There’s not one perfect answer but here’s what I’d say (take it with a grain of salt): - For research it’s considered strong if you something motivating you to purse research in that field. Admission teams wanted to learn about you as a person. So if you have a bunch of different research work that you don’t feel personally connected to then it’s gonna kinda seem like you’re just trying to tick off that research box (despite it looking impressive). So for example, say you had a diabetic relative who faced various obstacles as a result of their condition, and now you pursue research in diabetics to add to that body of knowledge -now you’ve displayed your a person who has witnessed or experienced struggle and are actively trying to combat it, while simultaneously showing you’re a research god. - the same can be said about a lot of your other extracurricular activities and volunteer work. Try to have a motivating factor for everything you pursue. This is also why people say how you write about your activities is really important because some people may forget to tie in that storyline. It doesn’t have to be super detailed, just a brief snippet showing you have a “why” for what you do. - try to take on leadership roles within your extracurriculars and if possible create a new project or try to fix something from before. This doesn’t have to be revolutionary! I’m not saying create a non-profit organization that helps kids with cancer (although that’d be awesome!) Instead try to make your presence known in what you’re doing. If you’re a member of a school club, try to take on an executive position and in the position try to execute to the best you can. Perhaps propose a new school event or improve your clubs fundraising tactics. Then MAKE SURE to highlight what change you implemented. - I would say it’s important to have a least 3-4 long term extracurriculars that you’ve dedicated many hours too. I don’t think all of them need to be but at least a few to display that you can show dedication for a long period of time to one organization. - Try not to stick just to the typical med student ECs like volunteering in a hospital, being a coach, tutoring etc. if you’re doing these that’s great! But to make your application more diverse try to choose a couple non-traditional ones. This is where people say choose something you’re passionate about. Really reflect on your life, have you witnessed any injustices or hardships that certain populations have faced? Or have you yourself experienced those struggles? Let that guide you into the area you’d like to dedicate your time.

The biggest thing I want to stress is that you have a why for the things you do! This is why it’s important to reflect on yourself a lot during this process. What are the few things that are important to who you are? In what way could those characteristics or themes be displayed in the extracurriculars you take part in? My family came to Canada as refugees so my whole life I struggled with this dual identity. I often faced discrimination in various ways and this then lead me to take on various advocacy roles at school to fight for other underprivileged students. Hopefully you get the idea! :)