As much as i hate the fact that I have to weigh every life decision by how it will differentiate my application for ADCOMs, I still gotta ask: Do you guys think boxing is a stand-out activity? I fought for three years in high school, and I want to start training again if I have time. But I am only going to make time for it if it will help me out long term. What do you guys think? Any boxers have people ask about it in their interviews or anything like that?
Boxing as an EC
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Funny cuz Im actually dealing with this right now.
I've trained and fought competitively and I'll say two things. 1) I managed to get 4 interviews out of the 8 schools I applied to here in Texas. 2) Its been mentioned at every interview, usually in a somewhat negative light but so far I think my interviews have gone really well.
The thing is I explained it in my optional essay and really shed a positive experience on the whole training aspect. I also don't train anymore so that made the interviewers not focus so much on it being negative.
So in conclusion, I think its probably better to not include it. However no reason to stay away from it if you really enjoy it.
I've trained and fought competitively and I'll say two things. 1) I managed to get 4 interviews out of the 8 schools I applied to here in Texas. 2) Its been mentioned at every interview, usually in a somewhat negative light but so far I think my interviews have gone really well.
The thing is I explained it in my optional essay and really shed a positive experience on the whole training aspect. I also don't train anymore so that made the interviewers not focus so much on it being negative.
So in conclusion, I think its probably better to not include it. However no reason to stay away from it if you really enjoy it.
REALLY? I think it helps a person develop a mental toughness that is priceless when it comes to pursuing success in medicine or anything else. I am surprised it was viewed negatively. Apparently they weren't Rocky fans growing up lol idk.
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Boxing gets a bad rep among doctors, who I believe tried to outlaw it for its "immorality." Usually, those with no experience w/ the fight game (probably the majority of those in medicine) have little appreciation of its good qualities. They just associate it with human cockfighting, brain trauma, and the fact that it's, along with MMA, the only sport where competitors try to actively injure one another and where crowds cheer when someone gets hurt.
I could see how this could be viewed negatively....kinda like MMA fighting. While you see it as a vessel to build resilience and toughness, as well as a great form of exercise and stress relief, adcoms will probably already have a firm opinion about the sport, good or bad, which you probably won't be able to change. That, and the brain damage that is associated with such sports might make them think twice (not saying you have any).
On a side note, I listed Power Lifting as one of my most meaningful activities, and so far I've only gotten good responses in my interviews, and I think adcoms would have no reason to think poorly of extreme types of exercise. I'd say mention it, but you may want to spin doctor your responses to questions in your app and interviews such that it doesn't seem like you fight much, and accentuate the training and character-building aspects. I.E don't mention your W/L or anything having to do with the competition part of boxing.
On a side note, I listed Power Lifting as one of my most meaningful activities, and so far I've only gotten good responses in my interviews, and I think adcoms would have no reason to think poorly of extreme types of exercise. I'd say mention it, but you may want to spin doctor your responses to questions in your app and interviews such that it doesn't seem like you fight much, and accentuate the training and character-building aspects. I.E don't mention your W/L or anything having to do with the competition part of boxing.
A lot of clinical vignettes in anatomy will deal with boxing injuries. Pretty brutal.
Not saying that it will universally be seen as a negative, but I'm not surprised people don't get too excited about it either.
Ya that's probably true. I guess for me I differentiate between the sport, where you are dedicated to train very hard to achieve the skill and physical fitness to perform well, and fighting in a bar because you want to hurt somebody or validate how tough you are or something like that. I mean it goes both ways, but for me its a great sport and if you have done it you will realize the benefit. But this is the discussion I was looking for so keep it coming. Thanks for the replies.
I actually enjoy weight lifting even more than I like boxing, but I'm not a pro or anything so I dunno how to mention this on my app, even though it is my biggest hobby. Do you compete?
Definitely mention it as a hobby. You could even mention exercise, and loop in lifting, and boxing as forms of fitness. I do not compete because I was dumb as an undergrad and didn't think I'd have enough time to join the team. I hope I have enough time in med school to do so though (fingers-crossed, but not very optimistic 🙁) Turns out my school's team was excellent, and won championships, so I would have loved to train with them and take home some excellent workout regimens.
Pretty much, from what I've gathered from this whole application process, if you're passionate about it, mention it always. I focused on what I learned about myself and my capability to push myself to the limit, the value of exercise to mental/physical health and resilience, as well as the commitment and social/personal sacrifice it took to reach all of my goals.
Alright cool man. Thank you. I gotta see if my school has a powerlifting team. I'm starting one if not lol I wouldn't be the strongest guy but I got good form and I can powerclean with the best of them lol
power lifting is actually only 3 exercises - Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press. Powercleans are awesome, and fun, but not part of the competition 🙂.
I wish I knew better how to train for powerlifting competitively, otherwise I'd start a team. As good as I think my lifts are, I don't think they would really be too competitive in my weight class, so I'd probably be a crappy founder/captain anyway 🙂
If you don't mind my asking, what are your maxes? I haven't done much of any of these lifts since high school football haha but I am starting to get back into deadlifting
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I boxed competitively for several years in my late teens.
After thinking about it, I just couldn't imagine that more medical school adcoms would view it favorably over unfavorably.
I didn't mention it anywhere on my app.
During one of my first interviews a dude said that he "was a boxer" for his "fun fact" during the morning meeting.
The adcom sat there for a couple seconds with a blank look on face before saying, "uh, boxing... that's kind a dangerous and violent sport isn't it?"
Nothing else was said.
I am glad I made no mention of it.
After thinking about it, I just couldn't imagine that more medical school adcoms would view it favorably over unfavorably.
I didn't mention it anywhere on my app.
During one of my first interviews a dude said that he "was a boxer" for his "fun fact" during the morning meeting.
The adcom sat there for a couple seconds with a blank look on face before saying, "uh, boxing... that's kind a dangerous and violent sport isn't it?"
Nothing else was said.
I am glad I made no mention of it.
Err, I honestly don't know, and I've been sick the last few months (I don't want to go into specifics, but it's a scaryish disease, and a powerlifter's worst nightmare, but I just started treatment, so hopefully I can gain it all back ASAP), but I think my max before I got sick was probably in the neighborhood of 225/285/315 for bench/squat/deadlift and all of it was raw (i.e. without a weight belt or lifting suit). Worth mentioning that I am 5'5'' and was 160 before I got sick.
edit: in the rare event that ADCOMs actually do read this and actually figured out who I am, I do not have a blood-borne infectious disease!!!!!
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Ha yea bodyweight is important to consider. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't talking to Derek Poundstone or something in which case I would shut up about lifting haha hope you get well soon though. best of luck and Gods blessings.
Lol I don't get that. Boxing is a safer sport than football, and hockey, and if I remember correctly, even basketball, in terms of serious injuries per year. But oh well, thats the culture I guess.
and cheerleading.
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subdural hematoma is a hellava drug
Handing out subdural hematomas doesn't hurt at all.. my knuckles are a little sore tho hahaha jk
I also put powerlifting on my app and it get brought up in every interview so far (2). Mostly used to it to tie in how I was over weight and got into lifting and fell in love it with. Gotta show passion.
380/255/455 for me at 190lb
380/255/455 for me at 190lb
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One of my interviews was grilling me hard about brain damage, and I tried to explain to him that amateur boxing is a relatively safe sport.
It was actually quite uncomfortable to have to defend an EC, thats why I say you should avoid it. Like I said I think the only things that worked in my favor was that I don't box anymore and that my optional essay wrote about it in a very positive light.
If I were you, I would just say you train but don't spar or compete.
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It's interesting hearing about all these negative experiences with revealing boxing as an EC when I've gotten actual interest and positive feedback from revealing my black belt status to interviewers.
I mean, the one guy was dying to ask about what weapons experience I had and had a field day with questions about being a martial artist.
I mean, the one guy was dying to ask about what weapons experience I had and had a field day with questions about being a martial artist.
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I can easily see how "martial arts" has a different perception than "boxing".
For the average person's first thoughts:::
Martial arts:
Boxing:
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I can easily see how "martial arts" has a different perception than "boxing".
For the average person's first thoughts:::
Martial arts:
Boxing:
True. I guess it's a good thing most people don't know what we really do. 😛
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