A couple EC questions...

[spyderracing32]

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Ok, I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of mixed response here so please keep an open mind when reading what follows. A major part of both my freshman and sophomore years in college was professional internet poker playing. I didn't win any huge tournaments, nor did I really play many tournaments (however in the less than 50 I've played I've had several mid-4-figure cashes). I considered myself a cash game player, playing as high as $5/$10 no limit ($1000 buy-in). The game afforded me ample intellectual stimulation and enough money to pay all of my own living expenses along with a portion of my tuition (took a lot of stress off my parents). I approach the game very analytically, but the problem is the title "professional poker player" carries a bit of a stigma (read: "degenerate") in conservative communities (read: medicine). However, most people I've talked to tend to think it's the coolest thing and must be super exciting... until I start rattling off about hand ranges, percentages, odds, estimated value calculations, and generally start sounding like I belong at Goldman Sachs instead of at a card table (unfortunately the "boring" stuff is what it takes to win, kids).

I really want to put this on my AMCAS, but I'm concerned with how it will be percieved. I know for a fact that I can defend it well in an interview, but it's getting to the interview that matters at this point. Anyone have an opinion?

Also, a lighter question: I spent the majority of my life alpine ski racing, and competed in several races freshman year but decided to opt out for most of the season and the entire season for my sophomore and junior years due to the fact that it's incredibly travel intensive and would interfere with my studies. Should I include this even if my participation was limited in college (although still present)?

 

[Mattabet]

I really want to put this on my AMCAS, but I'm concerned with how it will be percieved. I know for a fact that I can defend it well in an interview, but it's getting to the interview that matters at this point. Anyone have an opinion?

I think it depends how you're putting in on AMCAS. I wouldn't call it an EC or job, per se, but if you want to mention it as a hobby; go nuts. It might be a turn-off to some, but others are going to find it interesting. I wouldn't mention the fact that you were gambling thousands of dollars though. And if it violated any laws, obviously I wouldn't mention it either (though the way you're talking about it makes it seem as though everything was on the up-and-up).

Also, a lighter question: I spent the majority of my life alpine ski racing, and competed in several races freshman year but decided to opt out for most of the season and the entire season for my sophomore and junior years due to the fact that it's incredibly travel intensive and would interfere with my studies. Should I include this even if my participation was limited in college (although still present)?

Sure. Go for it. You don't have to do everything for 4 years to list it. It just makes the hours more difficult to estimate.

 

[spyderracing32]

I think it depends how you're putting in on AMCAS. I wouldn't call it an EC or job, per se, but if you want to mention it as a hobby; go nuts. It might be a turn-off to some, but others are going to find it interesting. I wouldn't mention the fact that you were gambling thousands of dollars though. And if it violated any laws, obviously I wouldn't mention it either (though the way you're talking about it makes it seem as though everything was on the up-and-up).

Yea everything was kosher, taxes were paid, etc.

Sure. Go for it. You don't have to do everything for 4 years to list it. It just makes the hours more difficult to estimate.

I guess my next question is when should I list the start date? I started racing when I was 11 and my last race occurred freshman year of college. Should I mark the start date as 1999? Freshman year of high school (first races on FIS [international skiing federation that oversees the World Cup] circuit occurred here)? Freshman year of college?

Also, just to throw in a couple more random questions. I recently began work as a project manager for a student run consulting firm, and my team is doing market research for a biotech firm. Do I list this as leadership (I am the point-man for the project) or research (market research)? Finally, in my scientific research endeavors I have presented a poster at a student research symposium (not a national conference or anything of that caliber). Do I list this separately as a poster presentation or should I include it in the description of my research experience?

 

[sylvanthus]

Ehhh if I were you I would leave off the poker playing. The medical field seems to be extremely conservative in a lot of ways and it may interfere with your application at some schools. Although, it could potentially be a decent thing to talk about as a hobby in your interview. You would have to factor in the personalities of your interviewers of course.

But, do put the skiing on there that will stand out enough imo.

 

[sylvanthus]

Yea everything was kosher, taxes were paid, etc.





I guess my next question is when should I list the start date? I started racing when I was 11 and my last race occurred freshman year of college. Should I mark the start date as 1999? Freshman year of high school (first races on FIS [international skiing federation that oversees the World Cup] circuit occurred here)? Freshman year of college?

Also, just to throw in a couple more random questions. I recently began work as a project manager for a student run consulting firm, and my team is doing market research for a biotech firm. Do I list this as leadership (I am the point-man for the project) or research (market research)? Finally, in my scientific research endeavors I have presented a poster at a student research symposium (not a national conference or anything of that caliber). Do I list this separately as a poster presentation or should I include it in the description of my research experience?

Just put what you did in college in regards to skiing. I would put the project manager as leadership and the poster just as a poster. But, that is kind of a confusing one.

 

[LizzyM]

We had an applicant a couple years ago who won money playing poker and we really liked him. The poker thing was a bit of a hook, too... it helped us remember him.

Skiing... start date was your first race as a kid, stop date would be your last race as a college student. Perfectly acceptable. in your free text section, you can say that you still enjoy skiing but no longer race.

Two things that are too cool to leave off.

 

[sylvanthus]

I stand corrected.

 

[spyderracing32]

Anyone have any more input on how I should list the poster? It wasn't at a national conference. Should I list it with the research or separately as a poster?