Extra+Curricular+Activities

=Extra Curricular Activities= Medical school admissions committees look to see that applicants have taken advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and other qualities essential for many of the roles that a physician must play. Many successfully admitted YU students have pursued a wide variety of activities, including those in athletics, public service, social and cultural involvement, and the arts. There is no formula for the activities with which students must be involved in order to be competitive; deep involvement in a couple of areas is preferred over light participation in many. Each medical school develops its own criteria and priorities for admission, reflecting the goals of the respective school. For some medical schools, potential for service to an under-served community is very important; for other medical schools, a priority may be leadership qualities. =Health Care Experience= Many schools when evaluating potential applicants look carefully at applicant's experience with healthcare. In order to properly answer the question of why you want to be a Health care professional you need to be able to have a well thought out answer that you can base from experience. Students applying to medical school, dental school or any health professions program must show consistent interest in participating in activities that involve patient care. Students should prepare to spend 100-150 hours of clinically related work. This work should take place over the course of at least 1 year. Schools wish to see a commitment over time rather than a short spurt of hours over the course of a winter break or a summer. For more information see our Volunteering page as well as an important guide to clinical experience published by AAMC in conjunction with Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

=Research= Basic science research is not a requirement for medical schools, and in fact, many YU students continue onto medical school without working in a lab. Nevertheless, Successful applicants have usually demonstrated the ability to pursue an area of academic interest in depth. Check out our research page for more information.

=Community Service= Students need to show that they care about their communities and the community of humanity. At YU, students are surrounded by the cultures that share Washington Heights. It is essential that students demonstrate care and concern for the well-being of all races, cultures and creeds. In this regard, YU has an outstanding number of community service programs that will allow students to make connections with public school children, with high school students struggling to pass Regents exams, with elderly people who need attention.

Potential Activities
The most important aspect of the extra curricular activities you choose should be that you enjoy doing them. That being said, the following is a list of activities YU students have done over the years

Clubs
An important way to show leadership and dedication to a cause is to be part of a club. YU has many clubs, and you should get involved with and try to lead clubs that you enjoy.

Becoming an EMT
 Many YU students become certified EMTs through local volunteer ambulance services. Teaneck, Hackensack and Bergenfield NJ are easily accessible from YU. Other students go to the EMT services in Riverdale/Bronx or in Brooklyn or Queens. Below is the information about applying and being certified by NYC [|http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny//html/community/ems_employment.shtml#become]

Working with the elderly
Volunteer at the local nursing home

Community Involvement

 * President's Circle Tutoring
 * START Science
 * YU Literacy Program
 * College EDge

Other Activities

 * Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
 * Working with the developmentally disabled
 * Sports (YU’s only Division I team is fencing!)
 * Music/Dancing/Singing/Acting/Art

Specialty Hobbies:

 * Learning Spanish or French
 * Sailing
 * Poetry/writing for newspapers or magazines
 * Chess