I've been focusing solely on academics since my sophomore year in college and now I'm a senior. It was because I've had some hardships my freshman year and such. Now I have no idea where to begin on my extracurriculars.. I'm thinking about research, but I don't want to just dive into it (I fear I may despise it). I'm also thinking about volunteering at a hospital or something, but I fear I might drop my GPA due to my incompetency with time management... I honestly feel lost and don't know what to do.
where to begin?
- Thread starter qwe7791
- Start date
Hi,
What are your statistics and when do you plan on applying. It seems like form your post you dont have any health related experience? or little if you do?
To get into medical school, you definitely need to have health related experience. Whether it is by volunteering or doing research or whatever, you definitely need it. I highly doubt u have a chance at any mediacl school if you do not have experience. Now, what type of experience will help you the most is also another question. Especially since u are a senior, you need to choose careful what ECs you choose cause u wont have much time.
id say at this point shadowing a doctor, volunteering at a hospital and doing like data entry, or working in a lab just cleaning beakers, is pointless. Try to get into a lab and start doing actual research. If not, try to obtain positions that will get you good patient interactions.
You mentioned you are afriad that your GPA might go down and it will hurt your chances at medical school. But I think if u have no experience, you have no shot at medical school anyways.
Anyone else have thoughts?
What are your statistics and when do you plan on applying. It seems like form your post you dont have any health related experience? or little if you do?
To get into medical school, you definitely need to have health related experience. Whether it is by volunteering or doing research or whatever, you definitely need it. I highly doubt u have a chance at any mediacl school if you do not have experience. Now, what type of experience will help you the most is also another question. Especially since u are a senior, you need to choose careful what ECs you choose cause u wont have much time.
id say at this point shadowing a doctor, volunteering at a hospital and doing like data entry, or working in a lab just cleaning beakers, is pointless. Try to get into a lab and start doing actual research. If not, try to obtain positions that will get you good patient interactions.
You mentioned you are afriad that your GPA might go down and it will hurt your chances at medical school. But I think if u have no experience, you have no shot at medical school anyways.
Anyone else have thoughts?
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2011
- Messages
- 1,071
- Reaction score
- 94
This might sound harsh, but if you don't know how to manage your time, you won't survive a career in medicine (or anything that requires juggling multiple responsibilities at once). Medical schools may question your passion for medicine if they see you starting extracurricular engagements such as volunteering/research/etc during your senior year. Although I don't think this is your intention, you may come across as someone who wants to go into the field of medicine without understanding what it is, and threw in some extracurricular activities halfheartedly at the end of your college career just to get into medical school. A 4.0/35+ on the MCAT isn't enough to get you in anymore.
Start off volunteering somewhere in a free clinic, hospital, or other health area where the time commitment is fairly low (3-4 hours/week). You should definitely be able to manage that commitment on top of your schoolwork (many students do more than that on a regular basis). Other options include volunteering with a crisis helpline, where you may be able to take calls on your phone and "work from home" while studying. And don't be afraid to utilize your weekends for volunteering, if that is a possibility. Also, use any upcoming breaks (especially winter break) to shadow. While shadowing isn't always a hard and fast requirement, you need to know what you're getting yourself into. Start off by asking your PCP if you can shadow him/her, or if they can connect you with a colleague. If you go to a school with an affiliated university hospital, you can start there too.
If there are other volunteering opportunities in your area that are of interest to you and aren't a huge timesuck, you can try those too (your volunteering experiences need not all be clinically related...you just have to show that you like helping people). Free food banks, soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, tutoring and the like come to mind.
Since you haven't had any experiences until college, I would recommend taking a year off to pursue certain clinical activities (mentioned above) to really demonstrate that you are committed to going into a career in medicine and that you know what the field is like. Many hospitals do hire students/recent grads in unlicensed positions (PCAs, patient transporter, etc), which may help fund your year off if that comes across as something you want to do. PM me if you'd like help in identifying other resources in your area.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2010
- Messages
- 304
- Reaction score
- 9
4.0/37 here, rejected first cycle due to lack of preparation and a hole in my EC's. An extra 1500 hours working as a CNA for the demented can be a real application booster
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2010
- Messages
- 140
- Reaction score
- 1
You will need some kind of clinical experience. Have you considered lowering your courseload to fit in time for ec's? I understand the problem with time management. I'm learning this process myself actually.
Some tips: make a weekly schedule by 0:30-1:00 increments. Schedule time for sleep, eat, travel, class, study, (volunteering), etc.
It's important to take breaks to refresh the mind. You could study for a few hours in the library, then head to a local hospital and do 1-2 hours of volunteering, then get back to studying or dinner or whatever.
Once you see what you do with your entire day, it'll make it easier to see that you do have time for ec's, though might need to cut back in other areas.
Some tips: make a weekly schedule by 0:30-1:00 increments. Schedule time for sleep, eat, travel, class, study, (volunteering), etc.
It's important to take breaks to refresh the mind. You could study for a few hours in the library, then head to a local hospital and do 1-2 hours of volunteering, then get back to studying or dinner or whatever.
Once you see what you do with your entire day, it'll make it easier to see that you do have time for ec's, though might need to cut back in other areas.
