<p>How important is volunteering and leadership activities for getting into medical school? I like volunteering and being a part of my community and I have been volunteering at hospitals and through clubs in my high school since 9th grade, so I am a fan of doing things like that, but I am wondering if I should be jut focused on doing more things like that or if I should be pursing I guess more extravagant volunteering opportunities like going to under served areas. I understand that those more extravagant volunteering opportunities would obviously look better, but are they really viewed as being significantly better than more local activities? Also, are volunteering and other subjective things like research as important as great grades and MCAT scores or would it be better to focus on making your grades and scores as good as they can be at the expensive of those more ambitious volunteering and research opportunities? Lastly, are there any other major factors that I am missing that medical schools look for besides grades, tests, research, volunteering, and leadership? </p>
<p>International volunteering is definitely not necessary. (In fact, adcomms tend to be pretty jaded about international service trips and often consider them “medical tourism” rather than significant volunteer opportunities.)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in working with the medically underserved, there are plenty of places in the US that are medically underserved. (Look no farther than the nearest inner city neighborhood. Or if you’re from a more rural state, some of the not-too-far-away small rural communities. Find a need and fill it.)</p>
<p>ECs are very important for those who intend to apply to medical school, equally important as your grades and MCAT score. While your GPA &MCAT will get you past the first screen, it’s your ECs that get you invited to interview. Successful med school applicants have it all—good stats and strong ECs. </p>
<p>One last word of advice–don’t be a box-checker. IOW, if the only reason you’re doing X,Y or Z is because “it looks good to adcomms”–then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. </p>