Extracurricular Activities

For Medical School

At UofT, there are lots of clubs run by the medical society specifically for medical students, ranging from journal clubs to choirs to all sorts of sports. And don’t forget about the clubs run by the university at large, which are often much more diverse in scope. If what you’re looking for isn’t offered by the medical society or the university, you can always start your own club. The possibilities are endless!

There are also opportunities to participate in student government for your class. A friend of mine was the class representative for the Structure and Function course. She was responsible for pretty much all communications between the students and the professors. Feedback, complaints, grading schemes, changing deadlines – a lot of work for a class of 300 students! As for me, I was part of an a capella group. We practiced weekly and sang songs for the winter holiday party. It was a lot of fun and a great way to de-stress between studying. One of the best parts about being in clubs with other medical students is that it’s easier to coordinate schedules (i.e. take breaks when exams and assignments are due) and meet up regularly.

IPE

Interprofessional Education Curriculum

At UofT, you’re required to complete a minimum 4 credits in the Interprofessional Education Curriculum (IPE) (the exact number of credits required changes year to year), and you get to choose which sessions you want to attend. During these sessions, you meet and collaborate with students from other healthcare backgrounds, such as nursing and dentistry, and learn about different aspects of patient care. One session I attended was at a complex care and rehabilitation hospital. We learned about the difficulties seniors face upon discharge from a hospital and about ways to bridge the gap between the quality of care received in hospital and at home. It was really interesting to hear the perspectives of other healthcare workers and it was a fantastic learning experience. You can always do more than the minimum 4 credits and, if you have the time, I recommend that you do as many of the IPE sessions that interest you.

Take Home Points

What Are Medical Schools Looking For?

Medical School
  • Be proactive with extracurriculars! Don’t spend all your time studying or you’ll stress out too much.
  • Do the extracurriculars that interest you, not just what might look good on a CV.
  • Don’t forget about student government opportunities, which is a great way to connect with professors and your classmates.
  • Check out the IPE sessions (emails get sent out weekly) and make sure to complete the minimum number of credits.
  • If there’s no club for what you want, start one!

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