Sepcial Extra Curricular Activties ?

[canadianforlife]

Hey guys, I am in high school going into university this September. I am going to be finishing my undergrad in 3 or 3 1/2 years. So during that span I am going to be doing volunteering at two different hospitals and shadowing a physician to go along with my volunteer work done throughout high school. My question I want something unique that makes me stick out and I need suggestions?

[ericismyname]

I haven't applied to any med schools yet, but from what I've read on boards, websites, and pre-med support books is that volunteering, shadowing an MD or DO(depending on which one you are going to focus on applying to), hospital experience, and almost any other clubs/groups/or sports probably wouldn't hurt. Many embark in a research internship. If you search the internet there are lots of oppurtunities. From reading on here most people advise that if you are a on a research team that publishes an article it is generally a big plus.

When I look at MD adminssions I can't recall a time where it said it wanted a LOR from an MD, but I can recall where DO admissions want LOR from DOs.

They want you to have hospital experience so you can decide if working in a hospital is for you. You can usually combat volunteering and hospital experience by volunteering at a hospital.

Anywho, just make sure your grades above 3.5 if you want to be competitive in an US MD school, score in the 30 range on the MCAT, Have good LOR, and have plenty of volunteer/hospital/research.

This is just what I've gathered from this website, SDN, premed support books, college admissions websites, and my shadowing physicians.

Eric.

[canadianforlife]

Thanks Eric, but dont you think all those things are common on medical school applications?

[Blade07]

I've been told that if you can land a paid job at a hospital, it is looked upon as a big plus. Some people I know have become certified nurse techs/assistants and have gotten paid jobs at hospitals. I volunteered at a local free clinic for a while and they've offered me a full time job. Mind you it's not very high paying, but it does give you some real hands on experience.

[stateofequilibrium]

Thanks Eric, but dont you think all those things are common on medical school applications?

Pretty much. The best advice is to do a few things and really commit to them, show them you're serious about medicine. If you're going to join a club, rise to leadership position. If you're going to volunteer at a hospital, win some awards. If you're going to do research, do something that'll make your eyes bleed from staring into a microscope at 1 am in the morning to get that perfect picture of a neuron firing.

[canadianforlife]

agreed, thanks stateofequillibrium

[jameslynton]

Also remember - grades and doing well in each course comes before anything else. Many forget this! Volunteer when you are not in school.

[rosethorn_14]

if u had to choose between a research internship and a year long regular internship under a doc. in the radiology department, which is better?

[stateofequilibrium]

if u had to choose between a research internship and a year long regular internship under a doc. in the radiology department, which is better?

If you could realistically hope to get a publication or two, research looks good. You could always shadow docs elsewhere.

[rosethorn_14]

how much weight would your publications have if you did one in high school? It would be a lot of hard work, so would it pay off? Also it's not just shadowing, it's everyday for the whole school year and there are only 3 of these available.

[stateofequilibrium]

how much weight would your publications have if you did one in high school? It would be a lot of hard work, so would it pay off? Also it's not just shadowing, it's everyday for the whole school year and there are only 3 of these available.

What, are you only in high school?

If not, if you've heard this "regular" internship gives you a good track for a certain medical school, then that's a good option. Otherwise you could really get that type of experience on your own elsewhere as well. I conducted both lab and clinical research outside of my school, so options are out there to whichever will give you the most opportunity.

[rosethorn_14]

yes i'm in high school. thanks for the advice

[stateofequilibrium]

yes i'm in high school. thanks for the advice

then go for research and see if you can get a publication. Shadowing doctors/etc can come later, lots of time for that. Plus more research!

[rosethorn_14]

Shadowing doctors/etc can come later, lots of time for that. Plus more research!

This is new! I've always heard that hands on experience with a doctor is more important. But you seem to advocate the research. Although, reading some of these threads hints that pre-med counselors are not very reliable. Mine advised to drop the research offer and go with the shadowing. But I felt hesitant cause the research was in biotech and sounded much more interesting. So what do you think the research shows about you to med schools?

[stateofequilibrium]

This is new! I've always heard that hands on experience with a doctor is more important. But you seem to advocate the research. Although, reading some of these threads hints that pre-med counselors are not very reliable. Mine advised to drop the research offer and go with the shadowing. But I felt hesitant cause the research was in biotech and sounded much more interesting. So what do you think the research shows about you to med schools?

First of all, you're in high school. No one's really going to care what you did in high school when applying for medical school. BUT, publications stay with you forever. So if you did manage to get a publication, you can still put that on your CV (resume) later.

Shadowing doctors is an important experience, it changed my life around and you should definitely do it, but do it in college, especially after you learn and grow up a little bit more (I don't mean that in a deragtory way).

[rosethorn_14]

ok, thanks. By the way, you shouldn't do the your only in high school bit. Haven't you heard, --fore warned is fore armed--!!!!