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How Many Hours Of Extra-Curricular Activities Are Manageable?


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I'm going into my second year and will be taking a full course-load. 

On top of this, I'm anticipating at least 20 hours of volunteering, extra-curricular activities, and research per week. How manageable is this? 

 

It's as manageable as you are able to manage it. Did you do a full course load and/or 20 hours of ECs in your first year? If it's your first time doing either or both, then take it easy and add in where it works with your grades. Don't force it because it becomes apparent when you're trying too hard. Do whats comfortable, add in gradually, and do what you enjoy. 

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I agree with CCFPwannabe. In first year I took on A LOT of extracurriculars, and this year I intend on taking on bigger roles. I know it's going to be busy, but being busy is what helps me be efficient and get things done.

 

If you ever feel bogged down or that your grades are slipping, drop your ECs. Never let your grades suffer. You won't know until you try however, so just ease yourself into it. 

 

Edit: I mean, it also depends on your program and how busy it is... so we really can't tell you if it is manageable. Only you can decide if it is manageable.

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I find the busier I am, the more efficient I become. I'll be working ~20 hours a week this school year in addition to running a student society. My boss gives me a great deal of flexibility with my schedule though, so that helps.

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I find the busier I am, the more efficient I become. I'll be working ~20 hours a week this school year in addition to running a student society. My boss gives me a great deal of flexibility with my schedule though, so that helps.

exactly like me!

I do zero work in school if I'm not busy with my extra curriculars and other important life things/interests.

 

To each is their own! But I believe, there's an optimal dose of "busyness" to reach maximum efficiency. Would you agree? :)

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exactly like me!

I do zero work in school if I'm not busy with my extra curriculars and other important life things/interests.

 

To each is their own! But I believe, there's an optimal dose of "busyness" to reach maximum efficiency. Would you agree? :)

I'm the wrong person to ask about that, hah. I just keep getting busier, it seems, and I haven't fallen apart yet.

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Last semester, I managed roughly about 25 hours of ECs + research + 5 full courses + 1 half course. It wasn't easy, especially during exam period. (I had to sometimes cancel stuff). It is definitely possible, but far from easy. In fact, on some days, I just felt like shooting myself.

Remeber, GPA is king.

ECs are secondary although necessary.

 

I'd say: start slow with a low amount of ECs, and build up if you see that you are able to manage it.

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I have only had 1.5 successful semesters so far, with the only thing on top of that being 2 hour per week hospital volunteering and working out 10 hours a week and going for walks 7 hours a week.

In september, I will be volunteering anywhere from 5-20 hours per week, on top of 4 classes. But the thing is I have extra classes to complete because I have to write the exams of my online classes in Sept and October. So its more like I'm doing 5 classes, given how much of the online courses I've completed.

Anyways I do expect about 10 hours per week of volunteering to be manageble given my academic history. But I'm looking to increase it to 4-5 classes plus 25 hours a week of EC's.

I think an important part of showing the admissions comittee that you can handle medical school is taking on a lot of opportunities. However it is always important to note that GPA is king and if you sacrifice GPA, then you definitely won't be getting in.

I agree that you should add ECs in a stepwise fashion; start with 5, then increase with increments of 5-10 each year.

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I started with about 15-20 in first year and will be doing about 25 or more this semester. 

First year definitely was not bad at all and I ended up with a 3.9+ GPA (4.0 scale). At times it gets busy and things tend to all happen at once which is rough, but it was definitely manageable. I also had a considerable amount of free time. Here's hoping this upcoming year is good as well.

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