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

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I am planning on accepting a scholarship for medical school from the US Air Force. I want the admissions committees to know this about me, because it's a big part of my life. But where is an appropriate place to put it? Should I include it in Work/Activities? I'm not actually IN the AF yet, so that doesn't seem appropriate. Should I maybe save it for secondaries?

I'd appreciate y'all's thoughts on this Thanks.

Kelsey
 
just had a question about duration of activites

i was a clinic volunteer for around 1 year
and a hospital volunteer for around 1.5 years
and i've been a leader of a club for 2 years.

my other 9 activities of internships, research, volunteering, jobs etc.
are good but they're less than 1 year long.

does this look bad to schools? do they want long terms commitments for a lot of the activities or is a few okay?
 
anxiousteen said:
just had a question about duration of activites

i was a clinic volunteer for around 1 year
and a hospital volunteer for around 1.5 years
and i've been a leader of a club for 2 years.

my other 9 activities of internships, research, volunteering, jobs etc.
are good but they're less than 1 year long.

does this look bad to schools? do they want long terms commitments for a lot of the activities or is a few okay?
Click to expand...

Everyone's ecs vary. I'm sure its not a big deal as long as it is not like each of those other nine things are 1 day long.
 
I have a question regarding which criterion to use fo my volunteer activity at a care center for physically and mentally disabled children.

Would this activity go under non-medical related activity or medical related activity?

The care center is not affiliated with any hospital/clinic.

It is a nonprofit institution.
 
rockymhs said:
I have a question regarding which criterion to use fo my volunteer activity at a care center for physically and mentally disabled children.

Would this activity go under non-medical related activity or medical related activity?

The care center is not affiliated with any hospital/clinic.

It is a nonprofit institution.
Click to expand...

My guess is this is sorta like a nursing home but not necessarily for old people only. So to some extent it is clinical, but to another extent some adcoms would consider that as non clinical. I'd ask LizzyM. A friend did hospice volunteering and was told by REL that it was not clinical volunteering but regular volunteering and that is why she needed hospital volunteering or clinic volunteering.

REL is a FL MD admissions officer.

So I'd see what LizzyM would classify this as.
 
gujuDoc said:
My guess is this is sorta like a nursing home but not necessarily for old people only. So to some extent it is clinical, but to another extent some adcoms would consider that as non clinical. I'd ask LizzyM. A friend did hospice volunteering and was told by REL that it was not clinical volunteering but regular volunteering and that is why she needed hospital volunteering or clinic volunteering.

REL is a FL MD admissions officer.

So I'd see what LizzyM would classify this as.
Click to expand...

Here's what I said on another thread just the other day:

This is difficult to classify. If people with disabilities ... are going about their business (eating or being fed, singing songs or just listening to the music, playing Bingo or just watching) it is hard to call it "clinical" because there is nothing clinical about it. However, you are learning how to be comfortable with people who aren't like the rest of us and that's an important learning experience for someone planning a career in medicine.

Do this but also do some shadowing or some work (paid or volunteer) in a setting where people are receiving medical attention. (If someone is writing a prescription, or has the power to do so, it is a medical setting.)

So, there you have it. Along with a definition of "clinical experience" being close enough to smell patients; you now have the definition of a "clinical setting" as one where someone is present who has the ability to write a prescription.

BTW, I think hospice volunteering is excellent but not a substitute for exposure to a setting where physcians are at work.
 
LizzyM said:
Here's what I said on another thread just the other day:

This is difficult to classify. If people with disabilities ... are going about their business (eating or being fed, singing songs or just listening to the music, playing Bingo or just watching) it is hard to call it "clinical" because there is nothing clinical about it. However, you are learning how to be comfortable with people who aren't like the rest of us and that's an important learning experience for someone planning a career in medicine.

Do this but also do some shadowing or some work (paid or volunteer) in a setting where people are receiving medical attention. (If someone is writing a prescription, or has the power to do so, it is a medical setting.)

So, there you have it. Along with a definition of "clinical experience" being close enough to smell patients; you now have the definition of a "clinical setting" as one where someone is present who has the ability to write a prescription.

BTW, I think hospice volunteering is excellent but not a substitute for exposure to a setting where physcians are at work.
Click to expand...

Ahh now I see what you are saying. Yes that's why she started volunteering at a hospital and updated all schools. In my case I think I've been at clinics mostly, and some hospital volunteering so its not an issue as much.

But this is good information if anyone asks the same thing.
 
If you are a Phi Beta Kappa Honor
What do you put under:
Organization: your school or phi beta kappa?
Contacts?
Place?
 
Should I list a presentation that I gave at my own school's research banquet?

Thanks to everyone who contributes to this thread!
 
I was in a mentoring program at school (mentoring transfer/freshman students) and eventually got a certificate of completion at the end of year. Is that certificate of completion even worth mentioning?
 
pseudoMCAT45 said:
I was in a mentoring program at school (mentoring transfer/freshman students) and eventually got a certificate of completion at the end of year. Is that certificate of completion even worth mentioning?
Click to expand...

I'd just mention it within the description of the mentoring program rather then as a separate entry.

To the person that asked about the presentation at the research banquet, I'd ask LizzyM her advice on that one, I'm not sure myself


Put Phi Beta Kappa under organization.

Alternatively Put Phi Beta Kappa-whatever your university name is to show wha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa that is.
 
impressionist said:
Should I list a presentation that I gave at my own school's research banquet?

Thanks to everyone who contributes to this thread!
Click to expand...

I'd down play it but mentioning it at the end of the entry about your research: "I was honored to give a presentation at the ___ research banquet in 200_."
 
What should the tone of the work/activities description be?

Is it recommended to be in a more professional and resume format, ie listing and describing the activities, my responsibilities, my role, in a matter-of-fact way?

Or should it have a more personal statement-like tone, ie. reflect more upon what i gained from the experience, how it has affected me, why it makes me want to go into medicine, etc.
 
MDSurf said:
What should the tone of the work/activities description be?

Is it recommended to be in a more professional and resume format, ie listing and describing the activities, my responsibilities, my role, in a matter-of-fact way?

Or should it have a more personal statement-like tone, ie. reflect more upon what i gained from the experience, how it has affected me, why it makes me want to go into medicine, etc.
Click to expand...

whichever one you can use to sell yourself to the best of your capabilities. either is fine.
 
Thanks Gujo Doc. I welcome more feedback!

Also, regarding research experiences. I have worked in a 6 labs (3 summer internships, extensive undergrad research project, current job, and student worker setting up labs for chem lab). Rather than list all of them (which will eat up half of my 15 activities) I was just going to list my current position, undergrad research, industry internship, and then list my other 2 internships as a single entry, and completely omit the work I did setting up chem labs. Is this adviseable?

And regarding the descriptions. Is it adviseable to avoid discussing a research project in abstract form? Is it advised to keep the tone consistant between all the entries? Or can they vary? What I have currently done is:

1) Discuss my undergrad research as an abstract
2) Discuss my current research in a more personal way with respect to it's medical relevance to medicine and the experience I have had working with physician-scientists
3) For the research internship I did in industry, I don't even discuss what I did in terms of research, but instead I go into detail regardin my involvement in drug-target proposal meetings and brainstorming sessions.
4) 2 summer internships included as a single activity. I briefly discuss my project in each one, and briefly discuss how it shaped my career decisions.

Again, thanks to all of you for your valuable feedback (especially to you regular posters...you know who you are!)
 
MDSurf said:
Thanks Gujo Doc. I welcome more feedback!

Also, regarding research experiences. I have worked in a 6 labs (3 summer internships, extensive undergrad research project, current job, and student worker setting up labs for chem lab). Rather than list all of them (which will eat up half of my 15 activities) I was just going to list my current position, undergrad research, industry internship, and then list my other 2 internships as a single entry, and completely omit the work I did setting up chem labs. Is this adviseable?

And regarding the descriptions. Is it adviseable to avoid discussing a research project in abstract form? Is it advised to keep the tone consistant between all the entries? Or can they vary? What I have currently done is:

1) Discuss my undergrad research as an abstract
2) Discuss my current research in a more personal way with respect to it's medical relevance to medicine and the experience I have had working with physician-scientists
3) For the research internship I did in industry, I don't even discuss what I did in terms of research, but instead I go into detail regardin my involvement in drug-target proposal meetings and brainstorming sessions.
4) 2 summer internships included as a single activity. I briefly discuss my project in each one, and briefly discuss how it shaped my career decisions.

Again, thanks to all of you for your valuable feedback (especially to you regular posters...you know who you are!)
Click to expand...

if you split that stuff up do you have more then 15 activities you need to add in??
 
For the (published) chapters of a doctoral dissertation, should all the articles be listed as a single activity, or should each one be a discrete entry?
 
elmariachi said:
For the (published) chapters of a doctoral dissertation, should all the articles be listed as a single activity, or should each one be a discrete entry?
Click to expand...

Just list one entry with all the chapters you were involved in.
 
If I'm listing a scholarship that I received-do I have to put down the amount?
 
You don't have to but it will tell us if we should be impressed, very impressed or extremely impressed. 😉
Click to expand...
Got it, thanks!
 
I love cooking and was wondering if I can include it as a legitimate work/activity. Throughout college I have always cooked for myself, and would throw small dinner parties for 6-8 people about 1-2 times a semester. I have also "catered" for larger crowds like bridal showers, birthday parties, and weddings. I love cooking a wide variety of foods, from Nigerian (my ethnicity), to Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, and American foods. I also love eating at a restaurant, and trying to recreate the dish I ate. Other than trying new recipes or googling different techniques, I haven't taken any steps towards formal culinary education. Cooking just makes me happy. I would love to get some opinions on this. Thanks in advance!
 
I have a question regarding shadowing:

If I shadow a variety of physicians for a short period of time (1 week at max), do I make each of those separate entries? Is there any way to combine them into one entry?

Thanks in advance
 
For my research experiences, I just wrote what the project was, what my responsibilities were, and what I learned from the experience in general. Do I have to go into detail (i.e., the hypothesis was so and so, etc)?
 
santabanta said:
I have a question regarding shadowing:

If I shadow a variety of physicians for a short period of time (1 week at max), do I make each of those separate entries? Is there any way to combine them into one entry?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

no combine all shadowing and just use the description area to say the types and how long you shadowed them for.

Do not separate all of them. That's a waste of space.
 
pookiez88 said:
For my research experiences, I just wrote what the project was, what my responsibilities were, and what I learned from the experience in general. Do I have to go into detail (i.e., the hypothesis was so and so, etc)?
Click to expand...

You are fine with what you are doing.
 
YBFdoctor said:
I love cooking and was wondering if I can include it as a legitimate work/activity. Throughout college I have always cooked for myself, and would throw small dinner parties for 6-8 people about 1-2 times a semester. I have also "catered" for larger crowds like bridal showers, birthday parties, and weddings. I love cooking a wide variety of foods, from Nigerian (my ethnicity), to Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, and American foods. I also love eating at a restaurant, and trying to recreate the dish I ate. Other than trying new recipes or googling different techniques, I haven't taken any steps towards formal culinary education. Cooking just makes me happy. I would love to get some opinions on this. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Maybe or something like catering but not for just cooking yourself different types of food at home. But catering for parties sounds like a legit gig and activity.
 
gujuDoc said:
no combine all shadowing and just use the description area to say the types and how long you shadowed them for.

Do not separate all of them. That's a waste of space.
Click to expand...

so what would i input for the contact info?
and im guessing that for the start and end date its pretty much when i started and ended even if it seems ridiculously long...
should i put in my total hours of shadowing in the desc?
 
santabanta said:
so what would i input for the contact info?
and im guessing that for the start and end date its pretty much when i started and ended even if it seems ridiculously long...
should i put in my total hours of shadowing in the desc?
Click to expand...

put the start & end dates but leave the hours per week blank. In the description you could provide the details

Family practioner: 6/1-5/2009, total 22 hours
Orthopedic Surgeon: 5/18-19/2009, total 16 hours
Neonatologist....
 
gujuDoc said:
if you split that stuff up do you have more then 15 activities you need to add in??
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm actually having to leave stuff out. I'm 27 yrs. so I've had some time to rack up life experiences. Thanks again for your feedback Guju.
 
MDSurf said:
Yeah, I'm actually having to leave stuff out. I'm 27 yrs. so I've had some time to rack up life experiences. Thanks again for your feedback Guju.
Click to expand...

Then I'd put it together. I'm almost the same age. 😉

I'd ask LizzyM who posted above you for some advice as well. She's the official adcom member guru of this thread. I've only been trying to help out cuz she's not on here anymore as often as she used to be in past years since she may be busy with things. For things like this where you are still unsure I'd ask her or other adcom members of the board for their opinion like REL, NJBMD, Tildy, QofQuimica.
 
MDSurf said:
Thanks Gujo Doc. I welcome more feedback!

Also, regarding research experiences. I have worked in a 6 labs (3 summer internships, extensive undergrad research project, current job, and student worker setting up labs for chem lab). Rather than list all of them (which will eat up half of my 15 activities) I was just going to list my current position, undergrad research, industry internship, and then list my other 2 internships as a single entry, and completely omit the work I did setting up chem labs. Is this adviseable?

And regarding the descriptions. Is it adviseable to avoid discussing a research project in abstract form? Is it advised to keep the tone consistant between all the entries? Or can they vary? What I have currently done is:

1) Discuss my undergrad research as an abstract
2) Discuss my current research in a more personal way with respect to it's medical relevance to medicine and the experience I have had working with physician-scientists
3) For the research internship I did in industry, I don't even discuss what I did in terms of research, but instead I go into detail regardin my involvement in drug-target proposal meetings and brainstorming sessions.
4) 2 summer internships included as a single activity. I briefly discuss my project in each one, and briefly discuss how it shaped my career decisions.

Again, thanks to all of you for your valuable feedback (especially to you regular posters...you know who you are!)
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good strategy.
 
I co-directed a documentary on a Jewish-Muslim inter-group education program (I was a participant of this program in HS, but co-directed the documentary in an internship during the summer after I graduated hs/right before I started university)-I listed this in my work/activities section, of course. I'm not risking any discrimination, am I? I just wrote about what the program was, what the documentary consists of, and how it was a privilege for me to co-direct a documentary that demonstrates the benefits of such inter-group education programs. Thoughts?
 
pookiez88 said:
I co-directed a documentary on a Jewish-Muslim inter-group education program (I was a participant of this program in HS, but co-directed the documentary in an internship during the summer after I graduated hs/right before I started university)-I listed this in my work/activities section, of course. I'm not risking any discrimination, am I? I just wrote about what the program was, what the documentary consists of, and how it was a privilege for me to co-direct a documentary that demonstrates the benefits of such inter-group education programs. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

sounds pretty cool actually and shows how you guys are trying to bring light to the problems on both sides and work together from where I'm standing.
 
Last edited:
sounds pretty cool actually and shows hwo you guys are trying o bring light to the problems on both sides and work together from where I'm standing.
Click to expand...

Okay, awesome, I'm hoping that's how the adcoms will perceive it as well! 🙂
 
LizzyM said:
put the start & end dates but leave the hours per week blank. In the description you could provide the details

Family practioner: 6/1-5/2009, total 22 hours
Orthopedic Surgeon: 5/18-19/2009, total 16 hours
Neonatologist....
Click to expand...

thanks LizzyM
Now, what would I put in for the contact info?
 
Hi,

I have conducted multiple "how to study" awareness sessions for undergraduate students around my college campus. I have worked as a TA, and a tutor. I did this with the help of the Resident Hall Council of my dormitory. I am currently an undergraduate also.

Where would I include this 'spread awareness on how to study' activity on my application? Also, what could be it's title?


I currently have it under leadership on my TMDSAS application like this....

Role Title: 'How to Study' sessions (I think this needs to be changed because it does not describe my ROLE, and its asking for ROLE TITLE. But I dont know what to put)

Description: Conducted one hour 'How to Study' sessions for undergraduates with the help of Residence Hall Council funding. On average, organized 6 sessions/year, in dormitories across campus. Provided coaching with time management, and ways to study efficiently.

Thanks in advance.
 
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How should I classify shadowing experience under "experience type"? It's clinical, but it's not volunteering/community service. So, do I just put "other"?

For contact information for honors organizations or AMSA, should I put someone from the national level or the President/other officer of my chapter?

Thanks!
 
rockthecasbah said:
How should I classify shadowing experience under "experience type"? It's clinical, but it's not volunteering/community service. So, do I just put "other"?

For contact information for honors organizations or AMSA, should I put someone from the national level or the President/other officer of my chapter?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The president or other officer or adviser of your chapter. that's what i did for student organizations.

YES shadowing = OTHER
 
Is the work/activities section appropriate for a statement like this:

"From [name of activity], I acquired better communication skills, an ability to work well with others, etc.."

Or would that be more appropriate for the personal statement?

Also, would someone mind posting a sample of a good work/activities description? I think it would help us applicants out a lot! I did not actually read through all the pages of this thread so I apologize if someone has already done so. Thanks in advance!
 
smtse4 said:
Is the work/activities section appropriate for a statement like this:

"From [name of activity], I acquired better communication skills, an ability to work well with others, etc.."

Or would that be more appropriate for the personal statement?

Also, would someone mind posting a sample of a good work/activities description? I think it would help us applicants out a lot! I did not actually read through all the pages of this thread so I apologize if someone has already done so. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Don't repeat the name of the activity. They can see the title in the title area. Just say from this experience or use the bullet format of saying ...Acquired better communication skills, etc.
 
Thanks for the tip, gujuDoc. From your response, I am assuming that including those kinds of statements is appropriate for work/activities? Also, are you sure that bulleting / writing in incomplete sentences is okay for the description? Do you have a source?

Another question. I've been working in my research lab for about a year and I currently have one publication. Would I list "research experience" and then "publication" as two separate entries or combine them into one entry? Thanks for the help!
 
smtse4 said:
Thanks for the tip, gujuDoc. From your response, I am assuming that including those kinds of statements is appropriate for work/activities? Also, are you sure that bulleting / writing in incomplete sentences is okay for the description? Do you have a source?

Another question. I've been working in my research lab for about a year and I currently have one publication. Would I list "research experience" and then "publication" as two separate entries or combine them into one entry? Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

LizzyM, an adcom director on here has often stated its ok. She's been on an adcom at a top tier school for several years. Likewise, several past successful applicants have taken that approach and gotten in from what I've read on SDN. I did use that approach for some activities but mostly stated it as "From this experience, blah blah blah"

But don't restate the actual name of the experience or name of the supervisor or other information that can be seen above the description section. You know what i mean??
 
Two quick questions...

1) While studying abroad I worked with some surgeons on translating a LOT of medical writing into English for them. I also helped some residents write the English version of an abstract that was then presented at a conference in another country. They listed me as an author but I wasn't able to attend/present. Do I get to count this as research? It took a lot of time and effort but I wasn't directly involved with the topic.

2) Probably been answered before, but who to list as contact for jobs I had years ago where no one I know works there anymore? Just leave it blank?
 
echidna said:
Two quick questions...

1) While studying abroad I worked with some surgeons on translating a LOT of medical writing into English for them. I also helped some residents write the English version of an abstract that was then presented at a conference in another country. They listed me as an author but I wasn't able to attend/present. Do I get to count this as research? It took a lot of time and effort but I wasn't directly involved with the topic.

2) Probably been answered before, but who to list as contact for jobs I had years ago where no one I know works there anymore? Just leave it blank?
Click to expand...

Leave it blank if no one works there anymore. You can always explain such if they ask later on.

I'm not sure if the first thing you asked about can be counted as research as you were not involved in the research. But it should be listed maybe as other and help explain that you served as a translator in a study abroad trip. that's still a pretty unique experience but not research.
 
I have been an avid fan of japanese animation (I'm a huge nerd) for a number of years and have attended a convention, a non-profit, for it regularly. Since last year, I became a staff member for the convention. Do you think I should put this in?
 
Omrianh said:
I have been an avid fan of japanese animation (I'm a huge nerd) for a number of years and have attended a convention, a non-profit, for it regularly. Since last year, I became a staff member for the convention. Do you think I should put this in?
Click to expand...

Staff member = employment???? I'm confused. Am I correct? If so then yes its a job so put it on.
 
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