Thoughtful Suggestions?

[GenericQuestions]

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I am currently attending an online school to attain a Bachelor’s in Psychology. I am fully aware most medical schools, if any, will not take seriously an applicant who earned an online degree. That being said, I also intend on acquiring a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry from a traditional brick and mortar. I would like to transfer in my liberal arts electives earned online (e.g., social science and English classes), but I am unsure if medical schools will look less favorably on them if they were not earned the traditional way. Any thoughts about this?
In addition, I will be starting volunteer work at a prison ministry (non-medical), hospital (medical), and homeless shelter (non-medical). Will these extracurricular activities be sufficient for serious consideration of my medical school application? Keep in mind, I will also be doing shadowing (a must) at a hospital, and I am required to do a psychology internship for my undergraduate degree. While I will truly enjoy partaking in each of the activities listed, I am wondering what else I can participate in to strengthen my EC's section of the medical school application.

Any input given toward any or all of my questions is greatly appreciated.

 

[Pacna]

Do something you like for another EC (underwater hockey, underwater basket-weaving, underwater drowning, etc).

Nobody will care about where your transfer credits came from if a college accepts them as transfer credits.

 

[GenericQuestions]

Underwater basket-weaving? Sign me up!

By the way, thanks for your input.

 

[GenericQuestions]

Are there any differing thoughts on the matter?

 

[justAstudent]

There is no EC that you will do that will guarantee you admissions into medical school. What I have found is that most successful applicants choose ECs that they truly care about and enjoy doing. Because they enjoy it so much they usually end up sticking with the same ECs for years. During interviews, this gives them a lot to talk about and I really do think interviewers can see these ECs weren't just to check off boxes to get into medical school. So what I'm trying to get at is...choose ECs that you enjoy and stick with them.

 

[GenericQuestions]

I do enjoy the EC's I have chosen (this is noted in my post), but I am wondering if they are adequate in terms of volume.

 

[GenericQuestions]

P.S.

I plan on doing the volunteer work mentioned in my post for a number of years before applying to medical school.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Quality over quantity. If you can speak meaningfully forever about what you did (enjoying what you do makes this much easier, FYI..), it will come off as more significant than being president of all the clubs.

If you're concerned about volume still, consider your hobbies/outside interests - any way to immerse yourself further in them via clubs, etc.?

 

[Catalystik]

I am wondering what else I can participate in to strengthen my EC's section of the medical school application.

Teaching (TA, tutor, mentor, coach), leadership, and original research also strengthen a med school application.

 

[GenericQuestions]

Quality over quantity. If you can speak meaningfully forever about what you did (enjoying what you do makes this much easier, FYI..), it will come off as more significant than being president of all the clubs.

If you're concerned about volume still, consider your hobbies/outside interests - any way to immerse yourself further in them via clubs, etc.?

Thank you for your reply.

 

[GenericQuestions]

Teaching (TA, tutor, mentor, coach), leadership, and original research also strengthen a med school application.

Great point! Thank you for your reply.

 

[ponyo]

Quality over quantity. If you can speak meaningfully forever about what you did (enjoying what you do makes this much easier, FYI..), it will come off as more significant than being president of all the clubs.

If you're concerned about volume still, consider your hobbies/outside interests - any way to immerse yourself further in them via clubs, etc.?

This exactly... And I will also say that this is good advice not only to check the boxes but also for becoming more mature, self-aware and happy in general, which seems to be what they are actually trying to look for!

 

[GenericQuestions]

This exactly... And I will also say that this is good advice not only to check the boxes but also for becoming more mature, self-aware and happy in general, which seems to be what they are actually trying to look for!

No doubt! Thanks for the input.