lefty07 Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 I'm going into 2nd year & I feel that my ECs are really lacking. Please let me know what you think of them! Also, I didn't do much in 1st year because I didn't want to take on more than I could handle with school. This year I am looking to do more and so far am really enjoying the new experiences. Please let me know what you think! I would really appreciate it. Residence advisor (2nd year & on) Humanitarian aid-focused club (1st year rep & director of sponsorships, this year director of sponsorships) Cultural dance team (1st year & on) Health conference (1st year, director of sponsorships - looking to do it again this year) Vice president of a cultural club (2nd year, 1st year rep last this) Volunteer with school newspaper - writing articles (2nd year & on... really wanted to do it 1st year but didn't) Hospital volunteer - recreational programs & patient care (1st year & on) Alzheimer support volunteer (1st year summer & on) Counselor at camp for mentally disabled children (1st year summer) Volunteer with distress help line (started 2 weeks ago) Canadian Cancer Society youth outreach leadership stuff (1st year, maybe continuing) Job shadowing with some physicians (1st year summer) Volunteering in clinical research... but thinking about quitting since it's boring/not what I want Trying desperately to get a good research position with pubs Anything I can improve? Any input is greatly appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thethirdlaw Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 Yeah, go to the bars once in a while. The only pubs you should be worried about at this point are the ones with dollar beers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralk Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 You really don't need to keep asking Your ECs are stellar for someone at your point in the process. Just stay active and keep interested in what you enjoy and you'll be fine. Going for research is good, and having something to produce from it is valuable, but don't get too hung up on publications. Pubs are good, but they're hardly necessary. Poster presentations and conference talks are great as well and have a somewhat lower threshold to achieve. Point is that research, any research, is generally beneficial to your application as long as you enjoy the work that you do. Publications are just a bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindylouwho Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 You have nothing to worry about at this point. If anything I'd say you may find you need to reduce the number of activities you do in second year, because courses do become more challenging and you absolutely want to maintain your GPA to be eligible at as many schools as possible. If you find yourself in such a position, make sure you are doing what you really enjoy and can have more opportunities to learn, grow, and lead. The only pubs you should be worried about at this point are the ones with dollar beers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty07 Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Thanks for the input guys! Yeah, I'll definitely drop a few things if I find it difficult to manage this year! It's a really important year for sure. But I'm just worried I'm not doing anything extraordinary like there people are... I know people who have NSERC grants AND have started clubs. I didn't even apply for NSERC because I found out so late & the club that I tried to start didn't get ratified because it deals with international aid issues & apparently it doesn't "benefit the student body" because it's not focused on THEIR problems. (Honestly I'm so sick of first world problems... they're not real problems & I hate this attitude of only worrying about what's affecting you... it's as if other lives are less important than the ones of people here. I hate my school.) --> sorry I'm still mad I'm just really afraid that I'm not good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballislife123321 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I have the same mind set as you. I feel as though my ecs/volunteering are not good enough and that all med school applicants are doing so much things simultaneously. Honestly, I'm going to try to continue volunteering at the 5 places im doing plus join 5-6 clubs ( all ones I enjoy) + intrmurals + hold down my job. I still feel as though I am never doing enough.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty07 Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yeah I can never tell if I'm good enough. I'm looking for meaningful experiences though, not just random small ones. I really really really hope I'm doing ok. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 You have nothing to worry about at this point. If anything I'd say you may find you need to reduce the number of activities you do in second year, because courses do become more challenging and you absolutely want to maintain your GPA to be eligible at as many schools as possible. If you find yourself in such a position, make sure you are doing what you really enjoy and can have more opportunities to learn, grow, and lead. +1 Thanks for the input guys! Yeah, I'll definitely drop a few things if I find it difficult to manage this year! It's a really important year for sure. But I'm just worried I'm not doing anything extraordinary like there people are... I know people who have NSERC grants AND have started clubs. I didn't even apply for NSERC because I found out so late & the club that I tried to start didn't get ratified because it deals with international aid issues & apparently it doesn't "benefit the student body" because it's not focused on THEIR problems. (Honestly I'm so sick of first world problems... they're not real problems & I hate this attitude of only worrying about what's affecting you... it's as if other lives are less important than the ones of people here. I hate my school.) --> sorry I'm still mad I'm just really afraid that I'm not good enough. Not everyone starts a club. It would be redundant if that were the case. I suggest picking the ECs that mean the most to you and continue doing them longterm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooty Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yeah, go to the bars once in a while. The only pubs you should be worried about at this point are the ones with dollar beers. lol But I'm just worried I'm not doing anything extraordinary like there people are... I know people who have NSERC grants AND have started clubs. I see this a lot from premeds. It's up to YOU to do extraordinary things with what you're involved with. Any fool can start a club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StriveP Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for the input guys! Yeah, I'll definitely drop a few things if I find it difficult to manage this year! It's a really important year for sure. But I'm just worried I'm not doing anything extraordinary like there people are... I know people who have NSERC grants AND have started clubs. I didn't even apply for NSERC because I found out so late & the club that I tried to start didn't get ratified because it deals with international aid issues & apparently it doesn't "benefit the student body" because it's not focused on THEIR problems. (Honestly I'm so sick of first world problems... they're not real problems & I hate this attitude of only worrying about what's affecting you... it's as if other lives are less important than the ones of people here. I hate my school.) --> sorry I'm still mad I'm just really afraid that I'm not good enough. You wouldn't been eligible to apply for NSERC unless you have completed a minimum of 18 credits by the application deadline, Please correct me if i'm wrong. Assuming you are a 1st year student, you probably didn't take 6 courses in your first term. Back on track... Your ECs look good on paper but at closer glance they aren't any good. Tbh it seams like you did those ECs just to apply to medical school especially since everything you mentioned are things you started within the past year. You literally have not a single long term commitment. It's something a typical medical school gunner would do ... enrol into a bunch of clubs and things because everyone has lots of ECs (no offence to you). And you further prove my point by saying "Trying desperately to get a good research position with pubs". It really saddens me that people have forgotten the meaning of publications. Although they boost your application the true purpose is to make a difference in the field. Anyways, my advice is stop thinking of ECs like a checklist and commit to long term ECs. Anyone could have done everything you listed except the Cultural dance team. Sorry I don't mean to trash your ECs, just giving you an honest perspective. Just do the ECs you enjoy doing, if you find research boring then don't do it (a lot of people get in without research). Anyways I hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty07 Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for your input! I appreciate the honesty. The only EC I'm doing solely for the purpose of getting into med school is the clinical research. It's really boring but I decided to stick with it because it could open some doors to do some more interesting work down the road & maybe I can get a good reference letter out of it. Other than that, I only chose things that I am actually interested in. Also, I only listed ECs I've started since the beginning of university. Before that I have some that kind of transition into the ones I'm doing now, but I know what you mean about long-term. The ones I've started I am definitely going to continue so hopefully that solves the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StriveP Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks for your input! I appreciate the honesty. The only EC I'm doing solely for the purpose of getting into med school is the clinical research. It's really boring but I decided to stick with it because it could open some doors to do some more interesting work down the road & maybe I can get a good reference letter out of it. Other than that, I only chose things that I am actually interested in. Also, I only listed ECs I've started since the beginning of university. Before that I have some that kind of transition into the ones I'm doing now, but I know what you mean about long-term. The ones I've started I am definitely going to continue so hopefully that solves the problem. Then you are in a very good position. Sorry I was under the assumption that those were the only ECs you got. The ECs you did before university are as important since they prove you can do long term commitments and they better reflect your interests to the file reviewer. If you ask anyone on this furoms, 99% will tell you they wrote something from high school on their application whether its awards, clubs, sports or charities (for Ontario medical schools especially). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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