Thank you all!
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1) Employment-Nonmilitary? It's fine to list so long as you've begun the work. Date span will be starting date to present.1) This coming summer in another major biotech company. (How can I list this on my current app? I definitely want to, will be starting at the end of May. Again, Oncology work.)
2) Clinical
Hospital Volunteering - ~ 100 Hours in college (but did ~300 hours at the same place in HS. I figure the HS hours don't count for much, but I do want to mention it *somewhere* because it got me interested in med in the first place! Can I do this?)
3) I'd appreciate advice on where I stand, and what schools I should add, remove. Thanks! The ones I've starred have a bottom 10% VR higher than mine.
Do you think I have a reasonable shot at a top 20? (Hopefully a UC. UCSF is my top choice!)
1) I made some assumptions in answering this, with little info to go by. As someone just starting in a lab by the time you submit, I doubt you'll have your own project and presume you'd be helping someone else out with an established project, with little creative input (more of a research tech position). I think this might be an opportunity to "balance" your application by using another category. Listing it under Research is equally valid and which you choose is up to you. There is no wrong choice.Catalystik - As always, thank you for taking time to comment and give suggestions.
1) I'm curious, though, as to why I shouldn't be listing my biotech experiences under research (its all research associate level work). Is there any reason to this? Both experiences are research internships. (By CWRU I meant Case Western, sorry!)
2) Also, do I have enough "safties"?
(Rochester, Georgetown, Tufts, Boston)
3) Do you think I have a reasonable shot at a top 20? (Hopefully a UC. UCSF is my top choice!)
Yes, list it. Stick to the positives, like the philanthropic work, leadership, and award.I've read quite a few threads regarding social fraternities here on SDN, and I've heard its a mixed bag. Given that I've still done well enough in school, is it okay to list because I've held a leadership position (philanthropy chair) and won an award from nationals? The chapter also won a major award from the university and has a great relationship with them, so we're not particularly rambunctious. (Should I mention this in the description?)
Include all this. They are more positives.It's been a pretty large part of my college experience, perhaps what initially prevented me from transferring out of the school, and I feel I've learned some things from it that I couldn't from anywhere else, for example: dealing with people of diverse backgrounds and interests, quickly forming connections with people based on varying interests, as well as handling individuals who are in your face and refusing to cooperate (such as working security).
1. I'd describe them in the Experiences section in general. If there is a specific situation pertinent to a Secondary essay topic, by all means, elaborate on it there.
2. It might depend on the title and focus of the course taught (I'd consider Epidemiological Statistics as math, eg) and his/her academic credentials that will be under the signature. In other words, the answer depends.
3. Yes, hold the MD letter in reserve as the least likely to help you.
I'm in the same boat. I chose to include the research, conferences, and pubs all in one activity (since I was getting tight on space). However, there are discreet 'activity description categories' for presentations/conferences, research, pubs, etc so if you need to fill up a couple more of your 15 slots, by all means list them separately1. Since I will be presenting essentially the same material, would it be better to list them under 1 activities slot, or can I confidently list each conference separately? The only difference between the two will be a few weeks worth of data, but the topic is the same.
From what I've been told (by my PI and colleagues), you are generally correct. In any case, presenting at on-campus conferences are still much better than no presentations at all, right? If nothing else, they will demonstrate that your research was legitimate, and you were not simply a lab tech cleaning glassware.2. Are such undergraduate conferences worth much? I'm not expecting them to be as powerful as say one that mostly grad/postdocs/profs speak at, but I do feel very confident about what I've been working on and the rigorous science behind it.
I'm in the same boat. I chose to include the research, conferences, and pubs all in one activity (since I was getting tight on space). However, there are discreet 'activity description categories' for presentations/conferences, research, pubs, etc so if you need to fill up a couple more of your 15 slots, by all means list them separately
From what I've been told (by my PI and colleagues), you are generally correct. In any case, presenting at on-campus conferences are still much better than no presentations at all, right? If nothing else, they will demonstrate that your research was legitimate, and you were not simply a lab tech cleaning glassware.
Thanks for the advice. For clarification, one conference is national, while the other is regional. They are both at the undergraduate level, but not just for students at one university.
Regional and national conference presentations/posters are definitely space-worthy. Since they are so similar, I think it's a good idea to group them, listing it initially under the more prestigious national conference and then mentioning the second in the narrative (giving 2nd conference name, with dates and location). You can refer back to the more detailed description you wrote under a Research category so as not to be overly repetitive in the information you provide.For clarification, one conference is national, while the other is regional. They are both at the undergraduate level, but not just for students at one university.