What are some good extracurricular activities to be a part of? Any that’ll be really good on college applications? I plan on going into the medical field, hopefully be a doctor
The best ECs are the ones you truly enjoy and care about, and will do with depth, initiative, commitment and conviction. Don’t cobble together a bunch of ECs to make yourself appear interesting, BE interesting by involving yourself. Admissions officers should be able to figure out if you are just going through the motions of shallow activities you are just “meh” about. Don’t sign up for a bunch of clubs just because they are there (unless you are actively exploring whether you might truly like them.)
What do you love to do, or think you are drawn to do? Imagine, if you had an extra five hours per day, and couldn’t fill them with homework or just hanging around, what would you do if it were possible? (If programs/opportunities for these don’t currently exist where you live, could you create those? )This kind of brainstorming might give you a clue to the direction your ECs should take…the challenge, of course, will be to fit some into your life, without the extra five hours. One or a few great ones are better than a dozen scattered ones.
Sure, I think if you could do some kind of volunteer work in a hospital, community health center, or anywhere where you are doing some kind of direct "helping’ work… it may strengthen your case for pre-med/medical school, but more important, help you decide if this is an environment for you. But med school will still be years away…and l believe colleges and medical schools will want to see the whole person, not just the potential physician. Enjoy your high school years for what they are…not just as stepping stones to something else.
Wow thank you so much! Your advice was truly helpful and eye opening! I’ll make sure to sign up for clubs that I’m interested in and not just for the name.