"Academic Enrichment Programs" on AADSAS

[timberrr]

I went to a one-day program at a dental school that showed you what it was like to be a dental student, let you tour the school, gave information about their school and dental school in general, and they let us make an impression in their lab. Can I put something like this on the "Academic Enrichment Programs" section of AADSAS? Seems like it could fall under this category, but the instructions are sort of vague and I'm not sure if other schools would see this as 'why didn't you come to our school's program?' type of deal.

Thanks!

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[jeffity]

I went to a one-day program at a dental school that showed you what it was like to be a dental student, let you tour the school, gave information about their school and dental school in general, and they let us make an impression in their lab. Can I put something like this on the "Academic Enrichment Programs" section of AADSAS? Seems like it could fall under this category, but the instructions are sort of vague and I'm not sure if other schools would see this as 'why didn't you come to our school's program?' type of deal.

Thanks!

You see all sorts of stuff in this section. Do what you want. If you put it there, just put who put it on. Probably the school's ASDA chapter. ASDA Pre-Dental Workshop. AEDA Dental Simulation. ASDA Simulation Clinic. If that specific school's secondary has a place for it, then showcase it there or in the interview if you get that far.

 

[paymaant]

I went to a one-day program at a dental school that showed you what it was like to be a dental student, let you tour the school, gave information about their school and dental school in general, and they let us make an impression in their lab. Can I put something like this on the "Academic Enrichment Programs" section of AADSAS? Seems like it could fall under this category, but the instructions are sort of vague and I'm not sure if other schools would see this as 'why didn't you come to our school's program?' type of deal.

Thanks!

I would just save that portion for the supplemental application for that specific school. You can also bring it up during the interview!

 

[MedDevil]

I went to a one-day program at a dental school that showed you what it was like to be a dental student, let you tour the school, gave information about their school and dental school in general, and they let us make an impression in their lab. Can I put something like this on the "Academic Enrichment Programs" section of AADSAS? Seems like it could fall under this category, but the instructions are sort of vague and I'm not sure if other schools would see this as 'why didn't you come to our school's program?' type of deal.

Thanks!

Yeah, this will fit right in as an Academic Enrichment Programs.

 

[Springs01]

What? I didn't know you could put those one-day program in that section! 🙁 I did a bunch of those, didn't know where to put them on my app, so just ended up not putting them on my app at all. I feel so stupid now.

 

[timberrr]

I know what school's program you are referring to, but I would not consider it to be an "academic enrichment program". It was a 1-day event that gave prospective students information about the school.

http://www.adea.org/dental_educatio...uctions/Pages/AcademicEnrichmentPrograms.aspx

After reading the info about it again from the link you posted, I think it actually does qualify as one.

 

[Glimmer1991]

You see all sorts of stuff in this section. Do what you want. If you put it there, just put who put it on.

Agreed.

I put something in this section that, honestly, doesn't seem to fit their given description at all. However, the particular event was absolutely an enrichment to my academic career. I didn't have anywhere else to put it on my application, so I included it. I'm not losing any sleep over it, and I doubt it will cause me to be denied admission at any school.

I don't think adcoms go through our apps LOOKING for things to criticize. They want good applicants, after all! Surely, they aren't going to say, "AHA! Look at this! This nitwit put something in here that doesn't precisely fit the category! Denied!"

Plus, the description for this category is not clear-cut. For example, it says, "Academic Enrichment Programs include programs sponsored by colleges, universities or other not-for-profit organizations..." and "They can include..." and "These experiences can occur in high school..."

Nowhere does it say that these experiences are "limited to" any of these things.

Some other sections, on the other hand, do have clearer boundaries. For example, for the extracurricular/volunteer/community service section, it says, " You may include activities from college (activities from high school are not acceptable). Keep in mind that accomplishments during college are given high priority by many admissions committees."

Even in that case, I'm not sure why in the world they have that second sentence there. If you can only include stuff completed during college, it is obvious that college accomplishments are given higher priority... Duh.

Anyhow, just my two cents.

 

[jeffity]

Agreed.

I put something in this section that, honestly, doesn't seem to fit their given description at all. However, the particular event was absolutely an enrichment to my academic career. I didn't have anywhere else to put it on my application, so I included it. I'm not losing any sleep over it, and I doubt it will cause me to be denied admission at any school.

I don't think adcoms go through our apps LOOKING for things to criticize. They want good applicants, after all! Surely, they aren't going to say, "AHA! Look at this! This nitwit put something in here that doesn't precisely fit the category! Denied!"

Plus, the description for this category is not clear-cut. For example, it says, "Academic Enrichment Programs include programs sponsored by colleges, universities or other not-for-profit organizations..." and "They can include..." and "These experiences can occur in high school..."

Nowhere does it say that these experiences are "limited to" any of these things.

Some other sections, on the other hand, do have clearer boundaries. For example, for the extracurricular/volunteer/community service section, it says, " You may include activities from college (activities from high school are not acceptable). Keep in mind that accomplishments during college are given high priority by many admissions committees."

Even in that case, I'm not sure why in the world they have that second sentence there. If you can only include stuff completed during college, it is obvious that college accomplishments are given higher priority... Duh.

Anyhow, just my two cents.

I was just going to point out those same things. Almost exactly. I almost have goosebumps. I know it's a slightly controversial area as there are specific events explicitly named 'academic enrichment'. But it seems a little odd to have what seems no limit on entries for this section. That seems a little generous to the those of disadvantaged background only attending those events that fit their example. I've known people to even put CPR training in there. If they felt academically enriched by that, so be it.

 

[Glimmer1991]

Those are all valid points, but in this specific case I think it'd be a bit odd to say that a school tour and admission statistic information session was "academically enriching".

He did get to make an impression in the sim lab, if the sticking point is that he didn't really "do" anything.

Oh well! Do what you please, OP. I honestly think it won't make a difference either way. 🙂

 

[jeffity]

Those are all valid points, but in this specific case I think it'd be a bit odd to say that a school tour and admission statistic information session was "academically enriching".

Glad to see you got your account up and running.

It's a pretty subjective section. So is volunteering and others under professional experience. I don't consider AIDS walks and the like a form of volunteering when you did nothing more than walk. A book-report style poster presentation hardly seems like research to me, but to others it is. From what I've seen, enrichment turns into a 'misc' section when items just don't fit elsewhere. I had 5 simulation courses. I certainly wasn't going to leave them out. They helped me gain acceptance and were discussed. It was a bonus that my student interviewer happened to know me from attending one of that particular school's course. I don't know what program the OP attended, but generally these are a lot more than an open house where you'd just tour and get a generic speech...maybe a cookie and punch and a desperate brochure from the podiatry school. Those I left off. My courses discussed specific aspects of their curriculum with examples, the basic info session, admissions presentations (basically how to get into their school form the mouth of admissions), students giving you the lowdown with no faculty within earshot (very valuable), and mock interviews. But most were heavily comprised of hands-on time in their lab. These are almost always put on by student chapters of nationally-recognized organized dentistry groups. The overall vibe was dentistry and dental school, not 'come to our school cause we rule'.