Do awards from academic competitions help with medical school admissions?

[Macromind101]

I was wondering if listing awards from academic competitions will be looked upon favorably on my AMCAS application. I know that awards definitely help for undergraduate admissions but since there aren't as many academic competitions in collegiate school, I wouldn't be surprised if only a handful of people have awards to list for AMCAS. Even for me, I have only three activities that I participate in where competition awards apply (Health Occupations Students of America, Chess Club and Piano). So yeah, I was wondering if I should dedicate my time for competitions. Don't get me wrong, I know that my GPA comes first and activities like research and volunteering are a must. So no need to point that out.

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[LizzyM]

I was wondering if listing awards from academic competitions will be looked upon favorably on my AMCAS application. I know that awards definitely help for undergraduate admissions but since there aren't as many academic competitions in collegiate school, I wouldn't be surprised if only a handful of people have awards to list for AMCAS. Even for me, I have only three activities that I participate in where competition awards apply (Health Occupations Students of America, Chess Club and Piano). So yeah, I was wondering if I should dedicate my time for competitions. Don't get me wrong, I know that my GPA comes first and activities like research and volunteering are a must. So no need to point that out.

Generally not impressive except, perhaps, being a Jeopardy contestant which is, I realize, not exactly the same thing.

A team competition in robotics or other engineering activities might be helpful in that it shows teamwork but the rest, not so much.

 

[justadream]

Generally not impressive except, perhaps, being a Jeopardy contestant which is, I realize, not exactly the same thing.

A team competition in robotics or other engineering activities might be helpful in that it shows teamwork but the rest, not so much.

Surely, being named a Putman fellow would be impressive (although I realize that is not what the OP has).

 

[The Buff OP]

Generally not impressive except, perhaps, being a Jeopardy contestant which is, I realize, not exactly the same thing.

A team competition in robotics or other engineering activities might be helpful in that it shows teamwork but the rest, not so much.

What about volunteering awards?

 

[LizzyM]

What about volunteering awards?

The point is volunteering, not being honored for volunteering. I look for volunteering. I tend to gloss over prizes and awards.

 

[The Buff OP]

The point is volunteering, not being honored for volunteering. I look for volunteering. I tend to gloss over prizes and awards.

Alrighty.

 

[RedPhys]

I imagine the award itself may not be much, but say, if the award is a full-paid trip to study abroad, and you get a good experience from your time abroad that came as a result of said competition, then yeah, I'd imagine they help with medical school admissions.

 

[senzen]

I wonder if it would almost hurt an applicant to mention an award like Who's Who...

 

[Macromind101]

What about volunteering awards?

I participate in the PVSA program and I volunteer enough to get the gold medal every year. I won't have enough hours to get the highest award (4000+ hours in your whole life) by the time I apply to med school (probably before residency apps, though) but I'm doing volunteering for the purpose of serving the community and helping others, not solely to get awards...

 

[The Buff OP]

I participate in the PVSA program and I volunteer enough to get the gold medal every year. I won't have enough hours to get the highest award (4000+ hours in your whole life) by the time I apply to med school (probably before residency apps, though) but I'm doing volunteering for the purpose of serving the community and helping others, not solely to get awards...

Me too, but if we get recognized it sucks that we can't put an award that not that many volunteers would get. In my point of view, getting an award it would show that you have passion for what you are volunteering in. At the EMS agency I volunteer at you would never know if you qualify for an award, it just happens. People have gotten awards for saving a life in a full arrest situation or volunteering more hours than it is required to do every month.