EXTRACURRICULARS

3.1 What sort of extracurriculars, volunteering, or research do I need for medical school?

Your GPA and MCAT score alone are not enough to gain you entry into medical school You need to have extracurricular activities (notice the plural!) that help provide a better picture of who you are, your interests, and what you are passionate about outside of academics. As mentioned before, remember that an outstanding set of extracurricular activities cannot compensate for a GPA or MCAT that doesn’t meet the cutoff - all three of these components are absolutely necessary to paint a holistic view of who you are as an applicant.

3.2 What sort of extracurricular activities look good to admission committees?

Make sure that you have extracurriculars that you are genuinely passionate about and which demonstrate commitment Because the application process is so competitive, you need to distinguish yourself amongst all the different applicants in the pool. However, don’t come down with “pre-med syndrome” by committing hours of your time to an activity that you don’t enjoy. That’s not productive at all! You are a unique individual and the activities you dedicate yourself to will reflect that. After all, not every doctor was the captain of a varsity team. Not every medical student travelled to a developing country or served as the president of their student body. However, most of these individuals participated in a variety of long-term commitments that demonstrated their personal growth, personality, and interests. Remember: don’t ask yourself, “What does the admissions committee want to see?” Instead, ask yourself: “What have I learned and how have I grown from this activity?”

3.3 What about volunteering ?

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, on top of developing communication skills, empathy, and possibly working with others from diverse backgrounds. Many different volunteer organizations actively recruit students to help with their programs. However, remember that volunteering is not limited to a health care setting! Volunteering should ultimately come from your personal interests, in addition to demonstrating a long-term commitment. In other words, don’t volunteer at a hospital just because you think that’s what medical schools are looking for. In fact, medical schools are looking for the exact opposite - they want to see what you are genuinely passionate about! Whether you are helping to promote art by performing in Hamilton on weekends or helping set up blood donation clinics, neither is superior to the other, but both exemplify unique interests and skills.

Make sure to also take advantage of the resources available to you through clubs and university services to learn more about volunteer opportunities and ways that you can get involved with the community

3.4

How about volunteering overseas ?

Overseas volunteering provides an applicant unique opportunities to gain more knowledge about different cultures and environments, and perhaps offer a new perspective on the world around you. Many of you have likely considered going on a two-week medical service trip in an underdeveloped country where you’ll learn some procedures, perhaps work in a clinic, and tour the exquisite countryside However, some shortcomings need to be considered, such as the cost of these trips and the risk of disease Another issue worth considering is whether this is an endeavour you can commit to long-term or if it is a one-time thing – will you be able to go back every summer and help out with the trip?

Lastly, reflect on why you want to volunteer abroad and what you hope to gain from this experience. Are you passionate about providing sustainable services through a non-governmental organization, or are you simply trying to “meet” the medical school admission committee’s expectations? Remember, passion and consistency in your extracurricular activities are key.

3.5 Does employment help ?

Similar to volunteering, employment helps to demonstrate strong time management and commitment. However, it can also open up many doors for other benefits. As the cost of tuition increases for most post-secondary students, admission committees realize that students seek employment to fund their studies and gain working experience. As an applicant, don’t limit yourself to employers in healthcare-related fields. Instead, look for opportunities to help you develop skills in an area that interests you for instance, working as a lifeguard demonstrates leadership and care for the lives of others, as well as an educational role in teaching others about safety. You will also most likely be spending a lot of time with your employer, and they can write a great reference letter about your character, skills and responsibility at work.

Employment also means that you have the chance to do something unique. For example, you could try starting your own small business if you’re entrepreneurial. Another idea is spending a few months abroad teaching English instead of simply volunteering. You could provide tours in science centers, or even work in arctic exploration!

3.6 What about research ?

Research is a great way to explore more about a particular field of academia while immersing yourself in the scientific community. Remember that you do not need to limit yourself to research in the field of medicine, nor is research a necessity in your application. Before stepping into research, first ask yourself – what kind of research do I want to go into? Am I even interested in research? What do I want to get out of my research experience? Is there a specific topic or question I want to explore through the scientific research process? Your answer to these questions will allow you to identify relevant opportunities that you are interested in pursuing and will help you demonstrate your passion to potential supervisors

3.7 How should I approach a researcher ?

A good and simple guide to contacting researchers is as follows:

Send an email to a prospective researcher introducing yourself, your area of study (university program and year), and highlight your interest in their area of research. Bring up any relevant experiences that you have. Think of this introductory email as a brief, reader-friendly version of a cover letter – keep your email to a few short paragraphs maximum because they likely will not want to or have the time to read a long email.

Attach your CV so that they can look into it if they are interested in getting to know you more, and ask if there are any opportunities to volunteer or work in their lab or department.

When you hear back from them, the researcher will probably want to meet with you for an interview. Book an appointment with them at a time that works for both of you.

When first starting out in a lab, you might be only washing test tubes, doing simple assays, or sorting documents However, be proactive in the lab/department Come to the research meetings and share your ideas with your supervisor afterwards This relationship may lead you to an upper year thesis project, or even open a few conferences that you can attend. Be diligent, productive, and passionate in your research – that may earn you another letter of reference that can set you apart from the competition!