Should I drop this extracurricular activity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tawantinsuyu
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This really depends on how the last semester went.

How was your time management last semester? Were your grades a result of not having enough time to study or were there other reasons? I would be hesitant dropping a leadership position after only a semester. However, I'm a stickler for commitment and following through with things. So if you feel like your grades will suffer, then drop it (they are really important after all). However if you found that you did have enough time, but didn't work as hard as you could have or had other obstacles, I would sit down and figure out if this position otherwise influences your ability to perform in classes. Ultimately, grades are more important, but only you know if you're managing your time effectively.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I agree with Escalla that you need to first determine how this is impacting your time. Since it sounds like this is your only current activity outside of classes, I think working on your time management skills is the bigger issue. If you feel like you need to drop this commitment in order to do so, that's fine. But if you're dropping this and just spending extra time on Facebook every day and not managing your time any better, that's a problem.

You will have to describe your extracurricular activities on your vet school applications, so keep that in mind. Schools like to see that you're doing other things outside of classes, and dropping your one extracurricular activity after a single semester doesn't look very good. That said, school comes first, so if you really think that it's impacting your GPA then that needs to be addressed.
 
It's a fine line - you want to have strong grades but you also want to demonstrate that you can juggle multiple things while earning those grades. There will be many people in the applicant pools in med or vet school that will have thousands of hours of extra-curriculars while having really good GPAs. You need to find a way to make it work, in my opinion; you will also have to look at getting more vet experience hours (although this can be done over the summer).

Since it's only your second semester, you're likely still adjusting to the work load and expectations of college which is completely normal and understandable. However, now is the time to start making changes to the way you study. Try a new study method completely, monitor how much time you're actually studying versus surfing Facebook or online games, find a tutor for orgo. A lot of people get to college having coasted through high school and get a rude awakening. Take the time now to build a strong work ethic and it will pay off later down the line.

For the position, I suggest sticking it out for one more semester to at least show that you gave it a shot and not leave them scrambling to find your replacement. Just because it isn't directly related to vet med or human med doesn't mean it isn't a valuable experience.
 
That's because it plays a huge role in your application. If you can't handle it, drop it. Also check the terms of service of sdn. Cross posting is frowned upon
 
Drop it. Honestly, no one will care if you are head dorm honcho. There are better extracurriculars around.

But as others have said, make sure you are managing your time effectively.
 
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You can drop it, it's already on your resume once.

It's not necessarily going to fix any study problems, but perhaps you can focus on your classes better.

Or take the time spent on that activity and spend it instead with tutors, TA hours, etc. Take a "how to study more effectively" class, most schools have those free sessions.
 
I was in a very similar situation as you were. I had Organic I, lab, Genetics, Mammology, Mam Lab, Parasitology, Parasit Lab, a gym class, and a scientific thesis class every science kid has to take. I was also an RA for the first time ever and worked in our C-store12 hours a week and had Pre-vet club. I straight up failed Organic lecture with a 55% and got a C in genetics. However, A's in everything else.

However, I did what everyone here is suggesting: I evaluated what I did and specific classes. I later found out that only 1 kid got an A in organic lecture, 5 kids got B's, 10 kids got C's and everyone else of a 40 person class got D's and F's. That's a pretty high fail rate. I knew I did not devote enough time to genetics because of organic. I debated on whether or not to be an RA (and senior RA this year) because of this. I decided to stay an RA because I knew that organic here is ridiculous because the professor is terrible. I wasn't about to give up free room and board because of one class.

At this point, I was eliminated right out the gate at 2 schools. However, 2 schools told me that I was qualified to be in the program, but others were better. I got an interview at my fifth school and am waiting for a letter of acceptance or rejection. A lot of other factors influence your chances of getting in. My RA position junior year and Senior RA position my senior year actually helped me, even though I failed Organic. I have retaken it (got an 85% the second time around), retook Genetics and got a B and I am retaking Dev Bio. I had pretty good GREs and thousands of animal experience hours, but just over 100 vet shadowing hours. There's some obvious points that hurt me, but others that help a lot. Grades are only one factor and I can't stress that enough from my personal experience.

I would say that you evaluate not just how much time you spent on classwork, but how you spent that time. Study smart, not study hard sort of thing.
 
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