So about my extracurriculars...

[Ste1185]

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I am a 2nd yr and haven't joined any clubs so far in college. I'm lazy and just don't care, but besides that, I don't think I'll really benefit from them. I'm afraid my extracurriculars are going to put me on the weak side since I'm not the type that gets involved in stuff. I have done (or plan to do) some things before applying though:
-hospital volunteer, emergency room (heading to 200 hrs/3 semesters)
-tutor immigrant children (heading to 120hrs/2 semesters)
-some shadowing experience (5 weeks worth so far, plan to do more)
-engineering research (plan to get involved, dont know for how long)
-will study abroad next year

How am I doing in terms of extracurriculars? Oh, I also like to read books on Chinese history and memorize classical texts for fun and waste my time editing here, if that counts...

 

[synapse lapse]

I've never been in a club either, thank they are a waste of time and stupid resume builder. However, I have research (about to publish), summer program (MMEP), numerous volunteer/clinical, as well as other activities. I think that as long as you show an interest in medicine as well as pursue your individual interests you will be ok. Your list sounds fine. BTW, I am applying now so can't say if mine are "good enough", but they were good enough for me and what I wanted to do in life, and that's really what's important. Don't do things simply to please other people on an application, do them because you want to.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

if you are an undergrad sophomore and those ar eyour ECs i think you'r ein pretty good shape. don't just do things that will look good on an application but do things you really care about; the passion shows in interviews, essays and it really builds you as a person

 

[Jeffy]

Yeah dude. So far you're pretty golden. My only advice is to keep it up all four years, never let it seriously affect your grades, and to keep a balance between med-related stuff and "other" stuff that you're also interested in. Oh yeah, and be sure to go abroad. It looks good and makes for easy secondary and interview responses down the road. 👍

 

[Quynh2007]

I am a 2nd yr and haven't joined any clubs so far in college. I'm lazy and just don't care, but besides that, I don't think I'll really benefit from them. I'm afraid my extracurriculars are going to put me on the weak side since I'm not the type that gets involved in stuff. I have done (or plan to do) some things before applying though:
-hospital volunteer, emergency room (heading to 200 hrs/3 semesters)
-tutor immigrant children (heading to 120hrs/2 semesters)
-some shadowing experience (5 weeks worth so far, plan to do more)
-engineering research (plan to get involved, dont know for how long)
-will study abroad next year

How am I doing in terms of extracurriculars? Oh, I also like to read books on Chinese history and memorize classical texts for fun and waste my time editing here, if that counts...

wow, pretty nice. I volunteer a ton too, but I don't think it has anything to do with medicine, although I love it.
-working with 2 service worker (custodian + dining hall worker) teaching one to learn basic computer skills and the other to get a EDP (similar to a GED) that takes up 6hrs/week minimum (a requirement for a class)
-working with 3 African-american disadvantaged boys at the local high school (2 juniors, 1 senior) about college process, finaid, scholarships. It's part of a free SAT prep program. (3hrs/week)
-working with 8 preteens (8-11yrs old) in an afterschool program-tutor in hmwk and organize activities. (at least 5 hours a week)

I need to get involved in with a grade school (before 3rd grade) so that i will cover all the age groups basically.

I like working with people. 🙂

 

[fun8stuff]

wow, pretty nice. I volunteer a ton too, but I don't think it has anything to do with medicine, although I love it.
-working with 2 service worker (custodian + dining hall worker) teaching one to learn basic computer skills and the other to get a EDP (similar to a GED) that takes up 6hrs/week minimum (a requirement for a class)
-working with 3 African-american disadvantaged boys at the local high school (2 juniors, 1 senior) about college process, finaid, scholarships. It's part of a free SAT prep program. (3hrs/week)
-working with 8 preteens (8-11yrs old) in an afterschool program-tutor in hmwk and organize activities. (at least 5 hours a week)

I need to get involved in with a grade school (before 3rd grade) so that i will cover all the age groups basically.

I like working with people. 🙂

So now this thread is turning into a bragging thread... 🙄

 

[Jeffy]

So now this thread is turning into a bragging thread... 🙄

no kidding. wtf was that other post all about?

 

[SitraAchra]

I never joined a club either. I think paying money so you can get pizza parties every week and just having something for your resume is pitiful. Plus, unless you're an officer I doubt it matters.

The key is to do EC's you actually enjoy doing, and it will really show on your resume later on.

 

[45408]

I never joined a club either. I think paying money so you can get pizza parties every week and just having something for your resume is pitiful. Plus, unless you're an officer I doubt it matters.

The key is to do EC's you actually enjoy doing, and it will really show on your resume later on.

That's because people like you only join it for the pizza parties and having something on your resume. THAT'S pitiful. If you would go into it looking to get something real out of it, you would, but you don't, so nothing happens.

I am an officer for one, and many people sign up for those very reasons. We have events, the same select group of people comes, and the rest sit on their asses.

 

[SitraAchra]

That's because people like you only join it for the pizza parties and having something on your resume. THAT'S pitiful.

go ahead and re-read my post. I just said i DO NOT join clubs for that reason. Club membership is great if you get something out of it and actually contribute, however that's not really how it is.

Since you are an officer, I'm sure you are very involved so good for you. I honestly don't see why you take offense to my post...

 

[IndyZX]

oh, misunderstandings!

 

[keba15]

I never joined a club either. I think paying money so you can get pizza parties every week and just having something for your resume is pitiful. Plus, unless you're an officer I doubt it matters.

The key is to do EC's you actually enjoy doing, and it will really show on your resume later on.

What if you?re apart of a student government agency? It is a chair position. Does this look good?

 

[Potato!]

What if you?re apart of a student government agency? It is a chair position. Does this look good?

I'm in a dilemna. I want to make fun of people who ask questions like this, but at the same time I don't want to be mean. Bad karma and all that jazz. What to do...

 

[45408]

go ahead and re-read my post. I just said i DO NOT join clubs for that reason. Club membership is great if you get something out of it and actually contribute, however that's not really how it is.

I caught that, and I'm saying that the reason things are that way is because people go in with that expectation and then never exceed it.

What if you?re apart of a student government agency? It is a chair position. Does this look good?

If you actually do something, then yes, it's good. If you never do a thing, you might not want to list it as an EC, because you'd have nothing to talk about when they asked you about it in an interview. I've put in countless hours this year alone as the AMSA president at my school, so I could talk their ear off. 😛

 

[SitraAchra]

That's because people like you only join it for the pizza parties and having something on your resume. THAT'S pitiful. If you would go into it looking to get something real out of it, you would, but you don't, so nothing happens.

Normally I'd let this go, but I'm having trouble reconciling this quote.

Lets get things crystal clear here. People with MY attitude don't join clubs at all. People with your attitude join them and prosper. Somewhere between our attitudes are the droves of students that join clubs, attend the first few meetings, and then simply list the club membership on their resume. You seem to be confusing myself with the type listed last.

Why you are equating myself with a person who joins a club for pizza, let along joining at all, is beyond me. I get my EC's in by doing other things, and I personally think clubs make less of an impact than they're willing to admit unless it's a hardcore service club like APO.

 

[Childe]

I think I'll join an adcom just so i can harass applicants about their ridiculous amounts of token club participation...

 

[Neuronix]

It's better to get really involved with only a small number of things than to have a ton of things you were barely involved with on your app. Don't worry, adcoms know what's going on, and they'll ask you at interview if they think you're misrepresenting your activities on AMCAS. I've definately called people out on it in student interviews before.

 

[v-tach]

Does your school have a campus EMS squad? That would be a good medically-related thing to get involved in, and it is volunteer experience as well.