What should I do for ECs?

[relevant]

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So basically I know I have to get good grades, but aside from that, where would be a good place to start building up my app? I'm a freshman in college btw.

 

[0dee]

Why are you worried about ECs? Go have fun, enjoy your freshman year. If you insist and want to do something beneficial for your app, then go volunteer and help out the less privileged people like a soup kitchen, homeless shelters, and such. Also, try to shadow a doctor and see if you actually like medicine.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Do things that you enjoy. Sports, clubs, community service, research, something that shows leadership. At some point before you apply, you'll need to get some longitudinal clinical experience--ideally, something that allows you to interact with patients (usually by volunteering or working during summers/gap year) and something that gives you a sense of what doctors do all day (shadowing).

But first and foremost, find stuff that you like to do and do it.

 

[740984]

Please focus on getting good grades. Have seen too many people go all out and wild and regret. Its going to be hard, but you'll love yourself later on

 

[Swish16]

Get into a research lab ASAP, join some clubs/organizations/greek life aka anything you can get leadership experience and community service from. Shadow a doc over the summer and if you like medicine go for hospital volunteering to get clinical experience.

 

[625233]

Acing my freshman year has helped me keep my GPA afloat a couple of semesters tbh. Do your best now so that you have room to make a mistake or two along the way (everyone does).

 

[relevant]

Why are you worried about ECs? Go have fun, enjoy your freshman year. If you insist and want to do something beneficial for your app, then go volunteer and help out the less privileged people like a soup kitchen, homeless shelters, and such. Also, try to shadow a doctor and see if you actually like medicine.

I am having fun. I just keep hearing how med school is hard to get into and I want to make myself a competitive applicant.

Please focus on getting good grades. Have seen too many people go all out and wild and regret. Its going to be hard, but you'll love yourself later on

That's true... Last semester I did nothing but party and study yet I managed to get straight As. I'm pretty sure if I had a job or was involved with clubs, it would make things slightly harder. Trill I am having fun, but how important are ECs to med school? I just want to make sure I am on track; I really aspire to be a physician no lie.

 

[relevant]

Acing my freshman year has helped me keep my GPA afloat a couple of semesters tbh. Do your best now so that you have room to make a mistake or two along the way (everyone does).

why you always lyin

 

[relevant]

Get into a research lab ASAP, join some clubs/organizations/greek life aka anything you can get leadership experience and community service from. Shadow a doc over the summer and if you like medicine go for hospital volunteering to get clinical experience.

Alright I'm going to get some shadowing done during the summer that is for sure.

 

[Swish16]

I am having fun. I just keep hearing how med school is hard to get into and I want to make myself a competitive applicant.

That's true... Last semester I did nothing but party and study yet I managed to get straight As. I'm pretty sure if I had a job or was involved with clubs, it would make things slightly harder. Trill I am having fun, but how important are ECs to med school? I just want to make sure I am on track; I really aspire to be a physician no lie.

ECs are extremely important. You can have a 4.0 and a 40 MCAT (or 521 or whatever the accursed exam equivalent is now) and not get a single acceptance if you don't have clinical experience/shadowing/research/leadership. I don't have the best ECs (outside of the cookie-cutter premed activities) and it's hurting me with my application process right now even though I have strong stats from a prestigious institution.

 

[Dandine]

Volunteering/shadowing/clinical setting experiences are very important. You can get these in multiple ways but these are crucial--most people on here would agree.

Research is important for many schools, but it's one of those things you have to prioritize and give time to. You'll have to factor in what research you pursue and what you want to spend time on.

Non-clinical volunteering (e.g. soup kitchen, reading programs, charities) is also helpful. Several schools really place emphasis on community service so it's something to consider.

As for the other stuff...hobbies, other clubs...that depends on what you want to do. I think these might help more for you to be seen as unique. It's a balancing act of figuring out what you want to do (I've been there and it does get tricky!), but listen to yourself--you'll find what you like to do over time!

EDIT: the answer to your question is essentially now. But like many people here have said, be mindful of your studies.

 

[relevant]

ECs are extremely important. You can have a 4.0 and a 40 MCAT (or 521 or whatever the accursed exam equivalent is now) and not get a single acceptance if you don't have clinical experience/shadowing/research/leadership. I don't have the best ECs (outside of the cookie-cutter premed activities) and it's hurting me with my application process right now even though I have strong stats from a prestigious institution.

If you could go back to your freshman year, what are some things you would change?

 

[relevant]

Volunteering/shadowing/clinical setting experiences are very important. You can get these in multiple ways but these are crucial--most people on here would agree.

Research is important for many schools, but it's one of those things you have to prioritize and give time to. You'll have to factor in what research you pursue and what you want to spend time on.

Non-clinical volunteering (e.g. soup kitchen, reading programs, charities) is also helpful. Several schools really place emphasis on community service so it's something to consider.

As for the other stuff...hobbies, other clubs...that depends on what you want to do. I think these might help more for you to be seen as unique. It's a balancing act of figuring out what you want to do (I've been there and it does get tricky!), but listen to yourself--you'll find what you like to do over time!

EDIT: the answer to your question is essentially now. But like many people here have said, be mindful of your studies.

👍

 

[Swish16]

If you could go back to your freshman year, what are some things you would change?

Prioritize my grades since my freshman year didn't go as well as I would've liked. Still applied with a great GPA though. I only have a year of research experience which I think is hurting my app, so I would try to get 2+ years total. I'm also lacking strong leadership experience so get involved early so you can have a position like President/VP/Treasurer by the time you apply to med school.

 

[relevant]

Prioritize my grades since my freshman year didn't go as well as I would've liked. Still applied with a great GPA though. I only have a year of research experience which I think is hurting my app, so I would try to get 2+ years total. I'm also lacking strong leadership experience so get involved early so you can have a position like President/VP/Treasurer by the time you apply to med school.

Thank you and good luck !

 

[Turkishking]

Primarily focus on getting a competitive GPA freshman year. Worry about EC's later.

 

[ArizonaVet480]

Enter Nathans hot dog eating contest and defeat Takeru Kobayashi. You will be in rare company!