Should I get more involved with leadership if I want to specialize or grades all that matter?

[Snape_GOAT]

I'm a D2, and I am thinking about ortho. I didn't do much in terms of volunteering or holding leadership positions in my first year. I focused on my classes instead in order to get the best grades that I can get. I did do a day here and there to host webinars and help set up for events at school that I found interesting but that's pretty much it.

I want to focus on keeping my grades up in D2 because rank is most important and also get started in research (trying to find something I'm interested in). Should I make more of an effort to get on the e-board of some clubs or is it better to just focus on grades, research, and volunteer for random things I find interesting specifically for ortho?

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[Xtract]

focus on rank

 

[eortho]

All of the above is the best, but class rank is most important by far. Next, I’d focus on research over leadership positions.
(I’m an orthodontist and hold a part time faculty position at an orthodontic program)

 

[2TH MVR]

Hopefully you're at a DS that has an ortho residency. Spend time in the ortho residency dept. Ask to help out with the ortho residents and ortho attending's research projects.

 

[PerioDont]

In my opinion priority should be #1 Grades, #2 Research, #3 ECs