ECs and Scheduling

[TheEmeraldTablet]

Hi,

 

I have a few questions about ECs that I haven't been able to answer by searching the forums. This is by far the part of the application that worries me the most since there is so much ambiguity so please advise

 

1) Would doing hospital volunteering put me at a disadvantage because it makes my activity too common? The other option is to become a volunteer paramedic in the university. Does anyone know how and whether a first year will be hired/taken as a volunteer paramedic? How do I go about trying to be a volunteer paramedic with a hospital?

 

2)Regarding international volunteering. This is something I could easily do. Again, will it bring up questions about ethics/interest in Canada? Should I do it? I absolutely love travelling but I don't want to just flow with the crowd again.

 

3)Regarding research. Do people do this during the school year or just in the summers? Is volunteering in a research lab the same thing as actually doing research? How does a first year go about trying to get a research position?

 

4)How many hours does one typically spend on ECs during the year? I know this differs from person to person but it was stated on some thread that 10 hrs/wk is good. What do you say? How many ECs did you do? Of course I know quality is more important than quantity and that you should do only what you have a passion for but still what is a good number. I don't want to look back after a few years and worry that all I did was study.

 

5)Most of us have a very specific idea of what kind of doctor we want to become. Yes, I know it is exceptionally early and that people change their mind in med school but I have a question. If you know you would be matched with a specialty that you really did want e.g. psychiatry would you also apply to the States to increase your chances. And should you make any connections/do any related research in undergrad because you'll be busy in med school?

 

I know that's a lot of questions but I would love any answers at all:D

[thehumanmacbook]

1) No. probably not. Hospital volunteering is fine; commonality is not an issue of whether or not it's a "bad" thing or ranked lower by adcom.

 

2) No. Stop worrying about the crowd and do what you want. Some issues do come about Int. volunteering such as long term commitment, but it's really up to you on deciding how to invest your time.

 

3) See the research FAQ. There's a research forum here as well. People do both. Probably harder for a first year unless you have connections.

 

4) I avg around 20 hours a week - some activities needed more time than others. The rest is studying or going out. Then again, I wake up at 5 sometimes. Time is there if you need it.

 

5) Don't worry about it; far too early. People change. Some wanted family and ended up in surgery; you need to do rotations first before deciding. Connections can be built once you're in med school; doesn't need to be transferred over from your UG (though it would be nice if you could..maybe you'd want a new supervisor).

[MrMullen]

Hey EmeraldTablet,

 

Good questions! Any advice/opinions I could provide are based on my own experience, maybe other people could provide additional insight.

 

1) Not sure about the whole volunteer paramedic situation. I know most universities have a "first response" group that you could probably volunteer with. As for hospitals...I'm not really sure such a position exists. In my opinion, there's really nothing disadvantageous about volunteering in a hospital. It's a great opportunity to meet medical professionals and patients, plus depending on what you're doing, you could actually get some key life experience. Obviously volunteering as a file clerk isn't really the same thing as working with patients etc. But honestly, if that's all there is, you have to go with what's available to you.

 

2) International volunteering can be a really great experience too. Not just in terms of traveling and seeing the world, but also to participate in cultural exchange, maybe help out a bit in a developing country, learn a bit of a new language etc. You'll probably end up learning a lot about yourself too. Life experience is key.

 

3) You could approach a professor pursuing research that interests you and ask to volunteer in their lab. Doesn't have to be a lot (a few hours/week) but it will help you get into the swing of things. Maybe consider applying for an NSERC undergraduate research award for any qualifying summers? If you don't mind working hard, you could end up with a publication out of it too!

 

4) The amount of time you spend doing ECs totally depends on your schedule. Don't just volunteer in hospitals and labs, get involved in things you enjoy doing. Having a life outside all of this work business is important too. In my opinion, 10 hrs/week of ECs is a lot on top of full-time undergrad studies. It wont seem like that much if you're also doing something you really enjoy. Plus if you have a part-time job, that could cut into your time too. I wouldn't advise overloading yourself to the point where you'll have a nervous breakdown...

 

5) I wouldn't worry too much about being matched just yet. You'll have time to network/build connections/good references in med school. Focus on getting in first.

[firesinx]

1) Definitely not. And even if you get a chance in the future, when you volunteer at the hospital all you do is give papers out or give patients water. Nothing intense.

 

2) Do something you like, if you like it then do it. Don't do it just because it'll look good on your application because than your it's meaningless.

 

3)Regarding research it's usually in the summer where most people have the time to do it. I've never done any research so I can't answer this question any further.

 

4) Do what you like, hours doesn't mean anything. It's up to you at the end.

 

5) I wouldn't worry about this question until you get accepted to medical school. But hopefully someone whose gone through everything can give you a better idea, sorry.

 

I hope that helps. Good luck.

[future_doc]

If you are going to be a first year student, as GPA is king, I advise you to stay away from ECs/volunteering until you have academics under control. You don't need additional distractions as the transition to undergrad is difficult enough. So focus on developing good work habits leading to success, time management skills and finding out what works best for you in terms of keeping up-to-date on your studies and assignments.

 

When it comes to volunteering, there is no cookie cutter approach. It is all about enjoying your experiences and internal growth and development. It matters less what you do than what you learn from your experiences.

 

I never did international volunteering or research and this was not an impediment to acceptance. My ECs and volunteering exceeded 20 hours a week and these were all enjoyable activities. During down time, I worked on assignments, thereby using my time effectively. In activities you enjoy, stick with them over the years, which not only shows dedication but as you develop greater expertise, you will gain in rersponsibilitiy, leadership, etc. Also, you may enjoy unorganized activities such as helping out an elderly neighbour.

[TheEmeraldTablet]

Thanks for the advice thehumanmacbook, MrMullen, firesinx and future_doc

[LeX-]

1) Definitely not. And even if you get a chance in the future, when you volunteer at the hospital all you do is give papers out or give patients water. Nothing intense.

 

 

Not sure where you got this information or how the hospitals are in your city, but this is completely false in Vancouver.

 

There are positions where you go on all the wards of the hospital (TB,Burn,Emerg,Palliative,Leukemia.. everything), go in patient's rooms, talk to them and discuss their life, hospital stay etc.