Versatility

[cugatron]

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Hello,

I am freshman pre-med student at a Jesuit university. I was wondering how important versatility was when it comes to applying to Med School. I was offered a research position with my mentor at my university, but I have already worked with him when I was in high school. I was also offered a positon to work with a summer internship program about immigration rights, and I thought this would be cool and was wondering if I should do this instead? Thank you!

 

[Goobs]

Continuity is a good thing and high school doesn't really count anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[climbouthole]

This is where you start to border on over-thinking. Instead of trying to analyze how an individual adcom might perceive your particular bag of ECs (an impossible task with all that there are), instead you should do what interests you most and will help you to learn, mature and communicate those changes when the time comes (in writing on your app, verbally in your interview). Now, commitment and longevity can demonstrate genuine engagement and in that respect it's a positive to maintain responsibilities longer than a few months, but again if you are more interested in the internship and you're excited for it, you should totally do that.

The above poster is correct in that your high school research may not directly influence your med school app, however it will be a great foot in the door for starting some in college if you so choose (whether that's now or after your internship).

 

[Ohyeah]

I agree with the above. I know people who also worked with professors in high school and continued working with them in college. They were given more responsibility and more opportunity than most other freshmen who join labs for the first time. A year or two later, they were already applying for research scholarships, doing poster presentations/papers, and managing their own sub-projects.

But that summer opportunity does sound neat. You really shouldn't shun your other interests just to "look good" for med school (pursuing these interests actually looks good too).

Can you do both? Like do this immigration rights thing over the summer and then work with your professor thereafter?