What Qualifies as a Unique EC?

[medbound13]

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I have heard that a "unique" hobby should be listed on your application to medical school. So what "unique" hobbies or ECs are good to put on a med school app? Maybe we can get a list going? Anyone who listed a "unique" hobby and thought that helped them in the admission process?

 

[mystifire]

I was in a ballroom dancing club in college. I havent applied yet but that is what i am marketing as my unique EC. I did foxtrot, tango, and waltz routines i performed at semesterly showcases and in the university's official talent show.

 

[eli20]

I have heard that a "unique" hobby should be listed on your application to medical school. So what "unique" hobbies or ECs are good to put on a med school app? Maybe we can get a list going? Anyone who listed a "unique" hobby and thought that helped them in the admission process?

Don't you think a list of unique ECs kinda defeats the point of them being... ya know, unique?

 

[Mithril]

.

 

[iqe2010]

I'm thinking about studying abroad my junior year, this guy who's been accepted into med school recommended it. He's also in student government..

 

[Geneticist]

Trekked across China on a grizzly bear and discovered a new species of dinosaur.

That's hardly unique, I did that two years ago.

Would playing first singles and first doubles for my uni classify as "unique"? Or does it still fall under athletics...?

 

[Dial71]

I built a large flying cocoon, staffed with tens of henchmen (leadership!). It also really helps having Guild LOR's.

 

[bagelbird]

Being Prince Poppycock from America's Got Talent. Med school adcomms would eat him up.

 

[apumic]

Booger-Picking Champion:

 

[curlytop]

This is thread is going places.

 

[jungleland]

It is unique if it will not be covered by this thread.

Also, to the kid who said something about athletics earlier, you are only allowed to choose one heading for activities: "Unique" OR "athletics". Under no circumstances can something fall under both categories- ADCOMS ARE EXTREMELY STRICT ABOUT THIS so be careful!

 

[LoveTheRunner]

I was knighted back in '05 for "exceptional services rendered to the Crown"

 

[slammer922]

I have heard that a "unique" hobby should be listed on your application to medical school. So what "unique" hobbies or ECs are good to put on a med school app? Maybe we can get a list going? Anyone who listed a "unique" hobby and thought that helped them in the admission process?

I'm pursuing a private pilots license (over 75 hours flying and soloed in two different aircrafts) and a self thought musician/singer/songwriter. Both have came up during interviews and interviewers seemed pretty impressed.

 

[tripwm]

Ex-pro triathlete and Olympic Training Center resident (at age 18) and as college began, I remained active in the sport as an amateur. I've competed in 2 Ironmans (including World Champs). My interviews loved this aspect and were about 50:50 talking about this and medicine.

 

[4ksibe]

don't you think a list of unique ecs kinda defeats the point of them being... Ya know, unique?

+1

 

[Ursa]

I'm thinking about studying abroad my junior year, this guy who's been accepted into med school recommended it. He's also in student government..

Umm...no. Everybody and their dog studies abroad.

 

[oldyogurt]

how awesome would that be to be called "Sir (your name")! They don't do that kind of stuff in America. A Medal of Freedom would be pretty sick too though you don't get cool title.

I exhibited artwork in a few shows, one of them I helped curate, and I've been published in a popular art magazine (on the DVD though haha).

 

[searun]

I have heard that a "unique" hobby should be listed on your application to medical school. So what "unique" hobbies or ECs are good to put on a med school app? Maybe we can get a list going? Anyone who listed a "unique" hobby and thought that helped them in the admission process?

One of my classmates published a first novel prior to entering medical school. It was reviewed and critically aclaimed by Time Magazine and the New York Times.

Another med school classmate of mine was the national champion in a major athletic competition.

These are the sorts of accomplishments that raise eyebrows and get you noticed by the ad coms. Definitely "unique."

 

[alexrgross]

fewer people do service work abroad then study abroad...see if you can take a quarter off to do something non-academic abroad (maybe your home uni will still give you academic credit for this? Talk to you advisor)

 

[OrangeandMaroon]

I was a national champion speed skater and almost every interviewer has brought it up at some point. I didn't list it on my AMCAS but opened my personal statement with it. To be honest the interviewers were more interested in what I learned from it than the fact that it was unique.

 

[LoveTheRunner]

apolo anton ohno is applying to med school? sweet deal

 

[NickNaylor]

Unless you're curing HIV/AIDS or cancer or playing on the USA World Cup team, you probably haven't done a unique EC. There are so many outstanding applicants that likely everything has been seen before. I actually met a guy last week that I suspect was an Olympian. It's just the specific activity that might be unique (i.e., starting a non-profit for X cause might be unique, but starting a non-profit in general isn't).

 

[familyaerospace]

I don't think any of mine are unique, but they certainly aren't common. I was a medieval reenactor for a number of years and was a stage manager at a renaissance festival for two of those years. I had a 20 year career in theater. I have a listing of radio and tv interviews I did regarding my research. I don't think many people would have that, just publications or something. Worked at a space education non-profit, which I am sure isn't common. Most of the rest is pretty normal for the most part.

 

[50Fly]

apolo anton ohno is applying to med school? sweet deal

That would be cool! I met Apolo at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, great guy!

 

[kexy]

i clicked on this thread all enthusiastically because i was hoping people would answer seriously. should have known better, lol.
i've been antagonizing everyone i know about this. chinchilla breeding and starting a bon jovi cover band are two suggestions i've received..... i'm not even being facetious. i'm probably going on an archeological dig this summer, i hope that's unique-ish?

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I can perform autofellatio, and can do this on command at an interview if asked to do so.

 

[rhesuspieces]

I can perform autofellatio, and can do this on command at an interview if asked to do so.

I know a few monkeys that can accomplish this. True story.

 

[IrishCalini]

In all seriousness, I've got to echo the thought that its not necessarily having unique ECs on your app as much as it is being able to explain what they taught you/how you used these experiences to make you a better future doctor.

I was an internationally ranked Irish dancer for most of my childhood and now teach/consult here and there. Every school asked about it (some even pre-interview), and they always angled it towards the "What did you learn from this...?" and etc.

 

[equios]

Being a living Medal of Honor recipient should count as a good EC...

One of my tour guides was a retired army special forces (not Ranger, strait-up SF), that's gotta count for something too.

Honestly, what counts as a Unique EC? Something that is rarely if ever seen, that demands work and dedication to achieve, that shows commitment, and maturity.

 

[Andnosoupforyou]

I punched a cobra once. No joke.

 

[apumic]

i clicked on this thread all enthusiastically because i was hoping people would answer seriously. should have known better, lol.
i've been antagonizing everyone i know about this. chinchilla breeding and starting a bon jovi cover band are two suggestions i've received..... i'm not even being facetious. i'm probably going on an archeological dig this summer, i hope that's unique-ish?

That's b/c you CAN'T fake being unique. Do things you love. Be interesting. Don't be another cookie-cutter premed. A dig could be interesting/unique. Do something with it. Just do it.

One person I know who's applying this June is an Olympic athlete. He'll be literally flying from the pre-Olympic qualifying rounds to go to interviews. It'll be a heck of an interview year. He's still trying to figure out he's going to manage the 2012 Olympics with med school start dates....

 

[Choo]

Being a living Medal of Honor recipient should count as a good EC...

That could be only one person, really.