What clubs are worth joining?

[MrAppleseed]

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Members do not see this ad.

Are these worth anything on your CV (assume not in a leadership position), or do people mostly join them out of interest or for social purposes?

If they are helpful things to do, any that you would suggest (AMA, AMSA, etc.)?

 

[sylvanthus]

Are these worth anything on your CV (assume not in a leadership position), or do people mostly join them out of interest or for social purposes?

If they are helpful things to do, any that you would suggest (AMA, AMSA, etc.)?

They don't really matter less you had significant involvement (leadership position). This isn't like undergraduate any longer where you pad your resume with multiple clubs, so just do what interests you now.

 

[isoquin]

Well, if you join the AMA in a non-leadership capacity, they will give you something for "free" when you pay them. From there, you can continue to write them checks, and they will send you e-mails and let you talk to other people who also paid them on their forums.

If you join AMSA, you can pay them for something "free" as well. Payment into this club grants you the privilege of being elected to an extensive board, where you can work for free to produce fund raisers for AMSA, getting the group more money.

Keep in mind you can still attend most events from either organization whether you pay them or not. You can even get their e-mails. The only difference is, you're not a paying member.

What I would recommend instead of just joining clubs so you can say you joined them (by paying), is to get involved in activities you actually enjoy, and in which you can perhaps rise to some meaningful leadership position (which is possible in both of the above groups). Much like applying to med school, fluff hollow extracurriculars are quickly uncovered on the residency interview.

 

[genswim24]

The one's that give out free food. I went to meetings for every specialty to get a free lunch during 1st and 2nd year.

 

[DrYoda]

None.

And we have a winner.

 

[red10]

The one's that give out free food. I went to meetings for every specialty to get a free lunch during 1st and 2nd year.

I'm discovering that there's no reason to buy dinner and/or lunch most of the time. It's kinda awesome

 

[Morsetlis]

I am in the Large Animals Society.

I am a large animal.

They have cool t-shirts.

(On the other hand, there are lots of volunteer / leadership opportunities around. I wouldn't let these distract you from your studying, though...)

 

[Wordead]

Is saving 5 dollars really worth wasting your time

 

[usmlesuccess]

the studying club. lol

 

[FunnyCurrent]

None.

I know seriously. Padding your resume didn't work for getting into medical school and you think it will work for residency?

Don't you know all residency ADCOMS come fully equipped with a fluff-o-meter

 

[Rollo]

I joined a couple mainly out of interest in that specialty. Every now and then, they have a cool guest lecturer come through and whatnot.

But don't join them to pad your resume.

 

[shadowfox87]

I know seriously. Padding your resume didn't work for getting into medical school and you think it will work for residency?

Don't you know all residency ADCOMS come fully equipped with a fluff-o-meter

Exactly, I agree with none.

 

[bioteach]

I wouldn't have believed it in MS1, but now preparing my ERAS app...NONE is the correct answer. You can go to any club's meetings or events without being a member. Getting the title of "secretary" or "president" of some random club is resume padding that is pretty much meaningless. Getting involved in research or just plain studying more will be of more value.

 

[URHere]

For resume purposes - none of your standard clubs are going to do much good. Research is the only "EC" with a clear benefit.

For personal enjoyment - generally, things outside of medical school will be the best way to go. For example, joining a recreational sports league, taking an art class, etc.

But...if you are absolutely set on joining some sort of medical school club, I would suggest looking into the ones that involve both education and community outreach. I worked with both Tar Wars and Girls Inc. (running elementary school anti-smoking programs, and teaching high-risk youth about nutrition, women's health, etc) and found them to be quite rewarding. However, AMA and AMSA will gladly spam you with useless magazines and "inspirational" emails if you are into that sort of thing.

 

[Postal]

I joined a club because they gave me a free text book(that I was going to buy anyway) the same price as the membership fee.

And I joined another club simply because I liked the cause. I have no expectations that it will help my resume because it seems to be the consensus that clubs don't help much.

 

[startswithb]

What about class officer positions? Admissions committee?

 

[MrAppleseed]

Hey thanks for the replies. I've never joined a club in my life and don't have much desire to, so these are all good things to hear.

Are there any ECs (aside from research) that are helpful when it comes to residency?

What about volunteering in student-run free clinics?

 

[2012mdc]

Hey thanks for the replies. I've never joined a club in my life and don't have much desire to, so these are all good things to hear.

Are there any ECs (aside from research) that are helpful when it comes to residency?

What about volunteering in student-run free clinics?

Don't get involved in an EC just because you think it would look good.

Med school can be tiring and busy so save your energy for EC's that you are passionate about.

Volunteer in a free clinic if you are interested in it but don't feel pressured to do so. I personally was never big on that stuff but I found other EC's I was interested in (mentoring, tutoring, etc)

Obviously you don't want your experience section on ERAS to be completely blank so if you don't do research find something that interests you

 

[PTPoeny]

If you have a good idea what specialty you want to go into joining the club for that specialty will get you in touch with faculty for things like your required clinical exposure during the first two years and research if you are interested in that.

(We had to spend a couple of half days per year getting clinical exposure first year and had to set them up ourselves so meeting faculty was useful for setting those up if you wanted to do something other than family med.)

 

[Thing1]

Seems like the vast majority of my class is either already in or is attempting to to get in leadership positions in various clubs/organizations. I thought I was done with this sh-- after undergrad. Is it really that big a deal for residencies? I know sometimes it's important for AOA...

 

[officedepot]

Seems like the vast majority of my class is either already in or is attempting to to get in leadership positions in various clubs/organizations. I thought I was done with this sh-- after undergrad. Is it really that big a deal for residencies? I know sometimes it's important for AOA...

the only good thing about those leaderships I suspect is getting to make connections/networking for yourself with people in the field. Those "leaders" don't ever seem to do anything else as far as I can tell.

not sure about AOA. For that position grades probably matter most followed by research, volunteering, involvement in the school, etc. Every school has different criteria and residencies know this. Thus even helpfulness of AOA is up for debate in my opinion (heck of course those people match at higher rates... they have higher grades/board scores to begin with......)

Otherwise it's just padding that I would bet isn't all that helpful in the long run.

 

[Shadowmoses]

Would tutoring other med students count as "fluff" on the residency application?

My school has no student tutoring program, and I'm thinking of drafting a proposal to the dean to get something going, and I want to volunteer myself as a tutor, and maybe take on some type of leadership role if this tutor program actually goes somewhere.

 

[DrJosephKim]

The AMA and AMSA are all great organizations and you'll probably automatically be enrolled in them (free membership).

If you have a strong interest in physician leadership (ie, you hope to be a chief resident, medical director, chief of staff, etc.), then I would encourage you to join the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). Student membership is available.

If you have a strong interest in business and innovation, then consider the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs. MBA is not required and membership is free.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Are these worth anything on your CV (assume not in a leadership position), or do people mostly join them out of interest or for social purposes?

If they are helpful things to do, any that you would suggest (AMA, AMSA, etc.)?

There are three you should look into, depending where you are located and what is available.

Snap

24 Hour Fitness

Anytime Fitness

Everything else is rubbish

 

[MilkmanAl]

Everything else is rubbish

I really couldn't disagree more. Joining the AMA-MSS (or whatever) is good for a free 4-day trip to Chicago every summer. 😛 It's also fun to see a bunch of exceptionally self-important med students flail about trying to enact change in a political structure that marginalizes them from the get-go.

 

[DrArete]