Questions Regarding Social Justice/Advocacy Work for T20s

[MMMcFlurryy]

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Hi! I am a current junior planning to apply to medical school at the end of my senior year (~May 2026). I wanted to get some perspective on how social justice and advocacy work is seen by admissions, specifically at T20s. I am currently involved with two nonprofits, one of which I serve as a chair on the non-profit board. This non-profit operates at the state-level, and it is a coalition of roughly 20-25 member organizations who are interested in seeing menstrual policy changes across all levels (local, state, and national). I primarily work on advocacy and policy for menstrual advocacy within my state, and my work is specifically focused on menstrual product access for incarcerated populations. My team and I work closely with legislators to further our policy work, and I have collaborated with a number of major nationally recognized organizations to further my project in this space specifically. I've been involved in the nonprofit scene since my sophmore year, and I hope to continue working at the intersection between public policy and healthcare. Alongside my policy work, I also work specifically in securing and writing grants for both nonprofits. Due to how invested I am in this work, I will most likely make atleast one of these experiences my most meaningful, alongside my clinical and research roles.

I've heard mixed things about this work from my premedical advisor, and that it would be more beneficial to spend more time furthering my research or clinical exposure before applying if I want to have a chance at T20s. For reference, I will most likely have roughly ~1100 hours of research (2 and 1/2 years of clinical neurotrauma research at a ~T20) with a poster or two and an honors thesis in this upcoming year (possibly a pub, but not sure at this point). As for clinical experience, I will have roughly 1000 hours split evenly between paid EMT experience and my free clinic, hospice, and hospital volunteering. Is this really not enough for medical school applications, or is this guy flat-out making me freak out for no reason? I really want to be able to focus on my non-profit work, but I'd appreciate any advice on whether I do need to focus more on my clinical or research experience before applying.

 

[AJS59]

Hi! I am a current junior planning to apply to medical school at the end of my senior year (~May 2026). I wanted to get some perspective on how social justice and advocacy work is seen by admissions, specifically at T20s. I am currently involved with two nonprofits, one of which I serve as a chair on the non-profit board. This non-profit operates at the state-level, and it is a coalition of roughly 20-25 member organizations who are interested in seeing menstrual policy changes across all levels (local, state, and national). I primarily work on advocacy and policy for menstrual advocacy within my state, and my work is specifically focused on menstrual product access for incarcerated populations. My team and I work closely with legislators to further our policy work, and I have collaborated with a number of major nationally recognized organizations to further my project in this space specifically. I've been involved in the nonprofit scene since my sophmore year, and I hope to continue working at the intersection between public policy and healthcare. Alongside my policy work, I also work specifically in securing and writing grants for both nonprofits. Due to how invested I am in this work, I will most likely make atleast one of these experiences my most meaningful, alongside my clinical and research roles.

I've heard mixed things about this work from my premedical advisor, and that it would be more beneficial to spend more time furthering my research or clinical exposure before applying if I want to have a chance at T20s. For reference, I will most likely have roughly ~1100 hours of research (2 and 1/2 years of clinical neurotrauma research at a ~T20) with a poster or two and an honors thesis in this upcoming year (possibly a pub, but not sure at this point). As for clinical experience, I will have roughly 1000 hours split evenly between paid EMT experience and my free clinic, hospice, and hospital volunteering. Is this really not enough for medical school applications, or is this guy flat-out making me freak out for no reason? I really want to be able to focus on my non-profit work, but I'd appreciate any advice on whether I do need to focus more on my clinical or research experience before applying.

I genuinely think you're fine. The hours are plenty good.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hi! I am a current junior planning to apply to medical school at the end of my senior year (~May 2026). I wanted to get some perspective on how social justice and advocacy work is seen by admissions, specifically at T20s. I am currently involved with two nonprofits, one of which I serve as a chair on the non-profit board. This non-profit operates at the state-level, and it is a coalition of roughly 20-25 member organizations who are interested in seeing menstrual policy changes across all levels (local, state, and national). I primarily work on advocacy and policy for menstrual advocacy within my state, and my work is specifically focused on menstrual product access for incarcerated populations. My team and I work closely with legislators to further our policy work, and I have collaborated with a number of major nationally recognized organizations to further my project in this space specifically. I've been involved in the nonprofit scene since my sophmore year, and I hope to continue working at the intersection between public policy and healthcare. Alongside my policy work, I also work specifically in securing and writing grants for both nonprofits. Due to how invested I am in this work, I will most likely make atleast one of these experiences my most meaningful, alongside my clinical and research roles.

I've heard mixed things about this work from my premedical advisor, and that it would be more beneficial to spend more time furthering my research or clinical exposure before applying if I want to have a chance at T20s. For reference, I will most likely have roughly ~1100 hours of research (2 and 1/2 years of clinical neurotrauma research at a ~T20) with a poster or two and an honors thesis in this upcoming year (possibly a pub, but not sure at this point). As for clinical experience, I will have roughly 1000 hours split evenly between paid EMT experience and my free clinic, hospice, and hospital volunteering. Is this really not enough for medical school applications, or is this guy flat-out making me freak out for no reason? I really want to be able to focus on my non-profit work, but I'd appreciate any advice on whether I do need to focus more on my clinical or research experience before applying.

I also think you're fine.

 

[LizzyM]

I think you are fine and the menstrual products for people who are incarcerated is unusual and will put you out ahead of the cookie cutter pre-meds who have exactly the same activities as everyone else.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I think your activity is perfectly fine, and I agree with the previous posters supporting you.

However, I will take your prehealth advisors' concerns seriously.

Not all schools embrace social justice as an activity so heavily. Health professions programs' jobs are to train future doctors with the requisite skills to address health needs. Given the election 2024 results, medical schools know it's not their lane to develop or support social justice warriors, even despite the marketing we/admissions offices and AAMC push out (pushing updates from the 2024 fall AAMC meeting into Topics in Healthcare notwithstanding).

I have difficulty connecting your non-profit work (including legislative advocacy) with your CRC work in neuroscience/trauma. Overall, you have some great clinical experiences, but they don't connect with your public policy successes and impact.

As a result, you say you want to pursue a future where you can balance healthcare and public policy. Then go for an MPP or law school. Apply for the Truman (with your institution's help if you are eligible). Maybe that's what you ultimately want to do or use as a selective factor for your school list. But it is hard to walk away from the successes in your advocacy work to spend 10+ years grinding at the lowest ranks in a hierarchical medical system. Can you turn that page, especially given the current and developing political climate?

Finding Your Greatest Common Factors with Successful Students | SDN

The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) between two numbers is the largest positive integer that can divide both numbers evenly (without remainders). Prime

www.studentdoctor.net

If becoming a physician is your goal, it shouldn't hurt you getting more clinical exposure (especially if your endgame is to get a T20/brand offer). But I know plenty of medical students who have amazing advocacy work who are at solid medical schools with the right support and curriculum to develop those public policy skills (Fellowship Program Testimonials - AMSA).

 

[Goro]

I think you are fine and the menstrual products for people who are incarcerated is unusual and will put you out ahead of the cookie cutter pre-meds who have exactly the same activities as everyone else.

1000% agree with my learned colleague.

 

[LunaOri]

Agree with my colleagues above. Your advocacy work is more interesting to me than your research, and you have achieved a lot! That being said, if this is the area on which you would like to focus, why do you need to go to a top 20?

 

[Goro]

Agree with my colleagues above. Your advocacy work is more interesting to me than your research, and you have achieved a lot! That being said, if this is the area on which you would like to focus, why do you need to go to a top 20?

And there are at least 30 schools in the "T20" class!

 

[MMMcFlurryy]

Hi all, thank you for responding! I appreciate your advice, and I'll be sure to take it into consideration when I have to start applying in the near future. This was really helpful, especially for putting things into perspective!