Adding recently started activities in AMCAS application?

[derrick rose]

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I am going to start on a research project and shadowing a doctor next week. It may not be very valuable to put these on my application since I will have barely started them by the time of submission.

However, I am lacking on both research and shadowing in my application compared to other types of activities. With that being said, would it be beneficial to then put these ECs down on the application? If so, what should I write about them since I have no clear idea as to what sorts of experiences they will produce for myself?

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I was in a similar situation. I started a summer research program the same summer I was applying, and wanted to put it in my AMCAS cause it was pretty substantial.

I just said "Summer research, I will be starting so and so project, and will be working on it from x-date to approximately y-date. The program entails I work in x-field, researching-y, at z-university and I expect to complete a "insert poster or paper or talk or anything you know you will get when you are done" by the end of it"

In the end, I don't know if it carried any weight, or how it was viewed by the adcoms. I don't remember many people asking me about it on the interviews. But the above is how I approached it on my app.

You could potentially talk about it in a secondary (if the prompt is relevant to it), or on an update letter too. At that point you might have more to say about your project.

-2 cents

 

[Jepstein30]

I wouldn't put it in my application unless I was really bare bones with ECs.

But when you fill out secondaries, many of them will ask about your summer plans (or for any additional information) and I would include it there.

End of the day, things fall through and you'd look very foolish if that happens. Also going to be hard to really make them sound substantial and legitimate.

 

[pd1112]

How much of a commitment is it? Is it going to be a full-time gig for several months? If so, this might be controversial, but I would consider waiting a couple months to submit your application. I think it is overkill to submit AMCAS on the first day possible, particularly if there is something significant in an area in which you are lacking that you could add to your application. I was in a similar situation with a different EC category, held off on submitting my application until the middle of September, and ended up having several significant experiences that I added to my activities section and PS. If I was doing it again, I might not have waited THAT long, but you get the idea. I don't think it makes too much of a difference to submit in August vs. June or July, depending on your stats, demographics & schools you're applying to. There were some other particulars about my situation that might be different from yours, but feel free to PM if you want more details.

 

[FFH]

The W&A session is more about what you've learned from the experiences and how those experiences have shaped you as a person and have had impact on your goal to practice medicine. Most of the experiences themselves mostly are pretty salt and pepper: everyone will have pretty much the same stuff. If you can't say why the experience matter to you and to your application in particular either because you didn't learn much or because you actually just started doing it, it won't add to your application.

However, if
1. (as @Jepstein30 has said) your EC is lacking, then use it. It shows at least you made some efforts to make up for what's lacking.
2. that experience is highly sought after, by getting it already makes you special. Such as landing a job like the POTUS, or being selected to go to Mars. Okay fine, maybe not like that, but you get the gist.

Anything you wrote should search one purpose: to make yourself a better candidate in the eyes of the adcom by giving a more vivid picture of yourself and by giving a more compelling explanation of your logical progression. Listing a basic research experience that you haven't even gotten anything out of it might risk yourself to be viewed as a little bit desperate and lacking in judgment. But if you are not applying to top tier schools, then they might not be so picky after all.

 

[derrick rose]

I was in a similar situation. I started a summer research program the same summer I was applying, and wanted to put it in my AMCAS cause it was pretty substantial.

I just said "Summer research, I will be starting so and so project, and will be working on it from x-date to approximately y-date. The program entails I work in x-field, researching-y, at z-university and I expect to complete a "insert poster or paper or talk or anything you know you will get when you are done" by the end of it"

In the end, I don't know if it carried any weight, or how it was viewed by the adcoms. I don't remember many people asking me about it on the interviews. But the above is how I approached it on my app.

You could potentially talk about it in a secondary (if the prompt is relevant to it), or on an update letter too. At that point you might have more to say about your project.

-2 cents

Thanks that really helps!

I wouldn't put it in my application unless I was really bare bones with ECs.

But when you fill out secondaries, many of them will ask about your summer plans (or for any additional information) and I would include it there.

End of the day, things fall through and you'd look very foolish if that happens. Also going to be hard to really make them sound substantial and legitimate.

Maybe the research experience? It will be a directed studies for credit, which I believe is fairly substantial.

How much of a commitment is it? Is it going to be a full-time gig for several months? If so, this might be controversial, but I would consider waiting a couple months to submit your application. I think it is overkill to submit AMCAS on the first day possible, particularly if there is something significant in an area in which you are lacking that you could add to your application. I was in a similar situation with a different EC category, held off on submitting my application until the middle of September, and ended up having several significant experiences that I added to my activities section and PS. If I was doing it again, I might not have waited THAT long, but you get the idea. I don't think it makes too much of a difference to submit in August vs. June or July, depending on your stats, demographics & schools you're applying to. There were some other particulars about my situation that might be different from yours, but feel free to PM if you want more details.

I have heard otherwise on these forums and from ADCOM? From what I hear, it makes a world of a difference to apply in June compared to, lets say, August.

 

[FFH]

I have heard otherwise on these forums and from ADCOM? From what I hear, it makes a world of a difference to apply in June compared to, lets say, August.

It depends on the schools of your choice. If you are strongly considering some of the super fast movings schools such as UMich, UPitt, UChicago, then if you submit in Aug, there a lot less than half of the interview spots left by the time the adcom move over to your file. In some of these schools, early interview=better chance.
If you are applying to slow moving, non-rolling schools, then submitting in Aug won't make that big of a difference.

However, chances are, most people have a mixture of both types. So early submission is still the best bet. The advantage of having a top 10 acceptance as early as the eve of Oct 15th can't be overstated.

 

[Jepstein30]

Maybe the research experience? It will be a directed studies for credit, which I believe is fairly substantial.

First, apply early. There's really no reason not to in your case. By the time the initial screens are done and everything is in line to get interview invites, you will have ample opportunities to update ADCOMs on your summer activities (with actual results, hopefully). Sure, some schools don't accept updates but those are rare.

Second, I didn't say the experience was not substantial.. I said it would be hard to really write about it and show it off given you haven't started it yet. ADCOMs want to see how your ECs shaped you as a person and propelled you to medicine.. can't do that here when you have to be vague or talk in the future tense.

As for including it or not, I really would advise against it. There's nothing worse than having something down on paper, showing up at an interview, being asked about it and having to fumble your way through an answer (or just outright admit it didn't work out). It'll make you look foolish. You'll still look like you're reaching by including something that has only just started, at best.

Almost every school I applied to asked about my summer plans in secondaries. Include it there. Many schools asked about research experience in secondaries. Include it there.

I don't think there's anything so significant about having it on your AMCAS application that it would make sense not to wait for secondaries. This would also give you time to get more experience on the job.. meaning you'll be able to expand more on the opportunity and talk about your experiences (rather than the vague details about the project).

If it's for credit, you can possibly include it on your AMCAS application as credits in progress. It won't go unnoticed if you don't put it on your activities but have it in other places in your application.

 

[cbk]

I'd include it since you can use future dates. On top of your expected duties, and I would possibly add what you expect to contribute and gain through the experience. In my view the worst that can happen is they overlook it.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Moving to Pre-allo

 

[resiroth]

In my opinion future activities are fine as long as it is a "program". Don't say "oh I'll be volunteering at X" but if you say I will be doing a summer research program at school X" that is worth putting.

I would put the shadowing either as an addition to your current shadowing, or as an added bit on the summer research thing. It doesn't warrant an activity slot.

I didn't have close to 15 and still received 5-10 interviews and 2-4 acceptances. You'll be fine.

 

[pd1112]

I have heard otherwise on these forums and from ADCOM? From what I hear, it makes a world of a difference to apply in June compared to, lets say, August.

Like I said, it depends on your demographics, stats, where you're applying & the rest of your app. I was giving you an example of how much you might improve your application by waiting. Take a critical look at yourself and your application. If you're marginal and/or applying to top tiers and don't include it, you won't be near the top of the stack anyway and you'll still be marginal when they revisit your app after the first round of IIs. If you're marginal and wait to submit, you might be able to add something significant to stand out from the rest of the pool at that time. IMO listing future activities & listing recent brief activities go in the same category as secondaries & sending an update later on in the cycle - all four are very unlikely to contribute to the success of your application. The exceptions would be secondaries from schools that you have a significant connection to (geographical, family works for/went there, etc) and post-defer/waitlist updates (rarely).
Stats/demographics > substantial activities > PS > interview >>>>>>>> secondary >>>>>>>>>>>>>> update.

Despite the thousands of neurotic posts on this website, outside of top applicants and top tier schools, maybe 10% of applicants gets interviewed and accepted before November. N=1, but I applied in September, sent in secondaries by the end of September, received interview & acceptance in December, and then received several more interviews from January-March. Most schools have to wait for applicants that they think would be likely to attend if accepted; they aren't going to waste their time in August-October interviewing applicants destined for top tier schools. Consider the schools to which you're applying and find out their timelines for secondaries, interviews and acceptances. Add that to an objective review of your application and decide if you can add substantial weight to your application by waiting to submit for a few months.