<p>They don’t care about ECs unless those ECs relate directly to your future area of study. Volunteering in a museum, for instance, would do me good (since my studies will involve museum work), but being, say, an editor of the campus newspaper wouldn’t do anything at all for me.</p>
<p>Basically, participate in ECs only if you like them or if they relate to what you’ll be doing in the future.</p>
<p>Oh really? So, if I’m going I to medicine, what do you suggest for me to participate in?</p>
<p>Volunteering in a hospital and doing research is typical (I’m doing both). Basically, if you do something else you love also (like Campus Crusades for me), then a) you’ll enjoy college more, and b) it shows you have a personality with different interests and are an individual, which WILL be important in med school interviews. They are looking for students who are smart, but who also have a personality.</p>
<p>If you’re planning on medical school: Research experience, shadowing doctors, volunteering at hospitals, research experience, research experience, research experience, and anything else you enjoy doing for fun.</p>
<p>Awww. Thanks guys. But, can you elaborate on what you mean by doing research. Do you mean writing a llooooooooooooooong research paper? Or going hand on? Please tell me about your research experience.</p>
<p>Research depends. For me, it’s a requirement for my bio class, but I’ll continue doing research over the summer and next year. For my class, we have a long paper due in early paper, but a semester isn’t really enough time to get significant results. Basically getting published is the ultimate goal/achievement.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, my research involves prostate cancer. Using our progression lines and microarray analysis and qPCR to find overexpression of certain genes. Pretty basic techniques, but very interesting stuff. Sidenote: research will involve A LOT of reading scientific articles online. So be prepared for that.</p>
<p>1- What classes are you taking? What do you recommend a freshmen to take?
We have a trimester system. So far I’ve taken/am taking the introductory biology courses, one 200-level biology class, calculus, two upper-level PoliSci classes, and an Environmental Geology class. I’d recommend that a freshman pre-med student get calc out of the way and try to start with intro bio or chem.</p>
<p>2- What clubs/organizations are you participating in? What do you recommend?
I’m a varsity athlete (soccer), work 10-hrs/week, am a member of Northfield Special olympics, write for the newspaper, and am a member of the enormous campus dance group for fun. THese depend entirely on your interests. I’m not pre-med, but most pre-med students I know look to intern at hospitals or medical-related facilities.</p>
<p>3- What’s the duration of your classes? (Most, least hrs)
Biology - 3.5 hours of lecture plus four hours of lab per week.
PoliSci - 4 hours of lecture a week.
Geology - 3.5 hours of lecture plus four hours of lab per week.</p>
<p>4- How many hours do you study/do homework?
Depends. Today, I spent upwards of 6 hours on homework, but I have an exam tomorrow. Normally, I’d say anywhere from two to four hours a day.</p>
<p>5- Do you ever get spare time to enjoy life and be with family 'n friends?
Yes, plenty. Maybe not as much as I would like on weekdays, but I see a lot of my friends at my activities, and I definitely go out and see people on the weekends. It’s all about balance.</p>
<p>6- Do you take PE? Should I?
We have a requirement here that you need at least 8 PE credits (4 classes). I’ll get them all from playing soccer, but I’ve also taken two just for enjoyment. Currently, I’m getting SCUBA certified, which is very cool and gets me PE credit.</p>
<p>7- What are some internships that you’ve had?
None yet. Freshman don’t often do them during the school year here. I’ll be potentially interning with a branch of NPR this summer, though, and I’ve interned with an environmental group in high school.</p>
<p>Thanks bauman1535!</p>
<p>@reezpieces103, awesome. You’re the only responder with a lot of involvement in things like soccer and dance. Very good. I’m also a soccer girl! I love it! Anyway, thanks for responding.</p>
<p>
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<p>Really? My co-ed IM team needs a female goalie for next year? You interested haha.</p>
<p>Lol! Id love to! I’m good at offense. Kinda weak at defence. :(</p>
<p>EC’s probably don’t matter for real. Research matters? (I guess)</p>
<p>1- What classes are you taking? What do you recommend a freshmen to take?</p>
<p>What do you mean recommend you to take as a freshmen? You have to fulfil your general reqs as a freshman, are you really a freshman?</p>
<p>I am taking Analysis and a Proof course this year</p>
<p>2- What clubs/organizations are you participating in? What do you recommend?</p>
<p>None</p>
<p>3- What’s the duration of your classes? (Most, least hrs)</p>
<p>at least 1 and a half hr</p>
<p>4- How many hours do you study/do homework?</p>
<p>As much as I need to</p>
<p>5- Do you ever get spare time to enjoy life and be with family 'n friends?</p>
<p>No need, college is fun!</p>
<p>6- Do you take PE? Should I?</p>
<p>You must be in Arts</p>
<p>7- What are some internships that you’ve had? </p>
<p>I failed to get any</p>
<p>Well, what I meant when I said what classes to recommend is what classed (since I WILL BE STARTING COLLEGE SOON) to take besides the obvious general reqs since I’m going into the pre-med major. So, I need advice like should I take physics and Chem in the same year. So on and so forth.</p>
<p>Not classed but **classes. Sry bout that.</p>
<p>holden888, not everyone has to fulfill general reqs as a freshman, nor must they take arts. It depends on the school almost completely.</p>
<p>1- What classes are you taking? What do you recommend a freshmen to take?</p>
<p>It all depends on what you are interested in/majoring in. Because I am a history and political science major, I take a lot of those classes. As a freshmen, I would recommend getting your collegewide gen-ed requirements out of the way.</p>
<p>2- What clubs/organizations are you participating in? What do you recommend?</p>
<p>Eh heh, I should have handled this better. I dabbled in student government, the college republicans AND the college democrats, but the only one I was firmly involved in by the end of the year was the college dems. I would recommend doing whatever interests you.</p>
<p>3- What’s the duration of your classes? (Most, least hrs)</p>
<p>I have either 3 or 4 hours of class per week depending on the class. The classes themselves are either an hour or an hour and a half.</p>
<p>4- How many hours do you study/do homework?</p>
<p>Depends on the classes I’m taking. It was probably around 3 my first semester, but dropped to one second semester because I liked my classes more/they were easier.</p>
<p>5- Do you ever get spare time to enjoy life and be with family 'n friends?</p>
<p>Loads. Chilled with my friends a ton. Went home around 4 times per semester.</p>
<p>6- Do you take PE? Should I</p>
<p>I didn’t. I run and work out at the school gym on my own. If you feel like it would help you, then by all means, but look into IM sports too.</p>
<p>7- What are some internships that you’ve had?
None yet. My advisor thought it was quaint that I was looking for internships as a freshman :p</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’m prelaw, so most of the classes I take aren’t what you’ll be interested in. Next semester I’m taking Advanced Philosophy of Law, Problems: Law and Morality (although I’m prob going to switch this since the location and time is bad) karate to fulfill my gym requirement, German 101 to fulfill my language requirements, and a honors program seminar which will culminate into writing my honors thesis by the end of the semester. For freshman, FINISH YOUR GEN EDS- you don’t want to be in my position where you’ll be taking GEN Ed classes your last semester (for me this will be German 102). </p></li>
<li><p>I participate in two clubs, the Philosophy Club, and the Philosophy of Science Club. I’m on the eboards of both. It’s my chance to hang out with people who are as nerdy/intellectual as me on a regular basis. I get to talk about things that interest me, and for philsci, I help plan a large academic event on my campus which I helped found as well. I’ve also tried to create my own club with some friends, but we didn’t get chartered. For you, Id recommend something major related or whatever you personally find compelling. </p></li>
<li><p>Each individual class can last from an hour (3 or 4 times a week), to an hour and a half (usually twice a week) or even to three hours once a week. </p></li>
<li><p>It depends on what I’m taking in particular semester. My classes are reading heavy (but I’m a very fast reader so it isn’t really a burden to me) and have less busy work than the sciences. I have a few large papers a semester which I try to start early enough, but I still manage to finish later than I intend to.</p></li>
<li><p>Absolutely. I’ve made a policy for myself that I would not work on Friday or Saturday nights so I can relax at that time and hang out with people. I also find time to hang whenever, but I specifically set time on those nights for it. I go home 2 to 3 times a semester (usually when they kick us out of the dorms) and my parents come up once for parent visiting weekend.</p></li>
<li><p>If you feel you need to exercise in a structured class, then take it. Or take it if you’re required to, like I am. </p></li>
<li><p>I’m working my first internship this summer (I will be a senior in the fall) and it’s in a law office. It’s great experience, but not paid unfortunately, so I’m glad I have a job at school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I just want to add something about jobs: I work two jobs on top of everything else. I am a receptionist and a tutor and I like both of my jobs. I’m very happy that I found them, simply because finding work as a student who goes away to school can be very difficult. Mine are great because they are through the school, so it follows the school calendar for closings.</p>
<p>@caemin Thnx for ur reply. Why didn’t you start interning freshman or sophomore year?</p>
<p>@andre10 thnx. Overall, is college only boron work? And what’s the hardest class you’ve taken hitherto? What’s your least favorite?</p>