<p>I am currently a pre-med undergrad and I was wondering if it really was true that adcoms give the same weight to research and volunteer work? I have a slight preference toward doing volunteer work but wouldn't mind doing research if it is more beneficial to my application. Thanks!</p>
<p>Depends on what school it is. At some, both are necessary. Some will just want volunteer work.</p>
<p>Most premeds do both.</p>
<p>i just completed volunteer clinical research - killed 3 birds with one stone!</p>
<p>Does it matter what type of research you do to medical adcoms (eg. Does biological research look better then research within chemistry)? Thanks.</p>
<p>Nope, the type of research you do does not matter. What's important is that you are genuinely interested/passionate about the research you are doing.</p>
<p>Another question: How would you compare the weight of extracurriculars for med school applicants in comparison to the weight of ECs for college applicants? Roughly what percentages do general med school adcoms give to GPA, MCAT, and ECs?</p>
<p>While it's a valid question, it's unfortunately not an answerable one simply because medical school admissions is so much more competitive. You need -- borderline mandatory -- everything. Quantifying these things in percentages doesn't really work, because they'd all get 95%+.</p>
<p>In undergrad admissions, it's okay to be a savant. Doing really well at something can usually offset severe weaknesses in others. In medical school, that's almost (not quite, but almost) impossible to do.</p>
<p>Not only do you need everything, but everything is available as well. Almost all colleges and universities have opportunities for the students to do everything that is necessary to make up a competitive medical school application. Undergraduate admissions offices have to take into account what was, and wasn't, available to the student. Medical school admissions committees don't have to make allowances for things like that because almost all of the applicants (at least the ones who were pre-med while they were in undergraduate school. It's a little different for people who decide ten years later that they want to go to medical school) had the opportunity to pursue strong extra-curricular activities, research projects, and everything else.</p>
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Roughly what percentages do general med school adcoms give to GPA, MCAT, and ECs?
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<p>Clearly, your GPA and MCAT scores get the first consideration and will allow you to make the first cut. Some schools would not even consider someone who falls below specific numbers. However, applications are also "flagged" in the cases of legacies, VIPs and minorities. The scores for these "special" cases may have some slight variation.</p>
<p>GPA and MCAT come first- everything else, second.</p>