AMCAS: Is it bad to fill all 15 post sec. experiences?

[Amit1]

I can easily fill up all 15 spaces but I don't know if this would just bore or overwhelm the admissions committees. What do you guys think?

Here are some things I was thinking about leaving out:
Racquetball enthusiast (4 years, university club), Car Clubs (5 years and my biggest hobby), some shadowing experiences that only lasted for a couple weeks, etc etc . . .

I was looking at the print application thing and it already looks huge with just 8 experiences in there. Will it look cheesy with all 15 filled up?

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[tBw]

If something is a major component of who you are do not leave it out. If you genuinely have 15 experiences put them in. I think many people do use all 15, but many people are also just padding. ie they put things in that are either not significant or did not mean anything to them. How would you feel if in interview someone asked you about a specific expereince? Could you talk about it with them for 15 minutes, saying what you learnt, how it affected you, how it confirmed your committment to medicine or fulfilled some other life 'need'. I think a 5 year expereince no matter what it is fits this. The couple week long shadowing however could probably be grouped under 'multiple shadowing experience in a variety of settings - in/out patient, surgery, family practice/whatever' - as you could probably compare and contrast for 15 minutes, but you probably couldn't talk about them in depth for any length of time if they were one off things.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

If you have 15 significant experiences, put use 15 experiences. They don't have 15 slots so that you can put 12 at maximum. Good grief ...

 

[sinfin]

put all 15 ...the more you have to say the better the admissions committee gets to know you

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by Street Philosopher
I have a question... is it bad to get the maximum MCAT score? Or should I shoot for a happy median, let's say... 41?

The OP has a legimite question. More is not necessarily better. However, if you have a legimate hobby or other endeavour that makes you interesting. I put that I am a private pilot on mine without a real description. It was brought up in all of my interviews.

Just make sure that you cut out the fluff. If you have only 12 good ones, there is no reason to fill out all 15 just to make sure it is maxed out.

 

[peace_puff]

No. Use all 15. I used all 15 too, and I'm sure it just gives the committee more insight (if you can call it that).

 

[carrigallen]

i believe that more is not necessarily better.

(it's the space between the notes that gives them meaning. )

 

[Columbia22]

15??? where you getting that from, mine has space for 20 experiences....go figure

 

[Ekaltadeta]

Hell, we have had four years to do things with our lives and to discover ourselves in the process; hopefully there are more than 15 things to pick from. Remember that what may seem very commonplace and normal to us could be perceived as significant by others. Make a master list of everything and run it by someone who knows you and can help pick the activities and interests that crafted you as a person. You'd better find something original to include, since everyone and their mom is going to have the same old 6 week internship at the hospital.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Originally posted by Street Philosopher
I have a question... is it bad to get the maximum MCAT score? Or should I shoot for a happy median, let's say... 41?

 

[badgergirl]

you know, i only used 14 of mine, and consequently i got 8 rejections... maybe i should have maxed mine out? 😉 j/k - it's not like that. fill 'em up with whatever is really important to you (hobbies are great to talk about at interviews), and write some kick-a$$ descriptions! 😀

 

[sinfin]

How important are the descriptions of the activities? B/C i did not have a whole lot to say about some of the awards I received such as Dean's List, etc. SHould our descriptions be about our responsibilities?

 

[badgergirl]

Originally posted by sinfin
How important are the descriptions of the activities? B/C i did not have a whole lot to say about some of the awards I received such as Dean's List, etc. SHould our descriptions be about our responsibilities?

I would say they're pretty important, especially if it's something you were really involved in. There were a couple things that were pretty self-explanatory for me that I didn't feel needed a description (like Dean's List, although you could describe the requirements to get it if you wanted), so I didn't write anything. For most things, though, I would definitely write something. The descriptions give you more opportunities aside from your PS to let the adcom get to know you, as others have said, so use them!

 

[Doc Ivy]

Work the AMCAS!!! It's my patented strategy... don't you realize that those are precious extra characters to boost your personal statement...
Peace ~Doc