Scared to death about lack of EC's

[canmed96]

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Hi there. I am a sophomore in college in Canada and i did like literally no volunteering in year 1 because i wanted to focus on academics. I have a competitive gpa as a result (for now) at around 3.91. I am planning on writing the MCAT summer third year. This gives me about a year and a half including this summer to bolster EC's.

So far, i did my 40 hours at a medical clinic in highschool. I literally have nothing other than this. I am going to start volunteering at the hospital this weekend and maintain that. I really need help as to what i should do.

As far as work, i've been working at Tim Hortons for 3 years.

As far as my interests, i dont see how i can convert them to EC's. I enjoy weightlifting, big hockey fan as well as a baseball. Guitar is a bit of a hobby.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[LizzyM]

You are employed.
You are engaged in weightlifting (athletics).
You are a hospital volunteer (starting this weekend).
You are a guitar player. (artistic or hobby, your choice)


That's four items for now. That's good.
In your third year, or this summer, add some research (even for credit), and some peer tutoring or being a resident assistant in your dorm. Find some non-medical need in the community that you can help address with even 2 hours per week. This could be tutoring children or adults, assisting refuges, feeding the hungry, doing outreach to the homeless, helping in any kind of not-for-profit, particularly if you can have face-to-face service.

 

[futuremdforme]

Hi there. I am a sophomore in college in Canada and i did like literally no volunteering in year 1 because i wanted to focus on academics. I have a competitive gpa as a result (for now) at around 3.91. I am planning on writing the MCAT summer third year. This gives me about a year and a half including this summer to bolster EC's.

So far, i did my 40 hours at a medical clinic in highschool. I literally have nothing other than this. I am going to start volunteering at the hospital this weekend and maintain that. I really need help as to what i should do.

As far as work, i've been working at Tim Hortons for 3 years.

As far as my interests, i dont see how i can convert them to EC's. I enjoy weightlifting, big hockey fan as well as a baseball. Guitar is a bit of a hobby.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

You're fine as long as you add the volunteering and sustain it, especially since you're planning to apply in 4th year. Work and your hobbies do count as ECs. (Hockey if you play, probably not just on TV.) You should also have some extra time this summer since you're not writing the MCAT until after 3rd year, and you could always join a club if you wanted. (Tutoring would be good since you're doing well academically.) If you apply in Canada, your high school medical clinic hours count on your application.

 

[canmed96]

I talked to one of my profs, and he said i could do research for his lab third year. As far as this summer, i will be volunteering as a youth mentor. But what else should i be doing???

 

[Pusheen]

I went pre-med halfway through my junior year and am applying right after my senior year (this June). I've gotten about 400+ hours of volunteering in since making the switch. It's totally possible, just start doing things right now and get really good at time management 🙂

 

[canmed96]

I went pre-med halfway through my junior year and am applying right after my senior year (this June). I've gotten about 400+ hours of volunteering in since making the switch. It's totally possible, just start doing things right now and get really good at time management 🙂

what activities did you do though, i live in a pretty small city, might not have as many oppurtunities

 

[Pusheen]

what activities did you do though, i live in a pretty small city, might not have as many oppurtunities

Volunteer internship program at a hoapital, tutored kids at an inner-city after school program, leadership activities in both. I do live in a big city, so the dynamics might be different. Look around, you'll find something. Or drive to the nearest big city once a week and spend the day there.

 

[kitkat13]

went pre-med halfway through my junior year and am applying right after my senior year (this June).

So what are you doing in your gap year may I ask?

 

[Pusheen]

So what are you doing in your gap year may I ask?

Not sure yet. Definitely getting a full time job, hopefully in research or healthcare.

 

[kitkat13]

Not sure yet. Definitely getting a full time job, hopefully in research or healthcare.

Good luck! And love your pusheen avatar 🙂

 

[canmed96]

Okay so:
I just got in contact with big brothers big sisters for a mentoring program
- started the volunteering at the hospital and will be doing research in the summer for a prof
-signed up to be a book buddy- helping kids read at the local library
how is that looking, and what else could i add?

 

[LizzyM]

Can you find a laboratory research opportunity this summer? If not, plan on something in a research lab at the start of junior year.

 

[whatever5]

I didn't do any ECs freshman year (literally nothing. No job, no clubs, no volunteering, no sports) AND I also got a low GPA (3.3 or so)

Hasn't hurt me a bit, and you're already miles ahead of where I was.

 

[Nursultan Tulyakbay]

If you weight lift, compete in a powerlifting meet. Doesn't even matter if your numbers aren't that competitive, you'll be able to slap it down a an EC!!!

 

[canmed96]

I didn't do any ECs freshman year (literally nothing. No job, no clubs, no volunteering, no sports) AND I also got a low GPA (3.3 or so)

Hasn't hurt me a bit, and you're already miles ahead of where I was.

what'd you end up doing though if u dont mind me asking