Canadian Indian Volunteering In India - Does It Count?

[tired 1]

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[sdj78we9jtf2o3mgfvj298j 268]

They don't care about the location of your volunteering under any circumstance. If anything voluntourism is starting to be viewed as unethical.

[futureGP 31]

Generally nobody cares what you did.

 

Whatever you did, just gotta sell yourself and capture the interviewers attention.

 

It's all charisma and talk.

 

That's because after GPA and mcat, we all look the same on paper.

 

Charisma charisma charisma. (and geographical preference)

[V13W5 19]

If you feel that helping out in India is important to you then you should do it. If you feel like you are doing it just for your med app then I would suggest you just volunteer locally. You'll save money and you'll be able to offer a longer time commitment.

[_ _ 515]

Or will med schools not view it on the same scale as other overseas trip because I am originally from India?

I think you are significantly overestimating how most schools view 'humanitarian trips'. Working for 3 months overseas is one thing, taking a trip to volunteer for a few weeks involves spending huge amounts of money on yourself (travel costs) while contributing little to those in the country. 

[ieatpremeds 86]

If you feel like it'll give you valuable experiences that you can speak about then do it. Going into things asking "what will med schools think?" is a terrible mind set, follow what interests you and I guarantee that will take you much further.

[tired 1]

Thanks for the replies! I did genuinely want to go back and do something for the place that gave me so much. 

[tired 1]

I had another question, do ECs have to be medical related? I'm really interested in joining Enactus but mainly business students are involved.

[lexiiiluther 46]

I had another question, do ECs have to be medical related? I'm really interested in joining Enactus but mainly business students are involved.

 

Your ECs don't have to be medicine related. Just do things you enjoy and can feel passionate about. I'd say my biggest chunk of extracurriculars didn't necessarily fit into a "cookie cutter premed" list but revolved around other passions and things that I'm interested in (ie. Design/Marketing, etc.). 

 

Your ECs are whatever you want them to be. They don't "have" to be anything. Just be sure you're doing these things for you and not trying to force yourself into this predetermined idea of what premed should be otherwise your premed years aren't going to be very enjoyable.

[Bambi 1,804]

For ECs, CanMEDS competencies are what are important, it can be employment, sports, the arts, whatever.

[tired 1]

Thank you all!