Typical premed extracurriculars?

[MedicalVballer]

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Title says it all...please list typical extracurriculars that most premeds engage in.

Thanks!

 

[GoSpursGo]

Volunteering at a hospital/other healthcare place is pretty much an unspoken requirement for just about every medical school.

Research is fairly common.

Outside of those two, people pretty much do what they want to do. It looks nice if in some of your elective ECs that you serve in some sort of leadership capacity and/or volunteer and give back to the community, but really you're better served by just doing what you enjoy than trying to force yourself into some preconceived premed "mold."

 

[wakerider123]

I was wondering if I could get some feedback on my EC's and what other things I should be doing to strengthen my application (I'll be applying June '10). Here's the list...please comment

1. Around 100 hours of volunteering in ambulatory surgery at local hospital.
2. Tutoring at a children's home weekly for two semesters. (I plan to continue this)
3. Lab Assistant
4. Two week missions trip focusing on eye care
5. Internship with a doctor who does general and internal medicine (roughly 120 hours).
6. Shadowed doctors in ophthalmology, gastroenterology, podiatry, and anaesthesiology.

Would it be wise to try to fit in some research, or is it really worth it considering the fact that I'd be doing it right when I turn my apps in. Thanks for the input

 

[Hoody]

Research is fairly common.

Common but necessary? I have no research. And as a 26 yr old full time working student, I don't really have much time to get involved with anything substantial....the rest of my app is pretty standard in terms of ECs, minus this.


Should note that I'm not looking for MD/PhD acceptance...MD/DO should suffice as my heart lies in primary care/family practice.

 

[runrunrudolph1]

Depends, for volunteering most people look at the ER for their local hospital, some get their EMS license and volunteer with their local ambulance/ school's ambulance.

Research, shadowing, volunteering at local soup kitchens, honors fraternities, big brother big sisters, red cross all are pretty common.

Also, do some stuff for fun so you aren't a total robot... running, painting, writing etc...

hope this helps

 

[runrunrudolph1]

Common but necessary? I have no research. And as a 26 yr old full time working student, I don't really have much time to get involved with anything substantial....the rest of my app is pretty standard in terms of ECs, minus this.


Should note that I'm not looking for MD/PhD acceptance...MD/DO should suffice as my heart lies in primary care/family practice.

A lot of research is dependent on the school you apply to. If you are MD/PhD than you are required to have research, but if you are applying to a research based MD school it is "recommended" aka do it. Again, depends on the school

 

[GoSpursGo]

I was wondering if I could get some feedback on my EC's and what other things I should be doing to strengthen my application (I'll be applying June '10). Here's the list...please comment

1. Around 100 hours of volunteering in ambulatory surgery at local hospital.
2. Tutoring at a children's home weekly for two semesters. (I plan to continue this)
3. Lab Assistant
4. Two week missions trip focusing on eye care
5. Internship with a doctor who does general and internal medicine (roughly 120 hours).
6. Shadowed doctors in ophthalmology, gastroenterology, podiatry, and anaesthesiology.

Would it be wise to try to fit in some research, or is it really worth it considering the fact that I'd be doing it right when I turn my apps in. Thanks for the input

If you haven't really been doing it up to this point and you're applying this year, it doesn't really matter; you can do it so that you can include it in update letters, but putting stuff on your application that you just "plan" to do is silly.

Common but necessary? I have no research. And as a 26 yr old full time working student, I don't really have much time to get involved with anything substantial....the rest of my app is pretty standard in terms of ECs, minus this.


Should note that I'm not looking for MD/PhD acceptance...MD/DO should suffice as my heart lies in primary care/family practice.

Research is not necessary. The higher up you go on the US News Research Rankings, the bigger of a plus it'll be to your application, but nowhere will it be nearly as important as clinical experience.

 

[Hoody]

Research is not necessary. The higher up you go on the US News Research Rankings, the bigger of a plus it'll be to your application, but nowhere will it be nearly as important as clinical experience.

oi....

So in other words, since my school doesn't have a state school, but it a part of the WWAMI pact, I suppose I should start doing at least something to up my chances at the University of Washington. 😏

 

[GoSpursGo]

oi....

So in other words, since my school doesn't have a state school, but it a part of the WWAMI pact, I suppose I should start doing at least something to up my chances at the University of Washington. 😏

I mean... again, doing research gives you bonus points, but if the rest of your application is strong a lack of research isn't going to disqualify you anywhere.

 

[SFANJUM]

if you are applying to a research based MD school it is "recommended" aka do it. Again, depends on the school

How are you supose to know which medical schools are "research based"?

Is there a list some where?? Would any body here know which of those medschools in Texas are "research based"?

Thanks!!