Importance of Undergrad research/volunteering

[Scholastica]

Hi everyone,

 

Can somebody tell me how important undergrad research or volunteer work are in the CaRMS match?

 

Thanks! And congrats to all those who successfully matched in the 1st round!

[Lactic Folly]

It's going to depend on who is reading your application.. I would think that just as undergrad experiences (in general) are more relevant than high school experiences when applying to med school, so will medical school experiences be more relevant when applying to CaRMS. However, if one's undergrad experiences are particularly interesting/significant/continued into med school, then sure, they can potentially play a larger role.

 

Personally, I put everything down on my CaRMS application. I did get asked about an undergraduate research project a couple of times. As for extracurriculars, I focused on the ones I took part in med school, just because I thought they were more interesting and relevant.. did notice that interviewers at some schools seemed more interested in hearing about my activities than at other schools.. again, it's going to depend on the program and what catches their eye when skimming your application.