a profound effect on quality of LORs and ability to converse about it in an interview and/or your PS). A full-time employee takes part in trainings and opportunities (as well as shear time/experience) that a part-time volunteer or even part-time employee is never going to have the opportunity to do.

 

[akinetopsia]

I think seeing applicants that are "professional joiners" is a pretty big turn-off to admissions officers (I'm not one, just a hunch). Personally, if I had to pick just on ECs between one person that was a member of 10 clubs/organizations with a relatively superficial commitment in each (regular member, no leadership positions) or the other person that was a member of 3 clubs/organizations and had a long-standing commitment and time investment in each, with or without leadership, I'd hold that person in higher regard because they have something they're interested in and passionate about doing and they do it versus someone that gets involved with a lot of different activities to buff their resume/application but doesn't get anything of value out of that involvement.

 

[CoolWhipp]

...pretty sure 40 hours/wk working with patients for 2 yrs is FAR BETTER than 10 hrs/wk doing the same thing as a volunteer for those same 2 yrs -- it's a matter of depth...

It is absolutely a matter of depth. However, I was assuming that the OP is taking a full class load, in which case 20 hours a week is as deep as you can get really. You also have to factor in the time it takes to get to the location where you are doing your EC, in which case if your EC hours are very spread out, then you would be wasting a lot of time on the commute as well.

 

[calnation]

It is absolutely a matter of depth. However, I was assuming that the OP is taking a full class load, in which case 20 hours a week is as deep as you can get really.

Yeah, it was 20 hours a week because I had a full class load.

Thanks for the responses guys. 😀

I'm not concerned about LORs, I've got some pretty solid ones. Are LORs the most important thing when it comes to ECs?

I'm more concerned about not having a full-looking application. I hear about people that are superficially involved in many, many things. I'm not worried about showing that I've been committed in interviews. I'm just worried about getting interviews in the first place. An ADCOM glancing at my application and tossing it aside because the ECs don't look plentiful is my worst nightmare.