Do I need 15 experiences?

Started by Spades455
Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Spades455

Spades455

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
The AMCAS app has space for 15 experiences. Will I be at a disadvantage if I leave some of them blank? By the time I submit my application in June I will have only 9-10 experiences that are meaningful enough that I can write about.

How many are you putting down?
 
Don't worry about it. Its better to have 9-10 meaningful experiences than it is to have 15 clearly stretched out experiences.
 
The more the better but if you only have 9 and they are good then it's not a negative.
 
The only advice I've seen regarding this is that you should have at least 5-6 experiences listed on AMCAS. Beyond that is just icing on the cake (granted that it was actually meaningful and not just fluff).
 
I only filled in 10 experiences, and I got a bunch of interviews to service centered schools. I think quality matters than quantity in this case.
 
I can't say that I actually count the number of experiences listed in the application. I only really note how interesting and substantive the experiences that were listed are. In fact, it would likely be a negative if I saw someone just trying to fill up all 15 slots, but added really uninteresting or unimportant things.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
If they are meaningful to you, you have been doing them for a long time, and you can write about them in detail, then yes.
Remember.. Quality>>>Quantity.
I doubt the majority of applicants (other than people on sdn...) can say that they have 15 experiences that they could write about
 
When I applied I didn't know people actually out thingslike dean's list Or honor societies on there, but ppl do and you can add those if you like
 
Member954786 said:
When I applied I didn't know people actually out thingslike dean's list Or honor societies on there, but ppl do and you can add those if you like
Click to expand...
Personally I don't like to see dean's list on the app. I mean, if you are applying to medical school of course you made the dean's list! I can quickly deduce that by glancing at the previous page and checking your GPA. No need to take up a whole activity to say every quarter or semester you were in school.

One thing I would like to say is to make sure you use the 3 most meaningful even if you only have 10 ECs. I reviewed an application yesterday and it only had 2 most meaningful and the app could have benefited by further elaboration on a number of things. The space is there so make sure you use it however you need it!
 
I completely agree here, I also don't care to put dean's list . I'm just saying I know several ppl who did because they wanted to fill out there app more . I also know people who put that they applied for and were granted a grant and then elaborated on what for in the activities section.



BABSstudent said:
Personally I don't like to see dean's list on the app. I mean, if you are applying to medical school of course you made the dean's list! I can quickly deduce that by glancing at the previous page and checking your GPA. No need to take up a whole activity to say every quarter or semester you were in school.

One thing I would like to say is to make sure you use the 3 most meaningful even if you only have 10 ECs. I reviewed an application yesterday and it only had 2 most meaningful and the app could have benefited by further elaboration on a number of things. The space is there so make sure you use it however you need it!
Click to expand...
 
I don't see why you wouldn't include dean's list, but only in the context of having a general activity slot allocated to awards/honors. By itself I agree it's dumb.
 
BABSstudent said:
One thing I would like to say is to make sure you use the 3 most meaningful even if you only have 10 ECs. I reviewed an application yesterday and it only had 2 most meaningful and the app could have benefited by further elaboration on a number of things. The space is there so make sure you use it however you need it!
Click to expand...
Don't feel obliged to use every character space allowed in the Most Meaningful section. When you're done saying what needs to be said, then STOP. If your prose starts getting "fluffy" adcomms might start skimming and begin to miss important things.
 
I had put deans list and my Latin honors on my application, but only because my undergrad was heavily grade deflationary and I wanted to provide at least a little bit of context to my 'lower' GPA. Reading applications now and looking back I would agree that deans lists don't really add all that much unless they were based on a percentile cutoff.

Add it if you'd like, but drop it if you have more interesting things to talk about.


BABSstudent said:
Personally I don't like to see dean's list on the app. I mean, if you are applying to medical school of course you made the dean's list! I can quickly deduce that by glancing at the previous page and checking your GPA. No need to take up a whole activity to say every quarter or semester you were in school.

One thing I would like to say is to make sure you use the 3 most meaningful even if you only have 10 ECs. I reviewed an application yesterday and it only had 2 most meaningful and the app could have benefited by further elaboration on a number of things. The space is there so make sure you use it however you need it!
Click to expand...
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
darkjedi said:
I had put deans list and my Latin honors on my application, but only because my undergrad was heavily grade deflationary and I wanted to provide at least a little bit of context to my 'lower' GPA. Reading applications now and looking back I would agree that deans lists don't really add all that much unless they were based on a percentile cutoff.

Add it if you'd like, but drop it if you have more interesting things to talk about.
Click to expand...

Though I didn't include it because of space, it's nice to have a "catch-all" section for miscellaneous awards and such.
 
MangoPlant said:
What do you guys consider "activities"
Click to expand...
SN12357 said:
AMCAS provides a list of categories
Click to expand...
The Experience types available are:

Artistic Endeavors
Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer - Non Medical/Clinical
Conferences Attended
Extracurricular Activities
Hobbies
Honors/Award/Recognition
Intercollegiate Athletics
Leadership - Not Listed Elsewhere
Military Service
Other
Paid Employment - Medical/Clinical
Paid Employment - Non Medical/Clinical
Physician Shadowing/Clinical Observation
Presentations/Posters
Publications
Research/Lab
Teaching/Tutoring/Teaching Assistant
 
I wasn't going to put down Dean's List or Latin Honors since those are usually just a reflection of your GPA. I was planning on putting my inductions in to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Delta Pi (national Spanish honors society), though. How do ADCOMs view this? Is putting inductions into honors societies like these worth it or does it look like you're padding your experiences section if you do it? Anybody know?
 
hogfan12 said:
Could I put that I completed a marathon on this list?
Click to expand...
Sure you can. Though to me the big part is setting a hard goal, working towards achieving it and actually succeeding in your endeavor. The progress is just (if not more) impressive than the actual act. It shows hard work and dedication over many months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Do I need paid clinical experience and clinical volunteering?
Replies
8
Views
1K
TakotsuboOkazaki
TakotsuboOkazaki
M
Do I need to write an OIE?
Replies
4
Views
891
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
C
Other Impactful Experiences Essay -- Death in the Family
Replies
4
Views
592
wysdoc
wysdoc
palosantoenjoyer
I need help and guidance. What Should I Be Doing? [Ending my Freshman Year]
Replies
8
Views
723
Goro
Goro
R
What activities do I need/do I need more clinical volunteering?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12