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Hello Everyone

Does anybody know any ideas for things that a premed can do which really make a difference on his/her applicaiton(other than GPA and MCAT scores ), for example a medical mission trip to Africa or shadowing a surgeon.....etc .

thanks alot

 

[adamj61]

👍 How about a nobel prize, or maybe curing a disease? Maybe you could invent a way to elimate threads like this?

 

[bigdan]

OP-

I'd say look to do things that you're interested in and/or things that will give you a unique perspective on things. If you do volunteering in a nursing home, and talk about it passionately during your interview, you may get more "wows" than someone that can robotically name off all the "great things" they've done to prepare for medical school.

Look to better yourself, instead of keeping up with the Joneses.

dc

 

[Anka]

I could guessed you were gonna get a lot of people dissing you for starting a thread like this, but there's nothing wrong with thinking ahead about how you're going to match the competition.

So, here are some ideas to start you off
1. Publications: coauthorship is good, first authorship is better. If you want to know some tricks and tips that can increase your probability of getting this, let me know.
2. Volunteering in a foriegn country, esp. Latin America, Africa, and rural China. While not in any way better than volunteering right here in the states, it stands out more. On the other hand, it's quite expensive.
3. Supporting a family of three singlehandedly at the age of 15. I wouldn't recommend this experience, although it will make you stand out.
4. Starting a public service program (e.g., mentoring kids with chronic diseases, etc.).
5. One of the people I met on the interview trail was a TV producer. Way cool. Everyone knew the show, too!
6. Clearing landmines in Cambodia or Afghanistan. Better (or at least, better for the future surgeon who needs all limbs intact) -- figure out a way to clear landmines automatically!

My personal oppinion is that solid research (not a research 'experience', which basically means you didn't do anything) is the golden road, volunteering in a foriegn country is the toll road.

Any other ideas, anyone?

 

[inshanesworld]

Hello Everyone

Does anybody know any ideas for things that a premed can do which really make a difference on his/her applicaiton(other than GPA and MCAT scores ), for example a medical mission trip to Africa or shadowing a surgeon.....etc .

thanks alot

I often feel that it is a good idea to try doing something that you are not just doing 'cause it looks good on an app. I would hope that if one did take a medical trip to Africa one would do it for the Africans and not for one's self. My suggestion...find something that you love, something that fills you inside, and maximize that thing whether it is research or service. (i.e. - if you have a talent for music find something were you can help others with that talent.)
I think this makes you interesting to others and rounds you as a person...people can tell if you do something just for an app by whether you describe the experience from you heart or your brain.

 

[ForensicPath]

There really is nothing you can do that hasn't been done before. Not all of us can afford to go on service trips to Africa. I think what is more important is to do something that you would enjoy so that you can get a good letter of recommendation out of it. A beaming letter of recommendation is probably worth a whole lot more than some description of an esoteric activity.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

sorry i really laughed at that!

i needed a tension break

 

[fullefect1]

To the original poster, I think the whole medical mission to a differnt country is wicked overated. Who really cares that you spent a week in africa helping some kids. It just means you have some extra cash to spend on a trip to africa and you want to look like you did something incredible (which is really not) for you application.

I think there would be an exeption for someone on a long term mission maybe 3+ months though.

 

[fullefect1]

oh ya, and there is not really one thing that us normal people would be able to make a huge impact in our apps, it is a combination of alot of little things.

 

[adamj61]

6. Clearing landmines in Cambodia or Afghanistan. Better (or at least, better for the future surgeon who needs all limbs intact) -- figure out a way to clear landmines automatically!

You could use thousands of monkeys to run ahead of you.

 

[g3pro]

I think that the line has been passed in medical school admissions where they understand that the people going on medical missions trips are the gunners/a**holes/phonies of the future.

Sure it looked great 14 years ago, when nobody else has done something like that, but now it is as cliched as volunteering at a summer camp for children suffering from muscular dystrophy. 👎

 

[911Med]

Hello Everyone

Does anybody know any ideas for things that a premed can do which really make a difference on his/her applicaiton(other than GPA and MCAT scores ), for example a medical mission trip to Africa or shadowing a surgeon.....etc .

thanks alot

Sure fire way to prove devotion to medicine:

Donate:
A lung, a kidney, 1/2 of your liver, your gall bladder, and maybe a retina to someone who REALLY needs them.

 

[Anka]

I think that the line has been passed in medical school admissions where they understand that the people going on medical missions trips are the gunners/a**holes/phonies of the future.

Sure it looked great 14 years ago, when nobody else has done something like that, but now it is as cliched as volunteering at a summer camp for children suffering from muscular dystrophy. 👎

It's probably pretty obvious when you do it just for resume points; but it's also probably pretty obvious when someone does it because they truely care. For example, a young lady I know went and lived for three years in Botswana to tend to AIDS orphans. No one goes and lives for three years under the conditions she lived under for resume points -- there are easier ways to get into medical school. On the other hand, paying $3k to spend six weeks 'volunteering' in Guatamala probably doesn't look too good.

Anka

 

[R_C_Hutchinson]

do something you enjoy- seriously.
people always volunteer/research/etc. and they hate it- find a volunteer position you love and excel at it; this is worth much more than a $5K gold star African vacation on your ap, as far as i know.

 

[Rugger81]

Perhaps you could star in a movie during your summer break. I suggest a Star Wars prequel or a Nicholas Sparks adaptation.


Hey, it worked for all those assh*le celebrities who went to Harvard/Yale/Princeton.

 

[mikedc813]

do something you enjoy- seriously.
people always volunteer/research/etc. and they hate it- find a volunteer position you love and excel at it; this is worth much more than a $5K gold star African vacation on your ap, as far as i know.

take this advice. it will lead you to success in more ways than one...

 

[OSU ACTON]

x

 

[Termwean]

We have devices that clear land mines automatically, thats what I did in Afghanistan in 2002-2003. I was the team medic. looks good on my resume. here it is is action.
http://www.landmineclearance.com/

I could guessed you were gonna get a lot of people dissing you for starting a thread like this, but there's nothing wrong with thinking ahead about how you're going to match the competition.

So, here are some ideas to start you off
1. Publications: coauthorship is good, first authorship is better. If you want to know some tricks and tips that can increase your probability of getting this, let me know.
2. Volunteering in a foriegn country, esp. Latin America, Africa, and rural China. While not in any way better than volunteering right here in the states, it stands out more. On the other hand, it's quite expensive.
3. Supporting a family of three singlehandedly at the age of 15. I wouldn't recommend this experience, although it will make you stand out.
4. Starting a public service program (e.g., mentoring kids with chronic diseases, etc.).
5. One of the people I met on the interview trail was a TV producer. Way cool. Everyone knew the show, too!
6. Clearing landmines in Cambodia or Afghanistan. Better (or at least, better for the future surgeon who needs all limbs intact) -- figure out a way to clear landmines automatically!

My personal oppinion is that solid research (not a research 'experience', which basically means you didn't do anything) is the golden road, volunteering in a foriegn country is the toll road.

Any other ideas, anyone?