Medical schools are stressing more and more that applicants expand beyond simply fulfilling the required course load by engaging in extracurricular activities of significant endeavor.
Extracurricular activities are important for two reasons.
First, medical schools tend to prefer people who are complete and exhibit a passionate interest in some activity rather than those applicants who are simply outstanding in the classroom. Extracurriculars provide applicants with the opportunity to show traits such as empathy, which may not be demonstrated in class. Second, medical students and doctors maintain busy schedules and thus, extracurricular activities provide proof that a prospective candidate is capable of managing their time wisely. However, despite what medical schools prefer, applicants should do what they desire to do simply because they enjoy what they are doing. Hopefully, applicants can find joy in gaining clinical related work experience that is rewarding as well.