It may be true, however, that personal control over your life may be limited longer in a field like urology than family practice, as the training period is longer. Certainly, urologists are fairly creative and open-minded creatures who like families as much as new technologies and gadgets and scopes and the like. Within this field, you can choose the path you choose. Volunteer work is not that important but does show evidence of interest and motivation. Extracurricular activities in general are important because they contribute to the development of the individual as a person.
Publications are an excellent indicator of motivation, discipline and accomplishment.
It is not easy to publish things in peer-reviewed journals. Honors and AOA are somewhat important in that they are established indicators of accomplishment and organizational skills. You have to really work to get them. Subinternships are highly reccommended. People like things that are familiar.