15 Experiences - Description Length

[st.exupery]

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Hi there! Does anyone have any input on how long to make my '15 experiences' descriptions? My gut feeling is that an in depth explanation would be more meaningful, but maybe this would annoy the readers?

i.e. Do I go into detail about what I learned and what it meant, etc.?
They allow 1325 characters which seems like a lot.

Any ideas?? Thank you!

 

[Duchess742]

Hi there! Does anyone have any input on how long to make my '15 experiences' descriptions? My gut feeling is that an in depth explanation would be more meaningful, but maybe this would annoy the readers?

i.e. Do I go into detail about what I learned and what it meant, etc.?
They allow 1325 characters which seems like a lot.

Any ideas?? Thank you!

mine were pretty detailed. i figure it can't hurt b/c they're not going to dismiss your app just for having long descriptions. if they're annoyed, they'll just read the title and scan the description, meaning they'll notice things that stand out like numbers...so just try to use that to your advantage. also, it's good to have a long description for those activities where your role isn't immediately obvious. for e.g., if you were "project coordinator" for some volunteer organization, that's a pretty vague title so you should prob explain what you did.

 

[TMP-SMX]

I'd say it depends on the experience. Some recommend to keep it less than 4 sentences, but if it's an important activity then be sure to expand on your role. Especially for things like hospital volunteering and research.

 

[63768]

if your title is self-explanatory and you have to stretch to make it seem interesting, be short. if you really have a lot of explaining to do, then elaborate. but i don't think anyone should come close to the limit. i think that becomes boring for the adcoms.

 

[fleetbeat01]

I copied mine right from my resume. I figured that if they were detailed enough yet concise enough to apply to my current job then they should work for med school. I went into a bit more detail about my current job as a clincial research coordinator only because its in the hospital with patients etc. Submitted on Sat. so we'll see! 😎

 

[Instatewaiter]

Be as detailed as possible especially if you have lack luster numbers. That is one way that you will make up for it. It is also one of the major ways you can show that you are a balanced candidate yet have a lot of clinical experience. Make sure you include volunteer experience over say, working at walmart.

I have had multiple deans of admissions tell me that in years past they have flat out rejected people b/c of poor secondary experiences.

Don't feel obligated to do all 15. It is better to leave out IM frisbee golf and have only 14.

 

[alex_shimp]

What about athletic experiance.... should I include my teams achivment?

 

[Compass]

Teamwork is important. If you played, I'd think you'd look great writing about it. Shows you don't sit in front of a computer all day like I do.

And do you mean 1325 characters PER, or total? 😱

 

[g3pro]

mine were pretty detailed. i figure it can't hurt b/c they're not going to dismiss your app just for having long descriptions. if they're annoyed, they'll just read the title and scan the description, meaning

I think if you wrote a bunch of BS or had long descriptions for all of your activities, they might toss your app on the grounds that you are unable to communicate succinctly. Not toss completely, but they would have reservations. Remember, leave the essays to the essays, and the activities description to the activities description.