Should I be doing more ECs?

[Birdnals]

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At the moment I currently volunteer at a cancer hospital, with significant patient contact, for about 4 hours a week. I have so far racked up about 130 hours there and plan on being there until I (God willing) matriculate. During the spring, I also volunteer coach for a local high school lacrosse team. I have been doing this for years and have racked up probably close to 400 hours. As far as shadowing goes, I currently have three physicians that I shadow and have gotten about 60 hours so far. I also work about 30 hours a week as a bartender and have been at the same establishment for seven years now.

My question is should I be doing more in the EC department, and if so, what kind of activities would you suggest? Lacrosse is over by the end of next week, depending on playoffs, and while I was looking forward to having a couple hours a week back I can't help but think that maybe I should be doing more. My pre-med adviser says my activities are sufficient but I'm striving for excellence, not just being "sufficient." I am trying to get on-board with a biophysics research lab but that won't be starting until the fall. For what it's worth I anticipate on applying next summer with a cGPA around 3.5 and a sGPA a little higher than that, with a 4.0 over the last four terms/51 hours and plan on applying broadly to the state schools as well a couple of reach programs.

 

[sstespri]

At the moment I currently volunteer at a cancer hospital, with significant patient contact, for about 4 hours a week. I have so far racked up about 130 hours there and plan on being there until I (God willing) matriculate. During the spring, I also volunteer coach for a local high school lacrosse team. I have been doing this for years and have racked up probably close to 400 hours. As far as shadowing goes, I currently have three physicians that I shadow and have gotten about 60 hours so far. I also work about 30 hours a week as a bartender and have been at the same establishment for seven years now.

My question is should I be doing more in the EC department, and if so, what kind of activities would you suggest? Lacrosse is over by the end of next week, depending on playoffs, and while I was looking forward to having a couple hours a week back I can't help but think that maybe I should be doing more. My pre-med adviser says my activities are sufficient but I'm striving for excellence, not just being "sufficient." I am trying to get on-board with a biophysics research lab but that won't be starting until the fall. For what it's worth I anticipate on applying next summer with a cGPA around 3.5 and a sGPA a little higher than that, with a 4.0 over the last four terms/51 hours and plan on applying broadly to the state schools as well a couple of reach programs.

More EC's aren't going to hurt you. You have a nice list of EC's right now. The biophysics lab would be a nice addition to your list. I've added things that I feel a lot of other students don't have on their lists...something to set me apart. Good luck applying. Keep us posted!

 

[Fluxx]

At the moment I currently volunteer at a cancer hospital, with significant patient contact, for about 4 hours a week. I have so far racked up about 130 hours there and plan on being there until I (God willing) matriculate. During the spring, I also volunteer coach for a local high school lacrosse team. I have been doing this for years and have racked up probably close to 400 hours. As far as shadowing goes, I currently have three physicians that I shadow and have gotten about 60 hours so far. I also work about 30 hours a week as a bartender and have been at the same establishment for seven years now.

damn dude, that seems like alot to me. I volunteer at one place 3 hr x week w/ direct patient contact, and I barely have time to do that.

I thought about trying to do something else totally different in addition, like mentoring/tutoring kids, but I don't want to spread myself too thin.

My thoughts on this are adcoms will look at the quality of what you're doing, not the number of things you do. I think having two volunteer things is really good, and more might seem like you're just doing it for the sake of having it on your application, because how can you fully focus on and be emotionally involved in three volunteer activities, shadow three docs, and work almost full time?

 

[Birdnals]

damn dude, that seems like alot to me. I volunteer at one place 3 hr x week w/ direct patient contact, and I barely have time to do that.

I thought about trying to do something else totally different in addition, like mentoring/tutoring kids, but I don't want to spread myself too thin.

My thoughts on this are adcoms will look at the quality of what you're doing, not the number of things you do. I think having two volunteer things is really good, and more might seem like you're just doing it for the sake of having it on your application, because how can you fully focus on and be emotionally involved in three volunteer activities, shadow three docs, and work almost full time?

Luckily I absolutely love all the activities I participate in (job included). Otherwise there's no way I'd be able to do all of this.

You bring up a good point, and one that is often brought up, regarding the quality of what I'm doing. While I love what I do and give it my all, there is room to grow. I give quality work but on paper it just looks like an accumulation of hours because I haven't "done anything noteworthy" per se. Does anyone have a clue as to how adcoms look at this? I believe the hospital I volunteer at has a leadership council for the student volunteer program so maybe once lacrosse is done I'll try to get involved in that.

 

[Goro]

Your ECs are great! If you want to challenge yourself, try Habitat for Humanity, or be a Big Brother/Sister. Or volunteer with EMTs.

key thing: do NOT overdo!


My question is should I be doing more in the EC department, and if so, what kind of activities would you suggest? Lacrosse is over by the end of next week, depending on playoffs, and while I was looking forward to having a couple hours a week back I can't help but think that maybe I should be doing more. My pre-med adviser says my activities are sufficient but I'm striving for excellence, not just being "sufficient." I am trying to get on-board with a biophysics research lab but that won't be starting until the fall. For what it's worth I anticipate on applying next summer with a cGPA around 3.5 and a sGPA a little higher than that, with a 4.0 over the last four terms/51 hours and plan on applying broadly to the state schools as well a couple of reach programs.[/QUOTE]