Deans list on AMCAS

[serencavalier]

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Hi everyone,
Does anyone know where to mention the dean's list recognition in the AMCAS? Is it under the work/activities section? If so, how can I state that I recieved it more than once without adding each as a new activity?

Thanks!

 

[rlwebb]

I am not mentioning it on mine because I figure that good grades are already shown in the transcript and don't need to be reiterated.

 

[serencavalier]

yes but isnt that the whole point? to show that you excel by giving as many examples as possible?

 

[Pancho Villa]

if you add too much, adcomms might think you're just trying to fluff your application.

 

[LizzyM]

I am not mentioning it on mine because I figure that good grades are already shown in the transcript and don't need to be reiterated.

Good idea. To me it looks like padding. I can see the grades, I don't need to know that those grades do or don't get you on the dean's list. Frankly, if you aren't on the dean's list you may have no business applying to med school. Ergo, every strong applicant is on the dean's list and the dean's list is no longer a useful variable.

 

[deleted50541]

I included each semester/year I was on the Dean's List under the Honors/Awards/Recognitions listing for ECs.

Because there are likely differences in the cutoff for making the DL by school, I see no reason to exclude it from your application.

 

[coralfangs]

what about in-course or entrance scholarships?

 

[doublehh03]

if you're on it EVERY quarter/semester, include it. yea, lots of pre-med students are on it, but are they on it EVERY quarter/semester? it shows you have consistently done well and maintain your strong academic record without 1-2 bad quarter here and there

but if u have just a few, idk if u should add it.

 

[deleted50541]

Good idea. To me it looks like padding. I can see the grades, I don't need to know that those grades do or don't get you on the dean's list. Frankly, if you aren't on the dean's list you may have no business applying to med school. Ergo, every strong applicant is on the dean's list and the dean's list is no longer a useful variable.

I see your point, but I think that it may be a useful tool to evaluate what an individual school feels is a high degree of performance.

For example, a school with a rigorous academic program may have the cutoff set at 3.7. Where as, a school with a less intensive program may set the cutoff at 3.5.

But then we're getting into the issue of grade inflation and distributions, which would needlessly complicate your job on the adcom. 😉

 

[kupono3]

there's no point... just my opinion though

 

[coco11]

What about lumping in Dean's list with other academic honor socities/awards on the same one or two lines? That way it doesn't look like as much fluff, and you can save the space for more "important" activities/research/etc.

 

[Hassler]

nowhere

Agreed. There's no point in mentioning stuff that's already on your transcript. Adcoms can see your transcript. Don't waste those 15 precious EC's to repeat information you have elsewhere in your application. Mentioning Dean's List not only doesnt help, but may lead them to question whether you have done anything interesting outside the classroom.

 

[patch_o]

WOuld you guys put National Honor society on it? I know it was in High school, but it does show a history of hard work. So what would you guys do?

 

[Touchdown]

The only thing I put from high school was my Eagle Scout Award, dont add that much from high school, 2 years ago they actually prohibited it. The way med schools see it is that your high school achivements got you into college, and college will do the same thing for med school.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

WOuld you guys put National Honor society on it? I know it was in High school, but it does show a history of hard work. So what would you guys do?

Wasn't NHS a High School Thing? I vaguely remember being in the NHS in High School. I think I got a little sticker on my diploma or spomething.

I'd definitely leave that off.

 

[top]

Nothing from high school is the general rule, unless it's something really spectacular.

 

[Zuerst]

How about Eagle Scout as an EC?

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Good idea. To me it looks like padding. I can see the grades, I don't need to know that those grades do or don't get you on the dean's list. Frankly, if you aren't on the dean's list you may have no business applying to med school. Ergo, every strong applicant is on the dean's list and the dean's list is no longer a useful variable.

Hey LizzyM, glad I'm not the only who feels that way either. What's your opinion on Honor societies?

 

[Touchdown]

How about Eagle Scout as an EC?

I put it there, since I consider this pretty much my biggest accomplishment as a kid. And besides you are allways an Eagle, its just you started being one in high school.

I think that any accomplishment Im going to put on future job apps is acceptable for the AMCAS.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Being an Eagle Scout is a significant achievement... I'd put that on there if I were you.

 

[girlsporty]

Actually, I went to a "tier-one" undergrad college (i.e. I'm told it's very competetive by adcom members) and our dean's list was set at 3.3. This was an indicator of how strong our program was, not that students couldn't achieve. We were frequently told that if we received an A, we should be capable of completing an honors thesis in that subject. At the school where I completed my graduate work, undergraduate dean's list was a 3.6+ and an A meant you scored well on a curve, not that you knew your material very well.

Perhaps some of you have had different experiences?

 

[45408]

What's your opinion on Honor societies?

don't join all of them just to look good, because everybody gets invited to joing Mortar Board and Golden Key, but if you get asked to join Phi Beta Kappa, that's a pretty decent honor.

 

[LizzyM]

Phi Beta Kappa does impress some adcom members. The rest are less impressive unless you have become active in the organization, assumed a ledership postition, etc.

Funny thing about Eagle Scouts. One adcom member tells me she sees dozens (particularly from Utah) whereas I see a couple per year. Mentioning it could be a jumping off point at an interview of the project that qualified you for the Eagle Scout designation and your leadership of that project.

 

[rajastallion]

____

 

[FloridaRL]

no harm in including it in your EC's. lump it all in one place if too many.

 

[lookslikerain]

I didn't mention it because my GPA indicated that I had gotten it anyway and 98% of premeds get Dean's List. I listed awards that were more personal/significant to me.

 

[Zuerst]

How about Presidential Endowed Scholarships? Suppose to be the "highest level" of scholaship recognition at our university...

 

[swifty100850]

I know being on dean's list should be a given for every applicant, but there was a mandatory Pass/Fail semester I got on it which I guess looks good. Shows I didn't slack off when it didn't matter. Do you think I should mention it in this case?