How important are high school ECs?

[future_doc]

You are somewhat of a special situation and in order to market yourself well, you need to look at these things as suggested guidelines, not as hard rules.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by future_doc

You are somewhat of a special situation and in order to market yourself well, you need to look at these things as suggested guidelines, not as hard rules.

Noted. I'm still in my information gathering stage and am not intending to undertake any ECs until I've established the school-life-study routine fairly well. I just like to get as much information as possible before acting on it so I can plan effectively.

[future_doc]

Originally Posted by Birdy

By the time I apply to med school, that activity will be twelve years prior, so I didn't know how far back they'd go. But it is definitely nice to know I can work it in somehow. The idea of presenting it as a pattern is one I hadn't considered - it would be fairly easy for me to do some personal care work again, to firmly establish the pattern.

Of course, you cannot let go of your life experiences for a silly 5 year rule or suggestion that clearly is not meant to apply for you. Your Dal essay will be an amazing read and a tremendous marketing tool. Start working on your first draft now as there will be many, many drafts and ideas will occur to you over time. When the time comes, if requested, I would be delighted to assist you in editing as I have done this for years now with applicants, having literally edited hundreds including Dal essays.

[future_doc]

Be careful in taking on a serious load of ECs, I would say you already have them with an autistic child. Studies for you are far more important than trying to fill in any EC gaps, if they exist. Again, you are somewhat of a special situation as you don't fit the traditional mold. So filter what I and others say with great care as you will make decisions affecting your destiny.

[future_doc]

I think you can easily link current (present & future) ECs to your children, thereby showing compassion, initiative, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, commitment, dedication, focus, expertise etc - many attributes sought of physicians - and advancing the interests of both your children, yourself and the community! It all comes down to doing what you have to do, doing what is best for all and putting yourself in a win-win position from the point of view of marketing yourself as a competitive candidate.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by future_doc

Of course, you cannot let go of your life experiences for a silly 5 year rule or suggestion that clearly is not meant to apply for you. Your Dal essay will be an amazing read and a tremendous marketing tool. Start working on your first draft now as there will be many, many drafts and ideas will occur to you over time. When the time comes, if requested, I would be delighted to assist you in editing as I have done this for years now with applicants, having literally edited hundreds including Dal essays.

Originally Posted by future_doc

Be careful in taking on a serious load of ECs, I would say you already have them with an autistic child. Studies for you are far more important than trying to fill in any EC gaps, if they exist. Again, you are somewhat of a special situation as you don't fit the traditional mold. So filter what I and others say with great care as you will make decisions affecting your destiny.

I don't intend to take on many ECs, but I do want to do some simply because I have been dying to get back into volunteering for a number of years and now that my son is starting school full time, it takes considerable stress off of me.

I already began my Dal essay and am through my first draft, more an explosion of ideas than anything at this point, and suffering from my usual prolixity and floweriness. I am truly grateful for the offer of editing - fresh eyes are always best for evaluating the audience of a piece. I may well take you up on it as the time draws nearer. You truly provide such valuable advice on this forum, and I can't thank you enough for it.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by future_doc

I think you can easily link current (present & future) ECs to your children, thereby showing compassion, initiative, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, commitment, dedication, focus, expertise etc - many attributes sought of physicians - and advancing the interests of both your children, yourself and the community! It all comes down to doing what you have to do, doing what is best for all and putting yourself in a win-win position from the point of view of marketing yourself as a competitive candidate.

Also, that was something I was actually concerned about. While I fully intended to reference my children and the growth experience that is being a teen mom, I wasn't too sure how much I would want to tie back to these experiences lest an adcom view my children as a potential hindrance on my medical education, particularly in light of my son's special needs. He's actually on track to being indistinguishable from his peers by his reassessment - something only a fraction of autistic kids achieve - so it is possible I can present it retrospectively instead of as an ongoing thing, but the concern exists all the same.

[future_doc]

Originally Posted by Birdy

I don't intend to take on many ECs, but I do want to do some simply because I have been dying to get back into volunteering for a number of years and now that my son is starting school full time, it takes considerable stress off of me.

I already began my Dal essay and am through my first draft, more an explosion of ideas than anything at this point, and suffering from my usual prolixity and floweriness. I am truly grateful for the offer of editing - fresh eyes are always best for evaluating the audience of a piece. I may well take you up on it as the time draws nearer. You truly provide such valuable advice on this forum, and I can't thank you enough for it.

Well, for volunteering, I advise you to look to helping the autistic community in real ways. This helps with your family, helps the community making you an active citizen, while you are doing what you must as an engaged and concerned mother and active citizen. Make your every decision strategic and tactical so that your best interests are served without wasting energy in random activities of little benefit other than on paper.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by future_doc

Well, for volunteering, I advise you to look to helping the autistic community in real ways. This helps with your family, helps the community making you an active citizen, while you are doing what you must as an engaged and concerned mother and active citizen. Make your every decision strategic and tactical so that your best interests are served without wasting energy in random activities of little benefit other than on paper.

That's the plan. I have been fortunate enough to be helped by the local autism society, and they do a great deal of hands-on work in the community. I've been wanting to give back.

I'm also going to be assisting in my political party's election this fall. Our provincial leader just stepped down, and I was very pleased that the person I was hoping would throw his hat in did so, and I want to help with his campaign. I'm already involved in politics to a degree just making it a bit more official, time permitting.

[future_doc]

Originally Posted by Birdy

Also, that was something I was actually concerned about. While I fully intended to reference my children and the growth experience that is being a teen mom, I wasn't too sure how much I would want to tie back to these experiences lest an adcom view my children as a potential hindrance on my medical education, particularly in light of my son's special needs. He's actually on track to being indistinguishable from his peers by his reassessment - something only a fraction of autistic kids achieve - so it is possible I can present it retrospectively instead of as an ongoing thing, but the concern exists all the same.

I don't think you need be concerned. Your son's special needs opens an
insightful dooor for you, giving you compassion and sensitivity to the autistic community in a on-hands manner where you make an impact!

Generally speaking, med schools look for active citizens who are able to handle the rigours of fulltime studies with excellence. I expect you may be given some slack if you are not/have not been a fulltime student considering your circumstances.

I cannot see your children being seen as a hinderance in assessing you as a credible candidate. If you have the ingredients to be a competitive applicant at Dal, Mun(?), elsewhere(?), then the fact that you are doing a marvelous job as mother and in the community will only highlight your exceptional skills and worthiness as a med student and future physician. We each come to the table as unique individuals, and our unique differences are there to be seen in any event - so best to highlight (aka: market) them, in the most positive light possible, thereby getting the biggest bang for the buck in terms of advancing your interests. There is this marvelous med student with life threatening disabilities and her experiences virtually as a professional patient over her lifetime has given her insights, courage, strength which only made her a stronger candidate, not weaker. Her so-called disabilities actually gave her abilities that others don't have and so, her uniqueness was marketed in a postive manner which got her offers across Canada.

Perception is reality. Adcom saw her with the lenses we gave to them!