Looking for improvements before it gets too late

[twmbly]

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to evaluate my EC's and make improvements where I can. For all of the following, they are newer EC's but I have faith with 3 years remaining in my 5 year undergraduate plan that I will have plenty of hours in all areas. The input I am looking for is more about what EC's I should look into adding or improvement in my current EC's I can make.

Volunteering - I volunteer at the local hospital here in the small rural town I go to school. I try to stay busy by doing a great deal of office work such as creating employee files, etc. As a second part of this volunteering I spend time with those patients that are required to remain in the hospital (not just hospice). Does this interaction count for the "patient contact" that seems to be the tops for ADCOMs? Or is there something more specific that should fall into the "patient contact" category?

Physician Shadowing - At the hospital that I volunteer at I have been granted the opportunity to shadow the surgeon for the hospital. This will give me a look at both specialties I am debating on wanting to pursue, surgery and anesthesiology, should I try to get shadowing when he is not busy per say like when he is just doing paperwork as well to get the "whole picture" just to be able to discuss it?

I am also debating getting EMT-Basic certified

In addition to these medically related EC's I am also a tutor in numerous subjects for the school as well as a Student Ambassador which primarily involves helping with new student orientation as well as helping to coordinate many campus events. Also, I work while in school, including working full-time for the U.S. Census over this past summer and having my life insurance license which I fit into my schedule.

Research - This is the area that I will need to work on the most, I am trying to get into an REU this coming summer which I know usually only last for about 10 weeks, but my hope is that the experience I gain there in addition to the research we have to do to graduate from my university will be enough.

Additional Information - I have been inducted into 2 honor societies so far, Phi Eta Sigma and Kappa Sigma Iota and I should be graduating Summa Cum Laude if I can keep my grades on the pace they currently are. My university graduates anyone with a 3.9 or above with this distinction.

If there is anything else I can work on please let me know. I am not trying to "brag" or try and show anyone up here I honestly am just trying to bulk up my application as much as I can and I want to start my improvements now before it gets too late.

I apologize for the long post and appreciate all of you who took the time to read through it.

Thank You.

[Vonsmack]

I think you're ECs are good. I like the rural hospital volunteer aspect. Keep that up, try to get as involved as they will let you. Spending time with patients is great, that is fine for patient contact. If you have put in a couple of years of volunteering and they offer you a job as a tech or an aid I would take it. EMT is a decent choice if you want a better patient care experience.

Research is optional, it won't hurt if you don't have it unless you want to go to a top 20 research school. If you have the chance, go for it, it looks great on a CV.

I think you're doing fine. Keep working hard on those grades and then the MCAT, the AdComms won't even bother looking at all this extra stuff if you don't have the scores.