what were your extracurriculars?

[amena]

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I'm just now trying to get volunteer and extracurricular things in prospective. What are some of the things you did? what is the best form of extracurricular or volunteer service that impresses an adcomm? if any? how did you go about it and when did you start?

Also, my school has almost no research spots open, how does one go about experience if theres none available in the school itself?

When u place all this in AMCAS, how are you suppose to list the time, in hours or by months regardless of how many hours?

Thanks so much - i hope i can get some help here!

 

[angstrom55]

I think for clinical volunteer work, schools look for patient contact and doctor contact. I did one program where i had a lot of patient contact (I helped nurses change beds, change patients, bathe patients, etc). I did a small stint where i shadowed a family practice doctor.

As for me, I tried to do a little bit of everything...i did some non clinical volunteer work with the March of Dimes, I did research with my school, clinical volunteer, work, and some research presentations.

If you can't find research at your school, u can try getting research jobs at companies (one of my friends did that). Or, you can try another school nearby. My research was at my school's hospital and I had students in my lab who were from other schools.

 

[kmjannie]

undergrad:
research in physics (one year)
research in biology (one summer)
CNA course
captain of the volleyball team
Dean's List
coached VB for 3 years
shadowed docs for one month

graduate:
volunteer at OB desk at hospital
volunteer at Big Brothers/Big Sisters

 

[OrGoMan]

Well, I just finished my sophmore year.. So far I have a year of pretty good research, will probably have under year by the time I apply, this summer I plan to do hospital volunteer work, how long should I do it for by the way? I was also just elected Junior class president, deans list, pre-med club, and all that other bull.. I'm thinking of joining philosophy club next year..

 

[BassDominator]

As a fourth year med student, I've met a lot of prospective students and have heard what the faculty has to say about them. Basically, we can spot BS a mile away.... so try your best to be genuine.

Don't do extracurriculars just because you think it will look good on your resume. Pick things that genuinely interest you and will be meaningful experiences. Really, some folks are just trying so hard to impress that they come off looking really bad.

Some common premed mistakes:
1) Doing research you don't understand or care about.... interviewers can just smell this a mile away.
2) Volunteering without taking time out for reflection. So, you worked with old people, but what did you learn?
3) Joining clubs or honor societies that don't really do anything. So, you had a bake sale.... big deal. Being a leader means a lot more than just getting elected.
4) Not being unique or showing initiative.
5) Assuming passive roles, i.e. shadowing doctors.
6) Having lots of activities but few significant time/energy commitments
7) Thinking lots of activities will make up for lackluster grades or letting grades slip because of activities
8) Having no clue about current events or medical issues

What impresses the adcom:
1) Intelligence
2) Maturity
3) Responsibility
4) Character
5) Meaningful life experience
6) Being unique, articulate, reflective, forward-thinking, well-informed
7) Team players
8) Having clear goals in life and plans to achieve them

 

[fullefect1]

undergrad:
research in physics (one year)
research in biology (one summer)
CNA course
captain of the volleyball team
Dean's List
coached VB for 3 years
shadowed docs for one month

graduate:
volunteer at OB desk at hospital
volunteer at Big Brothers/Big Sisters

I don't really get why student even mention Dean's list on the EC's. Everyone makes the Dean's list.

 

[freesolo]

isnt that on your transcripts anyway?
My ec's are horrible, i have a 3hour commute everyday, and wake up at 5 but no excuses for it.
Hospital volunteer at ER, help triage nurse, help patients ect.
Shadowed doctors, watched surgeries, hospital rotations.
Lame honors societies i do squat in,
and member of premed club.
Oh and i work 20 hours a week, 40 in the summer for 4 years so far.
I'm in ****ty shape, with a year to go.

 

[TTSD]

..I found out where the G-spot is.

 

[ken37]

..I found out where the G-spot is.

If you list that, I hope you're prepared to back up that claim. Show some hapless doc how to please the mistress, and you'd probably be a shoe in for acceptance!

 

[PublicEnemy]

G-spot? hmm, shows initiative, good priorities, and a strong background in anatomy. good stuff.

 

[PublicEnemy]

I've got a question for you guys. I have a variety of EC's including considerable amounts of research in labs, clinical research, shadowing doctors and volunteering. But a lot of my very meaningful or most time consuming involvements are not necessarily medically related, such as being a university student government executive member and being a founding member and business manager for the first co-ed south asian a cappella group in the US, touring schools, scheduling performances and raising $20,000 and recording and producing a cd. There are others. Basically I'm wondering how much of an opportunity is there to really showcase "well roundedness" and whether or not I should focus primarily on my science or medically related experiences. I'd rather not downplay my other experiences though because they include some of the things that very educational and that I am most of proud.

Are any of you guys in a similar situation with music or sports or other leadership roles? How are you guys dealing with this?

 

[Wahooali]

I've got a question for you guys. I have a variety of EC's including considerable amounts of research in labs, clinical research, shadowing doctors and volunteering. But a lot of my very meaningful or most time consuming involvements are not necessarily medically related, such as being a university student government executive member and being a founding member and business manager for the first co-ed south asian a cappella group in the US, touring schools, scheduling performances and raising $20,000 and recording and producing a cd. There are others. Basically I'm wondering how much of an opportunity is there to really showcase "well roundedness" and whether or not I should focus primarily on my science or medically related experiences. I'd rather not downplay my other experiences though because they include some of the things that very educational and that I am most of proud.

Are any of you guys in a similar situation with music or sports or other leadership roles? How are you guys dealing with this?

I'm in the same boat. I didn't even start getting involved in medically related EC until my fourth year in college and after. Prior to that I was very involved in student government, President of my sorority, etc. etc. The way I am approaching it is focusing on my research and clinical experience as far as showing my passion for science and medicine, but also working in a few select meaningful other non-medical related experiences (the ones that made me the person I am today) to focus on as well. You definitely do not want to just toss those aside, because those other EC are things you are passionate about and have shaped who you are. Well-roundedness is good, especially since almost everyone here has done research and some sort of volunteering. They'll make you stand out from the crown, and shows that you bring more to the table than just the typical stuff (not that the typical stuff is bad, I was just never into doing things because I thought I "should" because I'm pre-med).

 

[kmjannie]

I don't really get why student even mention Dean's list on the EC's. Everyone makes the Dean's list.

Not everyone makes the Deans List, buddy....
and it's not just extracurriculars, it's awards and honors too...

 

[tarheelmd07]

Public Enemy -- were you in Penn Masala? If so, they rock 😀
I think I spent just about as much time in my interviews talking about my non-science/medical EC stuff as I spent talking about my science/clinical experience. I too did a lot of non-clinical stuff in undergrad-- and found that my interviewers were really interested in that (so, I'd say yes, you do get to "show off" that you're well rounded). Here's my list:
Co-Founder/Musical Director, co-ed a cappella group
Debate/Litererary Society (President of one of the 2 societys/teams)
Academic Team (President/co-founder of statewide HS tournament)
Women's Glee Club
Co-ed Music Fraternity (pledgemaster)
Campus-wide community service organization (committee co-chair)
Volunteered in AIDS hospital in India
Worked for AIDS NGO in Thailand
Photodoccumentary/Research project on Asian art conservation
Competitive Horseback Rider/Riding Instructor
and, of course, Dean's List, honor socities, etc.
(note: no science research, no PBK, etc.)