<p>So, I have finished Freshman year and I'm thinking of doing something worthwhile during the Summer. I can either:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Take more classes to lighten my load for Sophomore Year</p></li>
<li><p>Try to volunteer or find some extracurricular.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Right now, I decided to do pre-reqs such as Intro Bio, Graduation reqs, etc,</p>
<p>Then for the Fall, I will being doing undergrad research for a year, and possibly even continuing that same project into next Spring/Summer. I'll also try to get some shadowing in during next year's Summer as well. For Junior year, it will also be some volunteer work/research for the entire year</p>
<p>Is it bad if I do my extracurriculars after Freshman year and use this Summer to knock out some more prereqs?
I feel that in any Summer, I should either concentrate on prereqs or extracurriculars, not both of them at the same time.</p>
<p>I think as long as a Summer break is used to do something meaningful, it's all equal</p>
<p>Summer is for ECs, not pre-reqs. </p>
<p>Find a job and do some volunteer work this summer. </p>
<p>Don’t take your med school pre-reqs during the summer.</p>
<p>Definitely do volunteer. You can always do both because that shows that you can handle a lot of things at one time.</p>
<p>Many people I know do research summer after freshman year. Is this pretty common/somewhat necessary or not? Because I’m thinking about taking a CNA course this summer (I just graduated HS) and I was thinking about working as one next summer and shadowing. Then I’d do research next few summers.</p>
<p>Definitely not necessary to do research the summer after your freshman year. Your time can more profitably spent working or volunteering because as a rising sophomore you really don’t have any solid lab skills yet and may have trouble finding a research slot. Also most of the REUs are looking for rising juniors and seniors.</p>
<p>RE: CNA
A CNA or EMT is of ZERO value in a medical school application unless you actually use your certification to work in that field. So only take the course if you plan on working as CNA while you’re in college.</p>
<p>@MDreams,
</p>
<p>Do you WANT to do research? Do your plans/interests include academic medicine, basic research, MD/PhD? If so, then why not give it a go after freshman year? I did and it was a wonderful experience that has opened many other doors. (and don’t let the naysayers get you down, just ignore them. That’s what I did)
If you do decide to do it, start looking for programs early (Fall of your freshman year) deadlines for many great programs are early the next year.</p>
<p>@WayOutWestMom, does working as a CNA for at least a summer and a half count as decent enough work or not?</p>
<p>A summer and half would be sufficient.</p>
<p>I think a class or two for requirements, combined with some Shadowing can be productive for the Summer…If there are no classes being taken, then I should get a job or something else to keep me occupied full time</p>