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How do I become well-rounded?


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Hi everyone,

 

I know that med schools like to know what you do in your spare time. I am council on one student society and I volunteer at a couple places, yet I don't think that it will be enough. I spend a lot more of my time studying than maybe med schools would like. You could say I have a lack of hobbies and I don't know what new things to try. What types of things do you guys do to be well-rounded?

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Hi everyone,

 

I know that med schools like to know what you do in your spare time. I am council on one student society and I volunteer at a couple places, yet I don't think that it will be enough. I spend a lot more of my time studying than maybe med schools would like. You could say I have a lack of hobbies and I don't know what new things to try. What types of things do you guys do to be well-rounded?

 

You won't be well rounded by copying what someone else does....it's gotta be a personal thing. Does your school have a listing of clubs? Maybe you can go check that out and see what things interest you.

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Hi everyone,

 

I know that med schools like to know what you do in your spare time. I am council on one student society and I volunteer at a couple places, yet I don't think that it will be enough. I spend a lot more of my time studying than maybe med schools would like. You could say I have a lack of hobbies and I don't know what new things to try. What types of things do you guys do to be well-rounded?

 

Sounds like you do stuff outside of school.

It's ok to study! If you end up with too much on your plate then your grades will suffer and med schools won't even see your extracurriculars.

 

But like it has already been mentionned, what you do in your spare time should reflect your personal interests. So if you find you have the time and inclination, then maybe you can add to what you are already doing with your student council and volunteering. But if not then probably don`t need to worry too much as you are already involved in your school and local community.

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being well-rounded...not everyone is, and not everyone has to be. some of the most successful people i know have put all their eggs in one basket, and it paid off (note: the basket was NOT studying). i agree with the other posters that it has to be a personal thing. just do what you love and go with the flow!

 

it also helps to be really organized and to multi-task a bit, so that you can fit in more within a day (e.g. when waiting for an experiment to run in the lab, you can work on a painting, or work on a problem set in between classes to free up evening for volunteering, rehearsal, etc...).

 

*being well-rounded* in the eyes of admissions people means doing a lot of activities. but being well-rounded as a person means being a normal, interesting person and we can all do that as long as we relax and love what we do.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was wondering about this too. I do some things that count toward what goes on your med school app but maybe not enough? advice would be appreciated.

 

I coach soccer (1 team at a time, but every season)

I volunteer at the hospital (but only about 1 hour a week)

I play soccer

 

Seems like much less when I write it out like that....lol

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I was wondering about this too. I do some things that count toward what goes on your med school app but maybe not enough? advice would be appreciated.

 

I coach soccer (1 team at a time, but every season)

I volunteer at the hospital (but only about 1 hour a week)

I play soccer

 

Seems like much less when I write it out like that....lol

 

It's nice/important to have long-term commitments, but many of us only have enough time for one or two such commitments...so I would suggest you also get involved in some short-term activities, even some one-day events, to diversify your experiences...and also use your summers wisely to "catch up" on some volunteer work that you may not have enough time for right now. ;):D

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I'm in my last year of high school and I currently

 

teach swimming lessons

teach + examine lifesaving courses

competitive swimming

lifeguard

and ball hockey

2 volunteering commitments (2 hours a week?)

 

Is it necessary to diversity what you do? Like if you work in aquatics all the way would it be considered a bad thing?

 

...and also use your summers wisely to "catch up" on some volunteer work that you may not have enough time for right now. ;):D

 

Why types of things can you do during the summer? Is it better to get a full time job (as a camp counselor for example) or take on a whole bunch of volunteering positions?

 

Thanks.

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Sit around studying 12 hours/day. Eat large amounts of chocolate. Only wear the spandex waistband type scrubs. You will find that you :eek: get well rounded very quickly. Before you realize it, you may have even gone from the small to the x-large size scrubs!

 

 

 

Best suggestion ever!

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Is it necessary to diversity what you do? Like if you work in aquatics all the way would it be considered a bad thing?

 

Why types of things can you do during the summer? Is it better to get a full time job (as a camp counselor for example) or take on a whole bunch of volunteering positions?

 

Thanks.

 

well, quality is definitely important, but some schools (eg ubc) care about diversity more than others...so to keep those options open, i wouldn't concentrate on just one thing...that doesn't mean u should try & get involved in 30 things at once...it just means that in addition to ur main commitments, once in a while u should do a few new short-term things on the side just for the experience and u may even learn some new things...

 

u could definitely work full-time during the summer and volunteer a few hrs a week on the side...u can contact some organizations saying u're interested in volunteering over the summer (eg. hospital, nursing home, soup kitchen, tutoring, etc.) or u can volunteer with events like aids walk, walk for cure, etc.

 

ok obviously i have yet to fully take my own advice :rolleyes:

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