What is most important?

[jrcable]

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Basically what I am looking to get out of this post is, aside from MCAT scores and GPA, what are most important things you can do to spice up your application for DO school.
1. Clinical experience
2. Research
3. EC's volunteering, w.e.
I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic, so I already have quite a bit of clinical experience from that. As 85% of my calls require my Paramedic skills and not my fire ones But do i need to be in a hospital for it to actually look good? As far as research, how do I get involved in research? How important is it in my application? And for EC's, what are some good ideas that you have done that you feel have helped you get accepted? I don't have a TON of time to do a bunch of things so I need to hone in on what is going to help the most. Thanks

 

[Mosonik]

You don't need "spice" to gain an interview and acceptance. Do the basics that everyone should have (it appears you know what that is) and focus on getting the best numbers you can for sGPA and MCAT.
And of course, write a good personal statement and secondary essays.... play the game right and youll be fine.

 

[abolt18]

I'd say, do a little of each to get exposure to them, then do lots of the one you like. Honestly the EC's that were talked about most in my interviews are things like rock climbing, hiking, camping, etc. These things were only slightly mentioned in my Personal Statement and no where else so at least in the interviews, they didn't ever seem to care at all about my clinical experience, research (I have none, so the lack thereof), or volunteering. The one EC that sparked interest for all the interviewers though was that I started a Pre-SOMA chapter at my school and served as president. (little did they know that once I was accepted I had zero motivation to do anything for it anymore).

 

[HalfListic]

clinical experience


edit: further explained. Of the three things youve listed, Clinical Experience (patient exposure), research experience, and EC's, the most important would be your clinical experience IMO.

All of them are good to have.

But, you dont need research experience for any school. Some value it more than others, but its not a high priority.

ECs should have happened, but if you worked instead, they understand that.

If you haven't EVER had ANY clinical experience/patient exposure, I think the ADCOM will wonder how much thought and preparation you have given medicine. You need to show them you have a desire to work in healthcare. It seems like the most important of the three.

 

[pathologyDO]

Its very important that you spend time accruing some non-clinical volunteer hours because adcoms want to see you're empathic and enjoy helping others.

Both KCOM and KCUMB-COM asked about my undergrad research while I was interviewing so I would like to think that it helped make me stand out (although a majority of other applicants also do undergraduate research too). Getting involved is easy. You should speak to your pre-med advisor and ask for a list of email's of professors that do research.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Research, volunteering, and clinical experience are basically a minimum these days. Everyone has some experience that fits these 3 things. No adcoms talked about those things with me. They only talked about the unique experiences that stand out. So to answer your question, everything else is important. You just need an overall strong app with no weak spots to be competitive with other applicants.

 

[hallowmann]

Research, volunteering, and clinical experience are basically a minimum these days. Everyone has some experience that fits these 3 things. No adcoms talked about those things with me. They only talked about the unique experiences that stand out. So to answer your question, everything else is important. You just need an overall strong app with no weak spots to be competitive with other applicants.

This is generally true, but a lot of DO schools seemed to care about clinical experience over research. Obviously having both is best, but I only had one DO school bring research up in an interview, while my clinical experience came up at every one. I think with regards to research it depends heavily on the school, as some value it much more than others.

 

[Goro]

For us, it's
1a. Clinical experience
1b. EC's volunteering
2. Shadowing.
3. Research

For 1, we want to see evidence of altruism PLUS evidence of patient contact experience. Your para skills are fine, but not all patients are the same, so think outside the box and volunteer at a nursing home, hospice, a clinic, a camp for sick/disabled kids, of be really daring and try the Peace Corps.

You'll be OK, so quit fussing.

Basically what I am looking to get out of this post is, aside from MCAT scores and GPA, what are most important things you can do to spice up your application for DO school.
I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic, so I already have quite a bit of clinical experience from that. As 85% of my calls require my Paramedic skills and not my fire ones But do i need to be in a hospital for it to actually look good? As far as research, how do I get involved in research? How important is it in my application? And for EC's, what are some good ideas that you have done that you feel have helped you get accepted? I don't have a TON of time to do a bunch of things so I need to hone in on what is going to help the most. Thanks