The primary focus of an application is grades and MCAT scores. To supplement your application it is imperative to focus on extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities must be listed in the AMCAS application, can be an inspiration for the AMCAS essay, and provide an insight into your personality during medical school interviews. Never fabricate or exaggerate your involvement in an activity because it will be self-evident when you are questioned during the interview.

In regards to extracurricular activities, medical schools look for depth of involvement, diversity, and leadership.  These activities can include being on the volleyball team, editorial editor of the school newspaper, tutoring low income children or lead singer of an acapella group. To show depth of experience a student can raise significant funds for a non-profit, be captain of a sports team, enroll in leadership training to become a coordinator of an organization, develop a grass roots non-profit program or learn Hindi in order to complete an international volunteer effort. Your work should be qualitative and specific so it can be properly documented. (i.e. I initiated a foundation during my freshman year that provides prosthetics to children in Columbia. I learned Spanish in order to better communicate with my contacts in Columbia. In addition, I spearheaded fundraising efforts for the charity and raised $100,000 during my tenure.) Simply stating that you were a volunteer or involved in an activity at your university fills the extracurricular section, but does not make you stand out as a candidate.

It helps to have a passion about something because you will naturally excel. Pre-medical students make the mistake of believing they need to be like their peers. They participate in the same pre-medical clubs, pre-medical societies, and while all those are noteworthy, solely participating in those activities do not make you distinctive. The following is a list of honor societies and non-profit organizations that will provide you with varied leadership opportunities:

Honor Societies

Golden Key International Honor Society (GKIHS)
Mortar Board Honor Society (MBHS)
Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK)
Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society (PSBS)

Non-Profit Programs

Cancer
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (SGC) Local affiliates- Volunteers needed to do fundraising, breast cancer awareness, grant making programs, administrative work and public policy programs.

Children
Children, Youth and Family Programs (CYF) Michigan- Internship volunteer opportunities consisting of teaching, research, grant proposal development and newsletter support.

Computers for Youth (CFY) New York- Volunteers needed to teach students and adults computer basics.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGP) Local affiliates- Volunteer positions include development assistant, software applications specialist, and office assistant. Caring for Kids 101 program for college students interested in fundraising for the foundation.

Learning Leaders (LL) New York- Volunteers needed to tutor children two hours a week. Art Works Program available to take third graders to the art museum.

Disabilities
Special Olympics (SO)

Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB)

Health
American Red Cross (ARC) Local affiliates- Volunteers needed to teach disaster response courses, health classes, and act as interpreters in crisis situations.

Medical Career Exploration Program (MCEP)

Operation Smile (OS) Local affiliates- Local chapters can be established by raising money, attending leadership conference and participating in one mission.

Partners in Health (PIH) Most opportunities in Boston- Volunteers matched with services needed at PIH based on submitting your resume. Internships available.

Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (AAI)

American Foundation for AIDS Research (AFA)

VA Hospital Student Volunteer Program (VAH)

Food And Housing
Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCF)

Action Against Hunger (AAH)

Food Bank for New York City (FBNY)- New York- Prepare food items for distribution. Soup Kitchens also available.

Habitat for Humanity (HAH) Local Affiliates- In addition to the well publicized weekend volunteer opportunities to help build houses for those less fortunate. HAH has many volunteer internships with its affiliates including Habitat for Humanity Americorps and Habitat for Humanity VISTA.

City Meals-on-Wheels (CMW)- Need volunteers to deliver food to needy families.

Literacy
Book Ends (BE) California- Volunteers need to improve literacy through volunteering and fundraising drives.

Panetta Institute (PI) California

ProLiteracy Worldwide (PLW) Local affiliates. Volunteer training 15-20 hours with a two hour weekly commitment. Volunteers needed to teach English and literacy to speakers of other languages.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Plan reading events, raise events, order books and participate in book events.

Women
Henry Street Settlement (HSS) New York- Provides mental health, arts, and day care center. Volunteers needed to be tutors, computer programmers and job coaches. 


General
Volunteers of America (VA) Local affiliates- Health related volunteer opportunities available. A plethora of service programs listed.

Points of Light Foundation (PLF) Local affiliates- Volunteer Centers provide activities in a range of community activities.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS) Local affiliates- Volunteer to spend time with a child doing various activities.

America India Foundation (AIF) Chapters currently in Massachusetts, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C, and California. Participate in AIF Service Corps, fundraising events or as an office volunteer.

Peace Corps (PC) International affiliates. Volunteers for business development, health, information technology, agriculture and education.

United Way of America (UWA) Local affiliates. Volunteer activities available nationally.

Amnesty International (AI) Local affiliates. Working to protect human rights worldwide. Activists needed to for social change.

United Trauma Relief (UTR) Local affiliates. Interested in supporting global humanitarian concerns.

Hope Program (HP) New York- Volunteers needed to help with GED tutorials and job interviewing skills. Two hour a week commitment needed.

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