Okay, so I’m looking for a way to create a hook for myself (although I’m a female African immigrant). I plan on applying to selective colleges and I want to make myself standout. I haven’t found a cure for cancer LOL:D But anyways, I have a YouTube channel with 2,000+ subscribers that I started summer after 8th grade (fashion/beauty/hair videos), but I feel like it makes me look shallow, especially since I want to do pre-med. I have volunteered at a local hospital for the past two summers. I really want to do something with medicine/research. This is not only bc I want to look good to selective colleges, but bc I genuinely want to do something INTERESTING and WORTHWHILE. For my profession, I want to become a neonatologist. This is a doctor that takes care of sick/premature newborns. After Med school, I want to go into the peace corps and volunteer in a 3rd world country for a yr (bc they have a high infant mortality rate). If not this, a pediatrician, so I get to work with kids. I just don’t know what to do, but I know I want to do something. Preferably something that exposes me more to medicine and what I want to do in life. Btw, when I volunteer at the hospital, it’s in the nurses’ station, so I don’t do much.
Oh, and my ECs are pretty “average” too. I don’t know if they’re too much, I know quality is better than quantity. But here they are: Model UN, Global Volunteers, Student Council, and Health Awareness Club
Would it be satisfactory to get a good education and get Medical School admission? Why does it have to be “selective colleges”?
Yes, I have safeties on my list. But I said I WILL be applying to selective colleges. I don’t understand your response, it doesn’t answer my question and I find it a bit rude. @JustOneDad Besides, whether I want to go to a selective school is not really any of your concern and it’s wrong for you to indicate that I shouldn’t want to go to a selective college. I have my own reasons. Have a nice night.
Is that a “Yes, it would be satisfactory”, or is that a “No”?
Apply to medical research internships. Are you a sophomore or a junior? Where do you live? There are far more options available to juniors (rising seniors) than sophomores, for example. It really depends.
It’s a yes. I would be happy at any of the schools on my list. However, my first choice just so happens to be a selective school. @JustOneDad
@topaz1116 Thanks for your help! I’m currently a sophomore. And I don’t think there are any medical research internships in my area. There’s a university where I live, but it’s not a research university. However, it’s in a partnership with the state flagship, so it has med students.
@ndemazita what about things like SIMR and NIH? Granted, they’re for rising seniors–but it’s never too late to try. Both are extremely prestigious. There are also sleepaway camp options if you’d like to gain more experience in a particular discipline. For example, if you live in California, there’s COSMOS (California State Summer School for Math and Science); check if your state has something similar, since costs are generally subsidized for in-state students. Ask if you can volunteer at county medical services or something (my mom works for a nearby county’s Department of Public Health in microbiology, and I may volunteer there over the summer); you might get more hands-on experience through that. Note that what you’re doing now probably won’t align with neonatology–but it’s all part of the learning process.
I actually think YouTube is a good idea. Especially if you’re consistent and have a following. It shows your dedicated to something.
@topaz1116 Yea, I’ll look into the department of health/volunteering. @southernbelle16 And I was def planning on sticking with YouTube, just have to find time to actually make videos lol.
Any more suggestions?
Is cost a concern?
@Madison85 Yes, my parents wouldn’t want to spend money on an expensive camp
The NIH internship is worth going after. If I recall correctly, you need to be 16 years old the day the internship starts. Most of the opportunities are in Maryland, but there are some opportunities at other places, as well. They provide a stipend, so it depends on how independent you are and how comfortable your parents are having you go. It would be an amazing opportunity, and a chance to visit Washington DC on the weekends.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/
Did you look here?
@ItsJustSchool I was really interested in that, but unfortunately it’s not in my area. UGH
@Madison85 yes, and I applied to TASS (even though it has nothing to do with medicine). Most of them are for current juniors, not in my area, or way too expensive
Each family is different. My kids have travelled to opportunities (like you would presumably need to for TASS) over summers, starting with CTY (a viable option for you) at 13 years old. Boarding schools and universities have great summer programs for high school kids, too.
@ItsJustSchool Thank you! I’ll look more into those