Activities for medical school FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

[lawlcatz]

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So, I've done some volunteering at a local hospital for about 2 years (3 hours/week) in my last two years of high school. Also, I went onto a medical mission trip in my sophomore year of high school.

I've been told that medical schools DO take high school activities into consideration if they're medical-related activities. But I'm not certain about it.

So tell me guys, is this true?

 

[13132]

I have been told don't include it unless it was substantial and sustained through college. For example, my senior year I volunteered every week in my local ED (100+ hours) and I continue to on summer break etc (64 hours). I plan to only report the after HS amount but mention the amount I volunteered total in essays and note it is a continuing activity.

 

[alwaysaangel]

No. Anything prior to your graduating high school should not be included unless you continued it into college (or won an olympic medal or something).

Even if its medical - don't include it. Focus on your achievements in college, high school is pretty much nonexistent when you apply for med school. Similarly, when you apply to residency you will focus on achievements in medical school and college will be nonexistent.

 

[Forthegood]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10416745

There is a search function on SDN too...

 

[WingedOx]

No. Anything prior to your graduating high school should not be included unless you continued it into college (or won an olympic medal or something).

Even if its medical - don't include it. Focus on your achievements in college, high school is pretty much nonexistent when you apply for med school. Similarly, when you apply to residency you will focus on achievements in medical school and college will be nonexistent.

I'm going to strongly disagree here... SDN posters like to state the above as a rule, but there's no harm in putting down something if it was actually relevant and worthwhile. At minimum, include something about it in your PS if it was important to you. I've had discussions about college activities on residency interviews, and had a discussion about a HS activity on med school interviews.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm going to strongly disagree here... SDN posters like to state the above as a rule, but there's no harm in putting down something if it was actually relevant and worthwhile. At minimum, include something about it in your PS if it was important to you. I've had discussions about college activities on residency interviews, and had a discussion about a HS activity on med school interviews.

To discuss something in the PS is fine, I agree. As is discussing it in interviews.
So I guess its unfair to say HS doesn't exist. It doesn't exist for purposes of the activities section.

To actually add a high school activity to the list of activities where AMCAS EXPLICITLY STATES TO ONLY INCLUDE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES is just plain inability to follow instructions and poor resume padding.

 

[WingedOx]

To discuss something in the PS is fine, I agree. As is discussing it in interviews.
So I guess its unfair to say HS doesn't exist. It doesn't exist for purposes of the activities section.

To actually add a high school activity to the list of activities where AMCAS EXPLICITLY STATES TO ONLY INCLUDE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES is just plain inability to follow instructions and poor resume padding.

well, THEN THE OP DOESN'T HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE ACTIVITIES SECTION OF THE APP... which wasn't specifically what he asked.

/if I wanted to read caps lock I'd go read yahoo articles about how this is all Obama's fault.

 

[floreat]

To discuss something in the PS is fine, I agree. As is discussing it in interviews.
So I guess its unfair to say HS doesn't exist. It doesn't exist for purposes of the activities section.

To actually add a high school activity to the list of activities where AMCAS EXPLICITLY STATES TO ONLY INCLUDE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES is just plain inability to follow instructions and poor resume padding.

if you can't put it down when applying (which apparently amcas says you can't), I would definitely try to bring it up in your PS or interview if you get the chance. not just "by the way I did this and this in high school" but incorporate it into an experience, what you learned from it, how it'll make you a better candidate etc.

 

[deleted357625]

No. Anything prior to your graduating high school should not be included unless you continued it into college (or won an olympic medal or something).

Even if its medical - don't include it. Focus on your achievements in college, high school is pretty much nonexistent when you apply for med school. Similarly, when you apply to residency you will focus on achievements in medical school and college will be nonexistent.

👍

 

[DocBell]

I talked about my medical mission trip in my personal statement. It was part of why I wanted to be a doctor. I am guessing that your highschool experiences contributed to your decision making so in my opinion briefly mentioning them in your personal statement makes sense.

 

[LizzyM]

Some adcom members may look down on an application that has HS volunteering and nothing more recent but there is nothing in the AMCAS instructions prohibiting inclusion of experiences prior to college.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/131750/data/2011amcasinstructions.pdf.pdf

experiences section begins on page 54. Please correct me if I'm wrong and cite the page number as I haven't time to read the entire document today.

 

[emlibrary]

Some adcom members may look down on an application that has HS volunteering and nothing more recent but there is nothing in the AMCAS instructions prohibiting inclusion of experiences prior to college.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/131750/data/2011amcasinstructions.pdf.pdf

experiences section begins on page 54. Please correct me if I'm wrong and cite the page number as I haven't time to read the entire document today.

Hey LizzyM,

I have a question: I started volunteering in high school in 9th grade, and Have continued it till now. Is it fair to list that? I won't be looked down on right since I have continued it?

I also write about it in my PS as how it helped shape me towards medicine.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM,

I have a question: I started volunteering in high school in 9th grade, and Have continued it till now. Is it fair to list that? I won't be looked down on right since I have continued it?

I also write about it in my PS as how it helped shape me towards medicine.

It is certainly acceptable to list an activity "to present" that has a start date that is prior to the start of college.

 

[13132]

It is certainly acceptable to list an activity "to present" that has a start date that is prior to the start of college.

So in effect, by listing it this way I would be able to include the 100+ hours of ED volunteering from high school? So the first way is how it should be done with my current stats?

ED Volunteer
08-Present (228 hours)

VS

ED Volunteer
10-Present (56 hours)

 

[emlibrary]

It is certainly acceptable to list an activity "to present" that has a start date that is prior to the start of college.

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Anecdotaly, on SDN I have heard that Adcoms (like yourself) see something like volunteering (in my case for 7 years continuously) for a long time as dedication and a big positive - Can you comment on this? Would this be a strong aspect of my application?

 

[alwaysaangel]

Some adcom members may look down on an application that has HS volunteering and nothing more recent but there is nothing in the AMCAS instructions prohibiting inclusion of experiences prior to college.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/131750/data/2011amcasinstructions.pdf.pdf

experiences section begins on page 54. Please correct me if I'm wrong and cite the page number as I haven't time to read the entire document today.

No you're right. I don't see it.

I can't get into AMCAS anymore to see if its still on the application itself, but years ago when I applied right at the top of where you filled out the activities section it stated "Include only post-secondary education experiences." Or it was titled that. I remember because that was the first time I'd heard of after high school being referred to as "post-secondary". Maybe they have removed it in recent years or its just not in the instructions.

EDIT: A quick search of SDN: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/gts...t8&cof=FORID:9&q="Post-secondary+experiences"

Looks like most of the threads asking about the activities section were titled "Post-secondary Activities Questions" from 2000 until about 2006. Thats what I remember the section being titled when I applied, looks like they've changed it since then. I guess since including HS stuff is no longer a failure to follow instructions you could include it. But I would strongly stress that quality>quantity and applicants should be careful about what they choose to include from HS.

 

[LizzyM]

So in effect, by listing it this way I would be able to include the 100+ hours of ED volunteering from high school? So the first way is how it should be done with my current stats?

ED Volunteer
08-Present (228 hours)

VS

ED Volunteer
10-Present (56 hours)

The appliction asks average hours per week during the time frame, not total hours.

So if it were 7/08-present where your submission date is 6/11 you have 228 hours over 36 mos. 36 mos = 106 weeks so you'd say 2 hours per week from 7/08 to present.

If you had volunteered from 12/10 to present (6/11) you have 7 mos of volunteering equaling ~28 weeks, which is again 2 hours per week.

I'd rather see an average of 2 hours per week for 3 yrs than 2 hrs/wk for 7 mos.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Anecdotaly, on SDN I have heard that Adcoms (like yourself) see something like volunteering (in my case for 7 years continuously) for a long time as dedication and a big positive - Can you comment on this? Would this be a strong aspect of my application?

It would show a long-term commitment to volunteerism and that is a plus.