<p>I realize that hitting college can be a daunting change for many students. Along with many others, I share the belief that college freshmen should focus on adjusting to college during their fall semester of freshman year, possibly spring semester as well. This would include maintaining good standing in college courses, getting to know people (faculty included) as well as the campus, getting involved in non-health-related EC's that one will carry on throughout college, such as intramural sports, publication work,and other student organizations.</p>
<p>Furthermore, health-related EC's may simply be impossible to fit in during freshman year; who knows?</p>
<p>As for me, I currently intend on doing exactly that. My health-related EC's are bound to start summer following freshman year.</p>
<p>Is it generally recommended to have EC's that display an interest in other people and the health field as early as freshman year, or would starting sophomore year be of similar regard? Long story short, is it a disadvantage to only have 2 years of health-related EC's as opposed to 3 years if one starts their freshmen year.</p>
<p>It isn’t a disadvantage to only have 2 years. Obviously 3 years is better but 2 years is still fine. However, while I agree that you need to take some to adjust to school, you’ll be pretty adjusted and used to things by the end of the first semester (in fact me and my friends felt adjusted to college after 1 quarter which is even shorter than a semester). Anyways, I’d say choose at least one health-related EC (maybe your school’s pre-med club) freshman year and then add more as you see possible. Also, some of the best clinically-volunteering programs at your school can be hard to get into, and you might have to apply several times (usually there are 1-2 application cycles per semester) to learn the ropes and increase your chances. So the earlier you start the better.</p>
<p>“Furthermore, health-related EC’s may simply be impossible to fit in during freshman year; who knows?”
-Very possible. Do not wait with anything. Sometime they are not easy to get into. My D. had easy time getting all her EC’s at college, but not at home town during summers. So, to have more time, I woud say be more flexible, you will not have opportunity to be choosy. Grab it when available. The same is true for any job.</p>