2014-2015 Applicant stats thread

Started by Awesome Sauceome
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I haven't really worked on that part of the app yet, but I could've sworn it just went up to 999 hours right? (like that's the highest you can input, implying that you have a crap ton haha)

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Awesome Sauceome said:
I haven't really worked on that part of the app yet, but I could've sworn it just went up to 999 hours right? (like that's the highest you can input, implying that you have a crap ton haha)

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That's the AMCAS.
 
studentp0x said:
7000+ hours in a sport (national level track and field, plenty of titles/awards, some records etc) that I started in high school ish and carried onto some of 2nd year undergrad.
7000+ hours of elite level powerlifting, national records and a world record.
1000 or so hours mix of clinical volunteering (palliative care), couple leadership stuff/volunteering, coaching, little bit of shadowing, and couple small other things.

Actually probably more like 15500 to be more accurate.
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So for the first one, the majority of your hours are from high school..

The second one is good, but not really a team sport either. Going to the gym and getting a record at a meetup isn't that impressive for a solo sport (my cousin is a powerlifter, there are so many different class levels and categories its pretty easy to get records for different weight class/type of lift). Still very good accomplishments but not as amazing as team sports.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
So for the first one, the majority of your hours are from high school..

The second one is good, but not really a team sport either. Going to the gym and getting a record at a meetup isn't that impressive for a solo sport (my cousin is a powerlifter, there are so many different class levels and categories its pretty easy to get records for different weight class/type of lift). Still very good accomplishments but not as amazing as team sports.
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I would say a world record is pretty impressive. One thing I'm curious about, I did about 300 hours as an ER volunteer while I was in high school. Should I include this in my ECs?
 
WesternRedCedar said:
So for the first one, the majority of your hours are from high school..

The second one is good, but not really a team sport either. Going to the gym and getting a record at a meetup isn't that impressive for a solo sport (my cousin is a powerlifter, there are so many different class levels and categories its pretty easy to get records for different weight class/type of lift). Still very good accomplishments but not as amazing as team sports.
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1) No the majority are not from high school. EDIT: oh my track and field? yes, but I could go on endlessly about all the positive qualities I developed from it.

2) I trained with a track and field club for 7 years and was a mentor to the younger athletes throughout most of it, we had 25-60 people on our team throughout the time span. My high school team was also top in the nation (Canada).

3) By a world record, I'm talking out of all the legit federations combined (although world junior record I should add...). Of course, an IPF or WPC record is still very impressive regardless.

4) I've done coaching/personal training/online coaching throughout all this time, very often for free. Using my acquired skills and knowledge to provide a service for others looks good doesn't it? 🙂

And what do you mean not as impressive as team sports? I was ranked top 10 in the nation during my prime track time and currently I'm an elite powerlifter. Why is that less "amazing" than being a team player in a sport where you'll never even be top 10 in your region let alone country? Even in the context of medical schools applications, it'll be a good EC but playing a team sport will not help you stand out. Having something that's very rare to see while also sounding impressive, that would help you stand out (assuming your stats are in range of the school and you have the check box ECs).
I also think you're forgetting about the whole dedication/commitment aspects of it. Not to mention time management...
 
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RunGently said:
I would say a world record is pretty impressive. One thing I'm curious about, I did about 300 hours as an ER volunteer while I was in high school. Should I include this in my ECs?
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Absolutely.
If non-trads can include things they've done before their undergrad, why can't we do the same? Ridiculous concept I've never understood.
 
studentp0x said:
Absolutely.
If non-trads can include things they've done before their undergrad, why can't we do the same? Ridiculous concept I've never understood.
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Because high school stuff is nothing like university. University ECs show time management, maturity and responsibility. High school ECs you're just an extra hand.

And it sounds like you have more to your involvments from your post above, so that is good! Be sure to be able describe that too 🙂

I would drop the word "elite" powerlifter, it makes you sound cocky.. because if anyone googles your name and finds out your embellising, it wont look good.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
Because high school stuff is nothing like university. University ECs show time management, maturity and responsibility. High school ECs you're just an extra hand.

And it sounds like you have more to your involvments from your post above, so that is good! Be sure to be able describe that too 🙂

I would drop the word "elite" powerlifter, it makes you sound cocky.. because if anyone googles your name and finds out your embellising, it wont look good.
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Yea the majority of the total hours come from my undergrad time. But life experience and taking away positive things should still count on top of things you did during undergrad as well.
Regardless, I've used my acquired knowledge to genuinely help others (and I'm talking 200+ athletes at minimum, much more if I include all the online coaching stuff). Most volunteering ECs done by undergrads would not be done if medical schools didn't care. Of course, I've done the clinical stuff too.

Yea I wouldn't use the word elite. Although googling my name would be an instant verifier and shows nothing but first place.
 
:"Yea the majority of the total hours come from my undergrad time."


No they didnt' you just said you agreed most came from high school....

7000/3/52/7 = 6.5 hours a day. You aren't working out power lifting 6 hours a day. If you are you're doing it wrong.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
:"Yea the majority of the total hours come from my undergrad time."


No they didnt' you just said you agreed most came from high school....

7000/3/52/7 = 6.5 hours a day. You aren't working out power lifting 6 hours a day. If you are you're doing it wrong.
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Majority is 51%, no? 😉
I design my own training programs and such, keep a detailed journal etc. it adds to the time requirement as well.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
That is a lot of milking lol. I should include all my meal prep, training routines and such for my training too then.
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I'm sure if you do 18 hours a week, you'll bump that to 20 when the hours are long. Makes little difference anyway. It's actually not easy to design an optimal training routine, your run of the mill routines (5/3/1, 5x5, etc) aren't that effective once you hit a certain level. Trying to achieve supercompensation also becomes more and more difficult as your body adapts to accumulating volumes of stress. So yes it can take quite some time to design something optimal and adjust if neccessary.

Point is, I've put more time and effort into my ECs than the vast vast majority of traditional applicants.
 
( i was being sincere, studentplox will definitely get into a DO school with good stats. I'm just saying his 15000 hours isn't as impressive as he/she thinks - and isn't above "most traditional applicants")
 
WesternRedCedar said:
( i was being sincere, studentplox will definitely get into a DO school with good stats. I'm just saying his 15000 hours isn't as impressive as he/she thinks - and isn't above "most traditional applicants")[/QUOTE]
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enlighten me.

Most traditional applicants did a bunch of volunteering that they did not care about (wasn't there a thread on here where everyone admitted they'd never had volunteered if it wasn't for the check box thing?). A minority of DO applicants have research that DO schools care about but not to a large extent. Shadowing is a check box and not a long term commitment.
 
"Most traditional applicants did a bunch of volunteering that they did not care about"

That is a pretty big statement to make, how does anyone know you're not the same? Its the internet, don't have any knowledge of what people have or have not done for whatever reasons..
 
WesternRedCedar said:
"Most traditional applicants did a bunch of volunteering that they did not care about"

That is a pretty big statement to make, how does anyone know you're not the same? Its the internet, don't have any knowledge of what people have or have not done for whatever reasons..
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There was a thread on here where almost everyone admitted that. It's a reasonable thing to assume as well... why would a student who's in debt go and provide free service instead of providing paid service if there's no incentive in providing the free service?

My other volunteer work was doing things I'm passionate about, very easy to see that.

I'm not sure you have the right perspective on a lot of this, evident by your claim that being world class at an individual sport is less impressive than playing a team sport and being a regional or recreational athlete in that.
 
studentp0x said:
There was a thread on here where almost everyone admitted that. It's a reasonable thing to assume as well... why would a student who's in debt go and provide free service instead of providing paid service if there's no incentive in providing the free service?

My other volunteer work was doing things I'm passionate about, very easy to see that.

I'm not sure you have the right perspective on a lot of this, evident by your claim that being world class at an individual sport is less impressive than playing a team sport and being a regional or recreational athlete in that.
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"the right perspective" - maybe people volunteer and provide "free service" because they enjoy it and like to give back? Not everyhting is about medical school.

Again, that will be up to ADCOMs to see that. It's easy for pre-meds to embelish their accomplishments etc. Not sure why you're getting so defensive, unless of course i'm making a point 😛

Anyways, you'll be fine - just trying to provide some constructive criticism that you could take into consideration to not try to sound so condescending and self-righteous.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
"the right perspective" - maybe people volunteer and provide "free service" because they enjoy it and like to give back? Not everyhting is about medical school.

Again, that will be up to ADCOMs to see that. It's easy for pre-meds to embelish their accomplishments etc. Not sure why you're getting so defensive, unless of course i'm making a point 😛

Anyways, you'll be fine - just trying to provide some constructive criticism that you could take into consideration to not try to sound so condescending and self-righteous.
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I don't think most undergrads who are in debt prioritize providing free service above paid service. I've had full financial support from my parents so I've been able do that, but a lot of students dont.

Adcoms look for the general things as well as impressive things which often need to be unique. Playing a team sport isn't unique... it certainly adds a lot to your app but isn't anything rare.
 
Its a awesome idea, I should just go to a meet up and get a record. I can then include working out as an EC 😛

Now i'm just teasing you!
 
Do u even lift brah? Srs. I'm in the gym 3 hrs a day 6 days a week. Sometimes 4 hours.
 
studentp0x said:
I don't think most undergrads who are in debt prioritize providing free service above paid service. I've had full financial support from my parents so I've been able do that, but a lot of students dont.

Adcoms look for the general things as well as impressive things which often need to be unique. Playing a team sport isn't unique... it certainly adds a lot to your app but isn't anything rare.
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Most undergrads aren't pre-meds, and lots of pre-meds who become m1s aren't the kind to just do ECs for medical school.
 
studentp0x said:
Do u even lift brah? Srs. I'm in the gym 3 hrs a day 6 days a week. Sometimes 4 hours.
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I actually do lift, if you're in the gym 4 hours a day 6 days a week you're training wrong. I don't go posting my hours in the gym as a "elite" EC.

INB4 studenpox is a 150lb kid from Saskatchewan.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
I actually do lift, if you're in the gym 4 hours a day 6 days a week you're training wrong. I don't go posting my hours in the gym as a "elite" EC.

INB4 studenpox is a 150lb kid from Saskatchewan.
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Lol @ telling someone who benches> 400 that they're doing it wrong. I know a 900lb deadlifterwho trains 4 hours a day.
 
studentp0x said:
Lol @ telling someone who benches> 400 that they're doing it wrong. I know a 900lb deadlifterwho trains 4 hours a day.
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Good luck with the efficiency. I don't train for the purpose of competing or anything, but i'm 190lbs and I can bench 330 3rd rep. I'm probably down to 300 since I don't train as much lately.

You seem so arrogant for being in the gym 25 hours a week , and apparantly 15,000 hours, yet aren't that further than a normal gym junkie like myself.
 
I think you should tone down those hours. Is it impressive? Yes, it is. But it's also a lot, and the same disbelief and skepticism you're getting from members of this forum is the same you're going to get from adcoms. A full time 40 hour per week job is 2080 hours per years. To obtain the amount of hours you have, you're talking 2 full time jobs (and more considering other ECs) on top of your schoolwork, for the full 4 years of your undergrad. Impressive? Yes. But also really hard to believe, which means that people are definitely going to assume you embellished more than just a few hours. Honestly, I believe you've put 15k hours in your ECs. I don't believe at all that all those hours are actually volunteering hours. You embellish so much on a med school apps... I have to wonder what you would "embellish" in a medical chart when the stakes matter much more... and I won't be alone in these thoughts.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
Good luck with the efficiency. I don't train for the purpose of competing or anything, but i'm 190lbs and I can bench 330 3rd rep. I'm probably down to 300 since I don't train as much lately.

You seem so arrogant for being in the gym 25 hours a week , and apparantly 15,000 hours, yet aren't that further than a normal gym junkie like myself.
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Your responses justify the arrogance. U mad i did330 coming out of high school?
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
So for real's everyone should take a step out. While I think its kind of funny reading this thread, I can't help but be a little sad at the direction it has taken. I was seriously hoping it kept even mildly to just a stats chart that could help people...

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The stats chart is incredibly helpful, and it would be a shame to lose it. So maybe if SDNers could mind their fingers and prevent this thread from turning into a massive dick-measuring-competition again, we'd have a shot at making this great project work.
 
Glad the stats chart is working well. I'll be looking into a form, or ways of making this a little more sophisticated once I graduate in a few weeks.
 
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