1) Leadership versus membership. While a long list of activities might look appealing on the surface, can you point to any of them and say that you did more than attend meetings and events? Serving as an officer of a group can add some depth to your application, since that usually includes steering the direction of your organization, handling interpersonal conflicts, collaborating with other student leaders as well as faculty members, etc. Having said that, active membership is at least better than passive membership; if you include an organization or team on your application, you should be able to speak about the group's mission, what inspired you to join, and what you participated in during your time. In other words, don't pad your application with something that isn't meaningful to you; it can backfire.
2) Initiation versus continuation. Whether it's a research project, student club, or social awareness project, you'll most often find yourself taking a path that others have already taken before you, such as participating in an annual event that doesn't change much from year to year, or helping out for a few hours per week in some ongoing bench research. That's still great, and you should continue that activity! But if you've developed a great connection with a faculty advisor, or noticed a lack of campus awareness on a particular topic, maybe you can start something new. Off the top of my head, there might be a general student chemistry interest group, but maybe they never seem to have any speakers on the sub-topic of environmental chemistry. Can you talk to the current student leadership about planning a focused event about it? Or if you have a potential research project in mind, think about how being a coauthor of a presentation, publication, or poster would also be a nice boost for your application. Can you think of a faculty member who might share your vision, especially one who could write you a valuable letter of support when you eventually apply?
3) Communicating versus resume-building. Sometimes people spend so much time trying to fill their application with the right blend of experiences that they never think about the next step. In order to secure the internship, graduate program, or other position you're looking for, what's on your CV/resume will crack open the door for you, but the interview is crucial for demonstrating that you belong. How well can you articulate what first got you interested in the field, what you hope to accomplish as a member of their team, and what you hope to do in the future? Are you comfortable making eye contact while talking, speaking about yourself without being too boastful or self-deprecating, and avoiding the conversational fillers of "like" and "umm"? Consider how you can develop your public speaking skills.
4) Targeting versus generalizing. You'll probably be looking at various organizations for internships, as well as multiple graduate programs for the next phase of your education. Try go beyond the general topic of "I want to find a great job/education" by including something specific, customized for your target audience. Take the time to read their website, particularly if there's a letter of introduction from the department head, as that can give you some real insight into the type of person they're looking for. This is useful for both the cover letter to your application, as well as the interview itself. It demonstrates that you aren't just applying broadly, but that you chose this particular college/hospital/company/etc for a reason, and that you're able to discuss that rationale. Yes, it takes more time to customize your approach for every potential position...and your prospective boss will notice that you took the time when so many other applicants didn't!
5) Specificity versus commonality. It's useful to show that in addition to having the general characteristics that someone might be looking for, you go beyond that by sharing what sets you apart from the competition. Does your personal or professional history give you a perspective that other applicants might lack? For example, did your early exposure to the sciences through your parents inspire you to make certain choices in college? Additionally, if there are any flaws in your application, how can you turn them around and present them as strengths? (I once had a client with dyslexia who needed extra time to get through medical school, and her grades suffered -- but when her patients need her to explain things multiple times to them or they have trouble following a medical regimen, she thinks back to her personal history and tries to care for others the way she would want to be helped in that situation. I'm sure she's an amazing primary care physician.)
I hope this was helpful! If you share a CV/resume with me, I can try to offer more focused advice. Also, if you really are in medical school or even still in college, I want to give you a lot of credit for starting this process so early; this gives you the time to make changes and enhance your status as a future applicant. Most people reach out to me after they graduated and failed to find success on their own. I can help them present and reframe their past experiences, but of course they can't go back in time and make different choices; they're stuck with the limited activities and professional connections that they made before they ever contacted me. Maybe the advice above will help you make changes right now!
