I am in year 11 and recently decided I wanted to pursue medicine at uni. But, I am not sure about my extracurriculars and supercurriculars as I see other aspiring medics do so many activities from a young age.
These are the extracurriculars I have done so far:
1) volunteering at the local library and hosting a craft session for kids (in Years 10 + 11)
2) Currently on the prom committee (in Year 11)
3) volunteering at my local gurdwara (since I was a kid )
4) teaching myself the guitar (from year 9)
5) Currently attending medsoc at my school (year 11)
6) Doing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award up to Silver (I am planning to do the Gold in year 12 with my school)
7) Purple belt in kickboxing (I was a purple belt in year 7 but stopped because of an injury but then COVID happened. I am planning on starting again after GCSE to get my black belt.)
8) Bronze award in biology challenge (year 9 )
9) Gold award and best in the school award for UK Intermediate Maths challenge (year 11)
10) I have also currently entered 3 STEM-related competitions.
I feel like these are not enough and not that attractive to medical schools.
Things I am planning to do from after my GCSEs to the point where I must complete my application:
1) applied for Imperial College London Year 11 Summer STEM challenge
2) Volunteering at a charity shop
3) Join Medic Mentors virtual society and get a place in the community
4) Securing a place at Sutton Trust summer school and Nuffield research placement
5) Completing the Gold Award for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
6) Join St John's ambulance cadet programme
7) Ace my A Levels (Biology, chemistry + maths )
8) Get my black belt in kickboxing
9) volunteering at a hospital or local care home
10) entering many STEM-related competition
11) Medical Experience at at least 3 Hospitals
12) starting a website where I fundraise for different charities (this is more of a personal project on my bucket list )
13) and finally, reading about medicine and different topics in medicine.
If you are a medical student, I would like to know if these activities are okay and what did you as a pre-medical student. Also, if you know of any summer opportunities for year 11, please let me know. Thank you.
