<p>Like, if I only had very few extracurricular activities besides research, would they care?
For example, if I had just these EC's, would I be okay in terms of getting into an MSTP program?
-2 years of biochem research (unpaid)
-2 years of hospital volunteering (once a week for 3-4 hours) (unpaid)
-1-2 summers of full-time research (paid with stipend)
-1 year of work as a computer lab assistant (part time, 10-15 hrs/wk) (paid)
-2 years of work as a computer tutor. (part time, 10-15 hrs/wk) (paid)
-and maybe 1 school year in a leadership position that only requires 4 hours per week (unpaid)</p>
<p>Would these EC's be enough? Like, if I literally didn't do any other EC's, like, no sports or clubs or anything (because there literally is no time in my schedule) and assuming I have like a 3.75 gpa when I graduate (because I'll be having gap year, so I'll apply after graduating), and a good MCAT.</p>
<p>Ultimately the program is about training physician scientists although FWIW, I have heard multiple people from multiple institutions talk about how musicians and athletes are their favorite students because they are the two non-science activities that challenge people in the way science does.</p>
<p>As I have said to you multiple times - MSTP adcoms are not reading your application with a checklist and counting up the number of boxes you hit. They are going to read your application and say “Who is this person? Do I feel confident enough in his/her ability to eventually be a successful physician scientist such that I am willing to invest ~$800,000 in him/her now? Will this person be the type of physician scientist that WE want to train and be forever associated with our program?” There are an infinite number of ways to answer these questions - but it’s up to YOU to answer them on your application and while your essays may say what kind of person you are/will become, your activities show what kind of person you are/will become.</p>