scared that i wont stand out

[hardyboi]

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Hi, im a sophomore right now and i know i have a lot of time to think about med school, but i feel like i wont be able to compete with all the other pre-med students out there. I dont have a lot of money to try to make myself stand out, like being able to go out of country to volunteer in some third world country or get an internship at a prestigious faraway school... and ive heard research doesnt really make anyone stand out since everyone does that... it's just that lately i have been having second thoughts about trying to be a doctor because i feel like schools won't notice me... other than trying to get my black belt in taekwondo, i feel i have nothing else to offer cuz i dont have the money to be able to experience the world. other than getting good grades and volunteering at this local hospital for about 2 years i dont think i stand out. sorry im just ranting and im a lurker who likes reading whatever an SDNer has to say. any input welcome here

thanks 🙂

 

[Street Philosopher]

What makes you stand out is not so much what you do, but the insights and unique perspectives you gain through them. One can spend years in a hospital and never gain the type of insight into what makes a good doctor. Anyone can run through the motions with their mind on cruise control; but it is the thinking, reflective person that gains true experience.

Personally, I did not go on overseas missions, learn to tap dance, do any ballet, perform any improv, or form my own non-profit organization. On paper, my activities are actually somewhat pedestrian. But I realized that even in the most commonplace activities, anyone who is willing to reflect upon the experience and him/herself will find insight where others find none.

 

[gwugrad2003]

Hey

There are lots of things to do. For example, this is what i did from my fresh thru junior yrs in college. I went to my church and did a presentation about setting up an afterschool help center for junior and high school students in science and math. Six of my pre-med friends friends signed on and we really enjoyed our time there. Two of my firends who graduated this year said that adcoms really liked what we did and a majority of their interview time was about our program. Usually chruches, like ours, will give you a place and even funding 😱
We did some fundrasing of our own and bought some PCs. So there are alot of things out there. The church is an excellent resource, they are excellent starting point. So abuse them!
Be professional and don't be passive, you will get what you want.
pm if you have any other questions 😎

peace

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Just because many pre-meds have done research is not a reason for not doing it. If it interests you, do it. If not, don't. Pick up a minor or even a second major in something that interests you outside medicine. Join clubs that interest you. Get involved in theatre (they always need tech people if you don't like performing) or the school paper. Keep volunteering! Try tutoring. You don't have to have money to be an interesting person.

 

[granola]

I don't think you need a lot of money to make yourself stand out. There are things out there that you can do that doesn't require a lot of money.

For example, if you have a black belt in taekwondo, can't you compete in a karate competition? I'm sure that would stand out, especially if you win on some national level. Or couldn't you volunteer at the YMCA or an after school program and teach karate to kids who can't afford the classes? I'm not sure what the requirements are to teach karate. But there are things out there that you can do to make yourself stand out. You just have to be creative.

good luck

 

[Illusion18]

I joined a national organization and worked my way up from a local position to a national one where I oversee all the youth programming. Find an organization that interests you, dedicate yourself to it, and excel. All it takes is time and energy. Plus, I get to travel for free to set up conferences, etc.

 

[LukeWhite]

From painful (and repeated) experience, I learned that the most important thing in terms of volunteer experience is to do stuff that you can tell stories about.

You wouldn't believe how many people volunteer in inner city clinics, intensive care units, childrens' clinics, and then just say in their essays that they did these things. When you volunteer at the same places as everyone else, do so with an eye to really getting to know the people you work with. Ask them about their lives; ask about their past. When the crazy person in the ER starts rambling to you, don't try to get away; take notes!

The fact of the matter is that in most organized health care situations, a premed usually can't do all that much. Since you need the experience, take advantage of the hours you'll be spending standing around to think about the people and experiences and what lessons you can draw from them.

It'll make a huge difference when you apply. When adcoms see that you've actually taken the time not only to volunteer, but that you've done so with an eye to understanding people, you *will* stand out. As you noted, most everyone does the same thing, and usually that doesn't involve a lot of learning about people. When it does, too many premeds, timid souls that we are, neglect to write about it in the essay. A few quality experiences with stories is ten times better than a laundry list without.

Best of luck! (And volunteer in the inner city if you can. Most cities have 'em, the people are fascinated, and the only cost is the bus fare)

 

[hardyboi]

thank you all so much. i really needed everyone's advice on this.

eric

 

[Cydney Foote]

It's not the expensive or elaborate life events that interest admissions committees, it's the nuances of how you experienced an event -- no matter how insignificant. Others have advised you to seek insight rather than impressive experiences, and I second that wholeheartedly. As you start compiling experiences over the next few years, think about what they mean to your ambitions to be a doctor? What's the best way that you can make a difference? What talents do you rely on that will help you in whatever career you choose? You might even find that medicine is not the career for you -- but you'll have a better idea of what you want to do instead. In any case, that kind of introspection and self-understanding has a better chance of standing out than the most impressive but unexamined volunteer work.

 

[sunflower79]

Hiya hardyboi,
Learn from my experience: I went through college experiencing the same frustration and doing stuff mainly for the sake of trying to stand out. I ended up participating in waaay too many things, but most importantly I was NOT HAPPY. So the moral is: do things that make you happy! do things that you find interesting, even if it is mundane and unrelated to medicine. (If I could go back and do it again I would have joined ultimate frisbee.) The point is if you find it interesting chances are greater that you will keep at it and push it to a new level. If it is volunteering, keep thinking about the ppl you serve and how you can do it better. The best innovations and coolest projects start this way, NOT by thinking "what is the coolest thing I can do to stand out?"

keep smiling 🙂
sunflower79

 

[Ocelot]

If you are interested in research, you should definitely check out summer research fellowships at different universities. They actually provide you with a stipend, and in some cases, air fare. One option is the summer research training fellowship (SRTP) at UCSF. Its website is: http://student.ucsf.edu/summerprogram/home.jsp

And another is the SURF (summer undergraduate research fellowship) program in the Bio dept. at Columbia:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/surf-cssr.html

Many universities have programs like these. Merck also has different research opportunities. I don't know what your major is, but if you go to your dept. I am sure you can request info on current research being done within the dept. and contact any Prof. whose research interests you. Just a starting point...

Good Luck!