<p>I'm currently a freshman at Cornell and have already started on the path to med school. Crossing my fingers.</p>
<p>I'm just curious to see whether or not you think my EC's are on the right track.</p>
<p>Research: Spent 7 months last year in a lab at UTSW medical center, got my name on a poster presented at an international conference over the summer. I wasn't there to present or anything like that, and I know it's a pretty insignificant accomplishment, but it's something. I will be returning next summer (already been asked to come back and guaranteed a spot by the PI), probably going to be pretty independent.</p>
<p>Shadowing: 4 month internship last fall with an ortho surgeon (as a HS senior), saw a few surgeries, but focused on clinics which I feel is more important to spend time in since that's more of the daily routine of a doctor. Loved it, and learned a ton. May ask to go back to her or another doctor at that hospital sometime in the future if I've got time.</p>
<p>Volunteering: Current member of the EMS squad here at Cornell. Going to get my EMT-B next summer and within the next two years work up to crew chief (definitely attainable), at least be a crew chief in training by sophomore year. </p>
<p>And I'm a member of American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) here, where I'll try and get a leadership position there as well.</p>
<p>I'm not asking for chances or anything, simply asking whether it looks like I'm on the right track or not. I'm in another club or two but those are insignificant and just for fun, so left them out.</p>
<p>HS shadowing/internships can’t be listed unless you continue the experience now (and preferably “expanded your role in the activity” according to AMCAS).</p>
<p>Fun clubs are not insignificant. They can be what define you if it is a passion of yours. You seem to be doing all right so far (I mean, its only been a few months, don’t forget to slouch around a little too. You have plenty of time to do great and impressive things. Some times a passionate hobby can take you places that no amount of volunteer work can). </p>
<p>Consider looking into future research scholarships/internships at Cornell for your upperclassmen years. See if you can schedule an interview with your graduate scholarships advisor (tell her you are considering PhD as well as MD). See if she can give you any tips on what to do in the meantime. A Goldwater and similar awards is a great touch if you are interested in academic medicine.</p>
<p>Interesting. I was told directly by a med school adcom member to list pertinent things, even if they were in high school. Like, we had a face to face conversation, and he said that it’s good for showing long term interest. </p>
<p>That’s an AMCAS policy that it can’t be listed?</p>
<p>I do have plenty of fun, haha. I work hard, but I have my fun on weekends too, that’s for sure. I’ll definitely check into Goldwater type stuff. Thanks.</p>
<p>Key words there were that it shows long-term interest. If you’re still doing it and you’ve increased your scope/activity/etc. since HS, then it’s still a relevant collegiate activity that happens to extend back to HS, but if it ended before September 1, 2009 (or whenever your freshmen year began), it’s not relevant to med school admissions.</p>
<p>The way I was referring to long-term interest was someone who didn’t decide to become a doctor last week. Regardless, if AMCAS says it can’t be put on there, then it can’t.</p>
<p>So, if I do more shadowing then it would be relevant. If I were to do it at the same hospital, but a different doctor, would it be possible for me to somehow fenagle both of them into one EC to count that one? I’d prefer to see it from another doctors point of view, and probably a different specialty too.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, med schools don’t care if this is something you’ve wanted to do since high school. They get the “I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 3” line all the time. Many great med students (who eventually become great doctors) are career changers or people who decide much later in life. That’s perfectly fine. I agree with the advice to not put something that ended before college on the AMCAS.</p>
<p>Hint : A thoughtfully placed anecdote in your PS or a secondary that involves a pertinent high school opp could (artfully woven into evidence of continued commitment) work just fine. There’s more than one way to climb a cat. Skin a mountain. Whatever. ;)</p>