College admission is a difficult process and getting into medical school is particularly hard. While good grades and being diligent and hardworking are important, colleges look for more than that before admitting students into their medical programme. There are many students with good grades; universities look at other criteria to select students. This is where extracurriculars play an important role.
Having the right extracurricular activities on your resume can help you stand apart from others. While your grades reflect your academic strengths, extracurricular activities highlight other aspects of your personality like compassion, dedication, leadership skills, sportsmanship, etc., and present you as a well-rounded applicant. For instance, activities that you have been pursuing since primary school show your passion and perseverance for your chosen task. Others help you mature as an individual and develop your soft skills. The best primary schools encourage their students to participate in extracurricular activities from a young age and continue pursuing them to develop a well-rounded personality. Such differentiators make a student stand out during med school admissions.
What extracurricular activities will help your medical school application?
A pre-med activity that gives you some form of clinical exposure is a requirement by all medical schools. Apart from this, there are several sports, arts or other activities to choose from – and it’s ok to choose one that you enjoy! It will give you something to talk enthusiastically about in your interview. Focus on three or four and pursue them wholeheartedly. The admission committee sees this as a sign of passion, responsibility and commitment – qualities that colleges look for in future doctors.
Here are the extracurricular activities that you should take up:
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Clinical exposure and experience – is a sign of your knowledge, commitment and passion for the profession. Spend time in a clinical setting so you know what exactly you are getting into and are absolutely sure that medicine is the right field for you. Shadow a doctor and observe firsthand what a doctor’s day is like. You will get an opportunity to meet other doctors and medical staff, ask questions and connect with patients. You will also be exposed to various medical specialities. You can also work as a medical scribe, or in other positions in a hospital or clinic.
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Research experience – shows your desire for discovery and interest in finding answers. Medical schools look for candidates who want to change the future of medicine. Conducting research on your own or under a researcher as a lab assistant will demonstrate your curiosity. It will also help you interpret research, an important task for a doctor.
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Volunteering or Community Service – shows altruism. Serving others selflessly, working long hours, putting others before yourself and caring for people when they are sick is why many people become doctors. Helping others through community service proves your desire and willingness to do this. You can volunteer in clinics, hospitals, retirement homes, shelters, adoption centres, or even in a school camp. Choose the one you’re passionate and committed about and it will lead to your personal and professional growth.
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Teaching – develops and strengthens your leadership, communication and listening skills, as well as empathy for struggling students. These skills will be handy in your career as a doctor when you need to explain diagnoses, treatment plans and how patients can better manage their health. Doctors need to be respectful to patients’ opinions and interact with them with compassion and empathy. Working as a teaching assistant or coaching a sport will help you develop these skills.
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Personal interests, talents and hobbies – develop other aspects of your personality like soft skills, foreign language fluency, ability to work in teams, thinking skills, etc. They give the admissions committee a glimpse of your interests, motivations and who you are as a person.
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Entering a science competition or fair – will show that you can think outside the box and take initiative.
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Medical summer courses – will give you academic knowledge and practical experience, as well as an insight into what studying and practising medicine is like.
While you might have pursued many extracurricular activities, include only a select few in your application. At international schools in singapore, Choose extracurriculars that you have invested time in and those that align with your goals, values and interests. Reflect on what impact your experiences had on you and also what impact you made while pursuing those. This exercise will showcase qualities that will demonstrate your rightness for medical school and profession.
