AMCAS contacts

[prolixity29]

I'm wondering if it's okay to list a co-worker as contact on AMCAS for the activities section. I'm a nontrad, and I did not get along with my boss at a previous job. I don't want him bad-mouthing me to the adcoms if I can help it. Will it look suspect to list a co-worker?

Plus, it's been 3.5 years since I left that job anyway.

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[Helen Wheels]

I'm wondering if it's okay to list a co-worker as contact on AMCAS for the activities section. I'm a nontrad, and I did not get along with my boss at a previous job. I don't want him bad-mouthing me to the adcoms if I can help it. Will it look suspect to list a co-worker?

Plus, it's been 3.5 years since I left that job anyway.

Honestly, I seriously doubt adcoms ever contact people on that section - they don't have the time. Rather than imply that your coworker was your supervisor on your application, I would just leave the contact name blank. This is not a big deal especially since it was 3.5 years ago. I had to leave contact names blank on my apps because I didn't even know if my old bosses still worked at that job and, in fact, one of the places I worked at was no longer in existence.

 

[prolixity29]

Honestly, I seriously doubt adcoms ever contact people on that section - they don't have the time. Rather than imply that your coworker was your supervisor on your application, I would just leave the contact name blank. This is not a big deal especially since it was 3.5 years ago. I had to leave contact names blank on my apps because I didn't even know if my old bosses still worked at that job and, in fact, one of the places I worked at was no longer in existence.

I totally would just leave it out, but I think that AMCAS has become stricter very recently. Submitting contact information is now a requirement for every activity. Has a little asterisk. This sounds like it wasn't the case a few years ago based on the old threads I searched for, which is why I created a new one.

I also wouldn't imply the co-worker was the supervisor. Technically the AMCAS field says "Contact" not "Supervisor." I would just be upfront and say it was my co-worker.

So if you had to choose, would it be the co-worker or your jerk of a boss?

 

[startingover84]

I would choose my co-worker, and if there is a space for the title of that person I would put their actual title (not "co-worker" but "Research Assistant" or whatever they were at the time).

I doubt it will ever come up in an interview, but be prepared to explain who the person is and why you listed them. Something like, "as my counterpart, they can speak honestly about my work ethic and commitment to the team." Whatever it is just make sure it's true.