Medical schools have taken on a "holistic review" approach which means that while they still put emphasis on GPA and MCAT score, they also heavily consider your extracurriculars.
When thinking about extracurriculars for medical school there are six categories or "boxes" you will want to check off. I'm going to go through them all here but keep an eye out for later posts that dive deeper into each activity!
1. Volunteer Work - preferably medical-related and non medical-related
Medical-Related Volunteering: I recommend volunteering in a hospital for this one for a couple of reasons:
- Most hospitals will have a formal volunteering program that you can find on their website making it very easy to find opportunities
- Some hospitals such as the one I worked at (Children's Hospital in Oakland) have opportunities for you to work directly with patients which is honestly so reward
- It is usually only once a week and allows you to get hours without sacrificing grades
Non Medical-Related Volunteering: Get creative and do something you are passionate about
- Campus clubs are a great way to find a volunteer opportunity
- The important thing to remember with this is to pick something you can stick with and something you love! It is MUCH easier to talk about something you're passionate about than something you do because you felt like you had to.
2. Research - This is VERY important as well
- When it comes to getting research opportunities, every university is different. I got into research through a program specifically designed for undergraduate researcher apprenticeship. However, I found my subsequent opportunities by simply emailing professors in the neurobiology department. You can also do research over the summer if that works better for you.
- Research is an amazing way to get a personal letter of recommendation so once you find a lab you like try to stay for at least 6 months to a year.
- If you want to stand out in research you might consider presenting at a conference, writing a senior thesis or publishing.
- Do NOT obsess over publishing - it is NOT necessary to be published by the time you apply to medical school
3. Shadowing - I honestly think they want to make sure you aren't going to pass out when you get in an operating room
- My best advice for getting shadowing opportunities is:
A. Contact physicians know you personally
B. Look for physicians' offices with programs set up for shadowing
C. Email a bunch of local physicians and cross your fingers
D. Look into programs that set up shadowing opportunities for you
- For example: I did the Atlantis Program and spent six weeks shadowing in Italy
4. Leadership - Again, pick something you are passionate about and stick with it!
- This can be in a club, sorority, job, etc
- I cannot say this enough - Medical schools LOVE consistency and leadership positions are a great way to show you can stick with something
5. Work Experience - Also can be anything and does not have to be medical-related
- I was a preschool teacher during the summers and absolutely loved it! It also gave me something fun to talk about in interviews
- Being a Campus Ambassador is a great way to do this as well because you often get to choose your own schedule (I was a Kaplan Test Prep Ambassador and it was great!)
6. Hobbies - Yes, medical schools want to know what you do for fun! I wrote about dance :)
I know that seems like a lot but remember to pace yourself! You do not want to do so many hours of extracurriculars that you end up sacrificing your grades because they still matter.
Also remember that extracurriculars are supposed to be enjoyable (at least a little bit) so try to find a research project you're actually interested in, a volunteer position that makes you feel good, and leadership roles you are passionate about!
Best of luck and happy hoop-jumping!
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