<p>Hey all,
I'm gonna be startin out as a freshman this fall, and I would like to (hopefully) attend a top med school. That said, I am aware that GPA and MCAt are both major factors, but I realize that ECs, especially research, are really important. Doing research however is something I don't think i could begin until at least after my first quarter, so my question is, shoudl i bother trying to get involved at a hospital via volunteering work or should I just take this first quarter to soley get focused on getting my act ready for school etc? I don't want to waste my time on Ecs however that I don't feel strongly about or that woudln't help me get a better sense of the medical field. Your input is much appreciated. thanks!</p>
<p>Try going around campus and checking out the various organizations. Also, don't hesistate to get involved in something non-med-related.</p>
<p>For a medical school, the two main ECs that you want are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Science Research</li>
<li>Hospital Volunteering</li>
</ol>
<p>However, I'm involved in A LOT of ECs that are totally not medically related, and most pre-meds at my school (Harvard) are as well, from dance troupes to intramurals, to community service to tutoring... etc.</p>