Combining past and future hours versus separating them on AMCAS activities

[starspells]

Hello,

I was hoping to get your all's opinion on this. On AMCAS it seems like one can combine past and future hours for an activity (example: homeless shelter volunteering 9/2014-8/2017 300 hours).

Or you can say you volunteered at the homeless shelter for 200 hours up until submission and that from 6/2016-8/2017 you plan on doing 100 hours.

I'm kind of conflicted on what approach to take because I have heard adcoms don't give much weight to future hours or future plans.

I'm aware quality over quantity is more important but the reality is that many schools have very strict non clinical and clinical expectations when it comes to total hours (Colorado, Rush -_-, etc.)

I don't want to disadvantage myself by separating completed and future hours so I'm not sure which approach to take. I imagine not meeting certain schools minimum expectations would be a severe disadvantage (aka rejection).

If anyone has experience with either of these approaches please feel free to share because I am not sure which one would be best.

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[ChrisMack390]

I don't think it matters. My plan is to list hours I've already done and then note in the text fields which ones I plan to continue through the app cycle.

 

[starspells]

I have that strategy works too. I'm more concerned about meeting schools requirements. For example, I likely would not meet Rush's nonclinical service requirement if I separated my hours (assuming they only "count" hours completed up until submission) but I do think I would meet their requirement if I were to combine the hours (past+future). So I'm kind of conflicted on what to do.

 

[Moko]

I have that strategy works too. I'm more concerned about meeting schools requirements. For example, I likely would not meet Rush's nonclinical service requirement if I separated my hours (assuming they only "count" hours completed up until submission) but I do think I would meet their requirement if I were to combine the hours (past+future). So I'm kind of conflicted on what to do.

If you're relying on these future hours to meet their minimum requirements (essentially "Service IOUs"), chances are that you aren't competitive for them either way.. Schools know that 'future events' can and often will change and fall through, so they won't put much stock in it. I would list the hours that you have already done and then separately in text write that you plan to continue this activity. The last thing you want is for adcoms to think that you're pulling a fast one on them or that most of your hours are 'planned' for the future. JMT

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

AMCAS allows you to put in multiple instances of hours for the same activity. I worked, and planned to continue working.

Put in 2-2014 - 6-2015 in the first instance
Then 7-2015 - 6-2016 in the second instance.

This shows what you have completed, and what you plan to do in the future. The is how AMCAS instructions tell you to do it. I also planned on continuing my volunteer work, but had to stop when I was promoted to chief scribe, and my hours were no longer set (basically on call 24/7)

There is nothing wrong with planning on continuing an activity. You just can't put in future plans if you have not started them. Secondary essays are also places where you can talk about your current activities and if there are any changes, but put it on the AMCAS if you do indeed plan on continuing.

 

[starspells]

Sorry to be this person but @Catalystik @LizzyM do you have a preference for either one of these approaches or any advice for this section? Thank you in advance.

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik @LizzyM do you have a preference for either one of these approaches or any advice for this section?

It is my strong suggestion that you separate out completed vs future hours. To include the hours of a future activity that you are already engaged in, and keeping in mind that you won't be judged by future plans that could fall through, you can consider these options:

1) Use the Repeated feature to separate the Completed vs Future hours. This works if May or June 2016 is both your End Date for the Completed Hours and your Start Date for the future hours (you won't be permitted to enter and save a future start date that hasn't happened yet). Put the appropriate total in each Total Hours box. If you are graduating May 2017 and leaving campus, that is a reasonable end date to enter if you are sure you will stay involved with the activity for a year. August 2017 is the latest date possible to enter. Include a conservative, in-good-faith guess on future hours for the second Total Hours box. This approach is slightly different from that suggested by Rainbow Zebra.

**Note that on June 1 you'll be able to enter June 2016 as the End Date for date range #1 and Start Date for date range #2

2) Or, only list the Completed Hours in the Total Hours box using the true Start and End (or current) months, then in the narrative box state that you plan to continue this activity from June 2016-May 2017 with a probable additional 200 (or whatever) hours, as Moko suggested.

3) Or, do the same as in #2, but don't state anticipated Future hours, especially if there is any possibility they might not be completed. Just make a statement that you intend to continue with the activity for another X months.


Later, in Secondary essays and Update Letters (where appropriate), you can let schools know the status of ongoing activities.

 

[starspells]

It is my strong suggestion that you separate out completed vs future hours. To include the hours of a future activity that you are already engaged in, and keeping in mind that you won't be judged by future plans that could fall through, you can consider these options:

1) Use the Repeated feature to separate the Completed vs Future hours. This works if May or June 2016 is both your End Date for the Completed Hours and your Start Date for the future hours (you won't be permitted to enter and save a future start date that hasn't happened yet). Put the appropriate total in each Total Hours box. If you are graduating May 2017 and leaving campus, that is a reasonable end date to enter if you are sure you will stay involved with the activity for a year. August 2017 is the latest date possible to enter. Include a conservative, in-good-faith guess on future hours for the second Total Hours box. This approach is slightly different from that suggested by Rainbow Zebra.

**Note that on June 1 you'll be able to enter June 2016 as the End Date for date range #1 and Start Date for date range #2

2) Or, only list the Completed Hours in the Total Hours box using the true Start and End (or current) months, then in the narrative box state that you plan to continue this activity from June 2016-May 2017 with a probable additional 200 (or whatever) hours, as Moko suggested.

3) Or, do the same as in #2, but don't state anticipated Future hours, especially if there is any possibility they might not be completed. Just make a statement that you intend to continue with the activity for another X months.


Later, in Secondary essays and Update Letters (where appropriate), you can let schools know the status of ongoing activities.

Thank you so much for the detailed response @Catalystik! I'll definitely be sure to then separate the hours if that is what will appeal to most schools. I guess I was wondering if it would be beneficial to combine the hours so I could meet certain expectations for the schools that have a requisite number of hours for clinical experience or community service or whatever.

Would you recommend I not bother with the schools whose community service/clinical experience hours I don't meet by the time of submission? Even though I'd likely meet them by matriculation I understand they can't "count" on that. I'd rather not waste $$ if I would automatically be screened out.

Also why does AMCAS even allow this feature if people might just inflate their hours without any obligation to actually complete them (or only have completed 1/20th of the total hours they put by the time of submission)? 😕

 

[Catalystik]

1) Would you recommend I not bother with the schools whose community service/clinical experience hours I don't meet by the time of submission? Even though I'd likely meet them by matriculation I understand they can't "count" on that. I'd rather not waste $$ if I would automatically be screened out.

2) Also why does AMCAS even allow this feature if people might just inflate their hours without any obligation to actually complete them (or only have completed 1/20th of the total hours they put by the time of submission)? 😕

1) Save your application dollars for the many schools for which you are clearly qualified.

2) Maybe it's a test.