Great tips for entering your "Work/Activities" for AMCAS

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Hi LizzyM

I am a second co-author for a book chapter (my boss is the primary author). We submitted the chapter at the beginning of May. It is going to be published but the book probably won't get a publication date until late 2007. How should I account for this in the work/activities section? The book was written for a general audience and isn't research based in the traditional sense (no references, has some case studies and things but nothing novel), just a general compliation for people with diabetes so they can learn about all the complications. I'm not sure if I can list in the publication category since its not published yet but I don't know if I can put it in the research category either. Thanks so much!
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Hey everybody,

A few years ago I planned on spending the summer doing volunteer work in the rainforest in Ecuador. I wound up returning after two weeks ( I found my work pointless and unrewarding, I was supposed to be there 12 weeks) and volunteering at a hospital in my community instead, which I would up finding very rewarding and inspiring. I discuss this experience in my personal statement. Should I list the Ecuador volunteering in my work/ activities section even though I only stayed two weeks and wound up leaving?
 
Is the "country, state, city" designation for the contact person or for the location of the activity? :eek:
 
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Also:

1. How can you spin traveling into sounding like an activity?

2. What should you title the description for a publication? "Published Paper in <name of journal>"? I am planning on also listing an activity for the research position I held at the time, so the description has to be different, right?

Thanks for the help! :eek:
 
I have 9 publications (well, actually 2 are just "submitted"). Should I list the publications separately? Should I use the space to describe how I was involved in the projects or what the results were? For instance, I put the following all in one entry: I worked in a lab for two years as an undergrad and said what i did, then i received a research fellowship and got my own project, presented a poster at a conference and then a paper was published. Or should I just list the reference? How about for articles that are only submitted?
Thanks!
 
geeze 9 publications? That sounds like it will take a huge chunk out of the 15 activity limit. I'd personally try to include them into a single entry somehow.
 
Hey LizzyM (or anyone else that can answer:p) I have a few questions for you about the ECs section

1. I started volunteering at a General Hospital close to home when I was in grade 9 through to grade 12 - I had a lot of different placements during those 4 years, depending on where they needed me. I was offered a summer internship with the Hospital (coordinating the Summer Junior Volunteer program) the summer after grade 12, and continuing the following summer (after freshmen year). Should I list the volunteering and the job together, or list them as separate experiences?

2. In addition to volunteering at the above hospital, I volunteered in the ER of our Children's hospital for 2 years during high school. Then I moved for University, and started volunteering at another Children's hospital close to campus (I've also done this for two years). Should I include all of my hospital volunteering experience together, or list it separately?

3. I'm doing a service-learning clerkship in Infectious diseases this summer (after I submit my primaries). I know what I will be doing, so I can include a description of the position, and it is sort of a big deal so I don't want to leave it for just the secondaries....will it hurt me to list it as something that I will be doing over the summer, or is it better to include in secondaries/interview?

Thanks so much!!!
 
quintessence said:
Hey LizzyM (or anyone else that can answer:p) I have a few questions for you about the ECs section

1. I started volunteering at a General Hospital close to home when I was in grade 9 through to grade 12 - I had a lot of different placements during those 4 years, depending on where they needed me. I was offered a summer internship with the Hospital (coordinating the Summer Junior Volunteer program) the summer after grade 12, and continuing the following summer (after freshmen year). Should I list the volunteering and the job together, or list them as separate experiences?

2. In addition to volunteering at the above hospital, I volunteered in the ER of our Children's hospital for 2 years during high school. Then I moved for University, and started volunteering at another Children's hospital close to campus (I've also done this for two years). Should I include all of my hospital volunteering experience together, or list it separately?

3. I'm doing a service-learning clerkship in Infectious diseases this summer (after I submit my primaries). I know what I will be doing, so I can include a description of the position, and it is sort of a big deal so I don't want to leave it for just the secondaries....will it hurt me to list it as something that I will be doing over the summer, or is it better to include in secondaries/interview?

Thanks so much1
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Unless you have extra space, I'd list as much as you can together. I've heard that you should leave stuff for secondaries unless you have ACTUALLY STARTED the activity.
 
Should I write a general experience name ("Clerical Volunteer") or specific ("Clinical Volunteer at St. James")???
 
I know this is an obvious one, but do you classify clinical work experience (I work as a phlebotomist at a hospital) as just work experience? It's my only clinical experience, but the clinical experience section on the application seems reserved for volunteer/community service. Will medical schools glance over this significant experience, because it's under paid employment?
 
LizzyM said:
I'd suggest listing it as an abstract unless you also attended the mtg and presented the poster.
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I'm in the same situation but I don't see an option for abstract. Our poster/my research was presented at the AAN meting (I wasn't there) and is going to be published as a supplement in Neurology but it's currently in press. How should I enter this?
 
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lodihi said:
I'm in the same situation but I don't see an option for abstract. Our poster/my research was presented at the AAN meting (I wasn't there) and is going to be published as a supplement in Neurology but it's currently in press. How should I enter this?
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Enter it as a publication in Neurology (authors by last name & intitials, abstract title, journal title, in press) and in the description, explain that it is an abstract of a presentation made by Dr. So-and-so at the [organization name] meeting in [city] on [date].
 
Despina said:
I know this is an obvious one, but do you classify clinical work experience (I work as a phlebotomist at a hospital) as just work experience? It's my only clinical experience, but the clinical experience section on the application seems reserved for volunteer/community service. Will medical schools glance over this significant experience, because it's under paid employment?
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The adcom does have to work a little harder to see the clinical experience but you can/should list it as "paid employment, non-military". The job title makes it quite clear that it is a clinical position.
 
quintessence said:
Hey LizzyM (or anyone else that can answer:p) I have a few questions for you about the ECs section

1. I started volunteering at a General Hospital close to home when I was in grade 9 through to grade 12 - I had a lot of different placements during those 4 years, depending on where they needed me. I was offered a summer internship with the Hospital (coordinating the Summer Junior Volunteer program) the summer after grade 12, and continuing the following summer (after freshmen year). Should I list the volunteering and the job together, or list them as separate experiences?
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Coordinating the summer junior volunteers is the only thing that really counts because the rest was done while you were still in H.S. So, list it as a leadership position for 2 summers and in the description throw in a sentence about how you were a summer junior volunteer at that hospital during the summers of ... and that you have enjoyed continuing your service role at that facility.
2. In addition to volunteering at the above hospital, I volunteered in the ER of our Children's hospital for 2 years during high school. Then I moved for University, and started volunteering at another Children's hospital close to campus (I've also done this for two years). Should I include all of my hospital volunteering experience together, or list it separately?
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Again, list only what you did in College. However, in the description, you can mention that you had similar responsibilities in H.S. at a different hospital and you can make an observation as to how the two hospitals are different or how your role was different.
3. I'm doing a service-learning clerkship in Infectious diseases this summer (after I submit my primaries). I know what I will be doing, so I can include a description of the position, and it is sort of a big deal so I don't want to leave it for just the secondaries....will it hurt me to list it as something that I will be doing over the summer, or is it better to include in secondaries/interview?

Thanks so much!!!
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Watch the term clerkship because to med school types it means the 3rd year of med school. It is always nice to have something new and exciting to talk about in the interview, particularly if it is a big deal and something you'll want to steer the conversation to at the interview. Therefore, you might want to hold back and add it to the secondary or up-date your file on interview day which gives you an opportunity to talk (in an enthusiastic way) about your summer experience.
 
sowannabemd said:
I have 9 publications (well, actually 2 are just "submitted"). Should I list the publications separately?
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Listing 7 separately is going to take up too much space.

Should I use the space to describe how I was involved in the projects or what the results were? For instance, I put the following all in one entry: I worked in a lab for two years as an undergrad and said what i did, then i received a research fellowship and got my own project, presented a poster at a conference and then a paper was published. Or should I just list the reference?
Was this all one lab? List it under Research, also list Funding, list Presentation, and List Publications. That means you are listing the research enterprise 4 times but it gives you 11 slots for other stuff.



How about for articles that are only submitted?
Thanks!
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that... acceptance letter. Leave those off. You can always update your file when you go for interview.
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QTCL13 said:
Hi LizzyM

I am a second co-author for a book chapter (my boss is the primary author). We submitted the chapter at the beginning of May. It is going to be published but the book probably won't get a publication date until late 2007. How should I account for this in the work/activities section? The book was written for a general audience and isn't research based in the traditional sense (no references, has some case studies and things but nothing novel), just a general compliation for people with diabetes so they can learn about all the complications. I'm not sure if I can list in the publication category since its not published yet but I don't know if I can put it in the research category either. Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

List it as a publication. Put the information as you would cite a book chapter in a bibliography but for the publication information (page numbers and the like) say "in press". You can describe it, too, stating that it is health education material for the lay public on the topic of diabetes care.
 
I have a question:

If I had a volunteering experience at the hospital, then I gained a leadership role in that program, would I list it separately or in the same section? Thanks!
 
How do I classify EMT-B certification? I have the certification, but I have not actually worked in this capacity (because I unexpectedly left the state after getting my certification). Do I use the time period that I was in the course? But I don't want them to get confused and think I was volunteering as an EMT during that time...
 
chickenlittle84 said:
How do I classify EMT-B certification? I have the certification, but I have not actually worked in this capacity (because I unexpectedly left the state after getting my certification). Do I use the time period that I was in the course? But I don't want them to get confused and think I was volunteering as an EMT during that time...
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Well you can list the dates that you were certified if you title the activity "Certified EMT-B" since during that time, you were indeed certified.

I don't think it'd be misconstrued that you were working as an EMT unless you titled it "AMR EMT-B" or something similar which implied that you were working at a place that used your EMT-B cert.

You can't list the dates that you were in the course since during that time, you were in fact not EMT-B certified. During the course, you weren't anything.
 
u make a good point ecking. thanks. the amcas application is positively exhausting. everything i type in sounds silly, though it sounded really good last week!
 
I know! My activity section is a mess right now that I'm happily ignoring.
 
What about putting things you are just starting like right now? I am planning on volunteering at Planned Parenthood in about a week or two... Should I just put that in part of my PS or should I put that in my EC's even though I have no real description about the work?
 
badasshairday said:
What about putting things you are just starting like right now? I am planning on volunteering at Planned Parenthood in about a week or two... Should I just put that in part of my PS or should I put that in my EC's even though I have no real description about the work?
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No because what if you don't end up doing what you think you'll be doing? Or you hate it so much that you leave?

Just leave it for an update letter or for something to mention in your interviews.
 
How far back should we go? I've been out of college for four years, should I bother listing the extracurriculars I did in college? For example I had my own radio show for a semester, but it was 6 years ago. Should I include it or leave it out?
 
Great thread! Are you guys writing the acitivity descriptions in full sentences or as a bulleted list?
 
ToastyBubble said:
Great thread! Are you guys writing the acitivity descriptions in full sentences or as a bulleted list?
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Full sentences, why would you cheapen your application with bullet lists?
 
Actually full sentences aren't even required. How do you bullet point in the AMCAS text box, anyway?

For just one example, refer to page 2 of this thread for what LizzyM likes. You'll find great variation in how SDNers write their descriptions. You'll probably find as much variety among adcom preferences. Some like meaningful anecdotes to make each experience seem more meaningful, others like pointed statements with efficient wording. I fall into the camp that appreciates brevity although I certainly support longer descriptions for more meaningful/longer-lasting experiences.
 
I held a leadership role in a community service organization. My AMCAS description focuses more on my leadership role, while briefly mentioning some service. I felt the role was important. Fundraising chair - I did lots of fundraising to get the organization money since it was brand new, thus not chartered or funded yet. We needed money for some service projects and to attend regional and national conferences. I have volunteering/service-clinical, but I this is my only volunteering/service-non clinical. Should I label it as leadership or volunteering/service-non clinical? AMCAS is making pick between the two. Thank you.
 
LizzyM (or anyone else that has an opinion)

I volunteered for an organization for 2 years, and then was moved up to a paid leadership position in that same organization for a year. When I had the paid position I had different responsibilities.

My question is, should I list these separately on the work/activities section?

If not, should I list it as leadership or volunteer?

I kind of want to separate them because they were both important activities in my life that took up tons of time. I would appreciate any input.
 
I would definately list them as different activities.

1st one should be volunteering, second should be leadership.
 
I have a question. How are y'all naming experiences? Like for Honors Thesis, is the experience just called Honors Thesis, or is it Honors Thesis, "Abbreviated Title" so they know what the thesis is about?
 
For my Master's degree we have to do a practicum and it is listed as a course on our transcript. I was wondering if that ment I should not list it in experiences?
 
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to take a look at my short description for a clinical research project I did for 8 months. Its the first time I enrolled in scientific research (I'm an engineer) and I just want to make sure that I'm writing in a "proper" way and providing the correct info. Its very short, and it would really help me a lot!

Thanks
 
I was/am a volunteer for several sporting events (I worked alongside physicians who were contracted to work these events as team/event doctors) escorting athletes to medical tents, measuring vital signs, etc. I've done 4 or 5 of these events that have lasted anywhere from 4-8 hours.

My question is, what should I include, if anything, for "hours per week?"

It's only been about 25-30 hours total spread out between several months, but something I really enjoyed so obviously I'll include it. But it'd be silly to divide it up into "hours per week," wouldn't it?
 
lodihi said:
How far back should we go? I've been out of college for four years, should I bother listing the extracurriculars I did in college? For example I had my own radio show for a semester, but it was 6 years ago. Should I include it or leave it out?
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Try to list at least a couple of interesting and/or long-standing activities from college or it sounds like you didn't do anything in college besides classes (and that's boring). Having a radio show is unusual enough that it might be a conversation piece at interview.
 
rogerwilco said:
I was/am a volunteer for several sporting events (I worked alongside physicians who were contracted to work these events as team/event doctors) escorting athletes to medical tents, measuring vital signs, etc. I've done 4 or 5 of these events that have lasted anywhere from 4-8 hours.

My question is, what should I include, if anything, for "hours per week?"

It's only been about 25-30 hours total spread out between several months, but something I really enjoyed so obviously I'll include it. But it'd be silly to divide it up into "hours per week," wouldn't it?
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Leave the hours per week blank but write it into your description. "I"ve worked 5 of these events, each lasting between 4 and 8 hours."
 
slcdoc said:
LizzyM (or anyone else that has an opinion)

I volunteered for an organization for 2 years, and then was moved up to a paid leadership position in that same organization for a year. When I had the paid position I had different responsibilities.

My question is, should I list these separately on the work/activities section?

If not, should I list it as leadership or volunteer?

I kind of want to separate them because they were both important activities in my life that took up tons of time. I would appreciate any input.
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List one as "volunteer" and list the second as "paid employment". Getting hired by that type of organization is obviously leadership so you don't need that header whereas "paid employment" is more informative in this instance.
 
A quick question.. is dean's list worth mentioning under EC section?
 
How do adcoms look at work not in the least bit related to medicine? I worked a factory job last summer to help pay for some of my school expenses. I pretty much worked a forklift and loaded boxes onto trucks? Is it worthwhile to mention in the Activities section? I think it was certainly a valuable experience in being exposed to blue-collar work (though I'm familiar with it already). thoughts?


thanks!
 
TrojanMan48 said:
How do adcoms look at work not in the least bit related to medicine? I worked a factory job last summer to help pay for some of my school expenses. I pretty much worked a forklift and loaded boxes onto trucks? Is it worthwhile to mention in the Activities section? I think it was certainly a valuable experience in being exposed to blue-collar work (though I'm familiar with it already). thoughts?


thanks!
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You might be surprised. The men (particularly the men) on the adcom seem interested in this and have brought this up in casual conversation. Many of them had blue collar jobs while in college and summers during H.S. and they actually like to see applicants who have been exposed to this aspect of "real life".
 
charles17 said:
A quick question.. is dean's list worth mentioning under EC section?
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This and honors at graduation (cum laude, etc) are really short hand for "good gpa". That's what it means on your graduation program, your diploma, in the newspaper. On the other hand, the adcom has your entire transcript laid out plus your gpa cut 15 (or more) different ways so it hardly needs the shorthand version.
 
Two quick questions:

1. So, I started work in an infectious disease lab in May. We're setting the lab up (because the PI is new to campus), and we should start researching hard core by the end of June. However, I know everything I'm going to be doing already. Should I put it on Work and Activities?

2. Same deal with shadowing. I'm starting in June, but want to put it on Work and Activities?

I'm just worrying that if I leave these two off, I may get ignored at some of the schools that I like who screen students.
 
little pebble said:
Two quick questions:

1. So, I started work in an infectious disease lab in May. We're setting the lab up (because the PI is new to campus), and we should start researching hard core by the end of June. However, I know everything I'm going to be doing already. Should I put it on Work and Activities?

2. Same deal with shadowing. I'm starting in June, but want to put it on Work and Activities?

I'm just worrying that if I leave these two off, I may get ignored at some of the schools that I like who screen students.
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sure, list it as May 2007-present and June 2007-present.
 
Hi LizzyM,

I know you've said to keep the description brief-- but does it look bad to only write 2 sentences when you're given a quarter of a page?

For example for 1 of my experiences I just wrote: Michigan-certified crisis counselor on a 24-hour domestic violence emergency crisis line which provides women in need references for shelters, legal aid, and support group/therapy sessions.

Is this too brief?

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!
 
jappeach said:
Hi LizzyM,

I know you've said to keep the description brief-- but does it look bad to only write 2 sentences when you're given a quarter of a page?

For example for 1 of my experiences I just wrote: Michigan-certified crisis counselor on a 24-hour domestic violence emergency crisis line which provides women in need references for shelters, legal aid, and support group/therapy sessions.

Is this too brief?

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...


That's enough if you've also provided the number of hours per week and the time frame (start date/end date). However, if you wanted to add that you usually take calls for a four hour period once a week or carry a pager one week out of the month or whatever arrangement there is for you to answer calls, then it fleshes it out a bit.
 
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