Do interviewers ever ask why you stopped doing an activity?

[mellie0]

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Hello everyone,

I've been involved in an EC for two years (sophomore and junior years), and I will no longer be doing it anymore. I plan on listing it as one of my most meaningful ones, as well. In all honesty, though, I want to take time off from it (and not do it at all during senior year) to focus on other stuff, such as my other EC's, tougher classes in my senior year, and most importantly, studying for the MCAT. It takes me about 20 hours/week, so it's a huge commitment.

My question is, will an interviewer ever ask me why I stopped (especially since it'll be "most meaningful")? Taking time off to study for the MCAT and handle tougher courses, although truthful, doesn't sound great. Although it's also a rational decision because GPA and MCAT trump an EC any day of the week, especially since I've been doing it for two years already.

Please let me know what you think! Are they prone to ask me why I stopped?

 

[DrHart]

Don't fret about it. Taking time away from a long commitment to focus on other things isn't unusual. Thats pretty much how life goes, actually. If you explicitly say, "take time off to study" and "GPA and MCAT trump an EC" during an interview, you might be perceived as a hoop jumper. But saying that your MCAT was coming up and you wanted to do well and had to change some priorities around, I don't think an interviewer would look down upon it. Some schools actually set time aside for students to study for Step 1.
Although to be honest, I don't think interviewers will be particularly "prone" to ask why you stopped.

 

[DokterMom]

Any way you could just cut back to 1-2 hours per week? Or every other week? That way, you could still be nominally involved and sound more sincere in your 'passion' for it. Explaining your pullback (if needed) based on the competing priorities makes sense --

 

[NickNaylor]

I never ask this question intentionally, though if it's an activity that seems interesting to me I may ask about the activity generally (and the applicant may then bring up why he/she quit).

I do think it would be somewhat odd to list as a "most meaningful" activity immediately after you stopped your involvement, but I wouldn't say it's a deal-breaker or anything like that.

 

[ndafife]

I struggle to understand how something could be a "most meaningful" activity if it could just be dropped abruptly

 

[Catalystik]

Hello everyone,

I've been involved in an EC for two years (sophomore and junior years), and I will no longer be doing it anymore. I plan on listing it as one of my most meaningful ones, as well. In all honesty, though, I want to take time off from it (and not do it at all during senior year) to focus on other stuff, such as my other EC's, tougher classes in my senior year, and most importantly, studying for the MCAT. It takes me about 20 hours/week, so it's a huge commitment.

My question is, will an interviewer ever ask me why I stopped (especially since it'll be "most meaningful")? Taking time off to study for the MCAT and handle tougher courses, although truthful, doesn't sound great. Although it's also a rational decision because GPA and MCAT trump an EC any day of the week, especially since I've been doing it for two years already.

Please let me know what you think! Are they prone to ask me why I stopped?

Yes, they could ask, but considering your already lengthy involvement, it's less likely. The reasons you gave here are a satisfactory response. I like the strategy @DokterMom gives, though.

 

[mellie0]

Any way you could just cut back to 1-2 hours per week? Or every other week? That way, you could still be nominally involved and sound more sincere in your 'passion' for it. Explaining your pullback (if needed) based on the competing priorities makes sense --

Thank you! No, unfortunately it's a part-time position, and you're either part of the team or not. I can't reduce my hours. It's a black or white kind of thing.

 

[mellie0]

I never ask this question intentionally, though if it's an activity that seems interesting to me I may ask about the activity generally (and the applicant may then bring up why he/she quit).

I do think it would be somewhat odd to list as a "most meaningful" activity immediately after you stopped your involvement, but I wouldn't say it's a deal-breaker or anything like that.

Well, activities never last forever, and I don't see how it would be required to continue doing an activity until the first day of medical school in order to list it as meaningful. It could be a year-long internship or something like that. I'm not quite understanding why you find it odd. I'm quitting now and applying a year from now though.

I guess this reply also alludes to what @ndafife said. I'm not understanding the arguments of you two.

 

[mellie0]

Yes, they could ask, but considering your already lengthy involvement, it's less likely. The reasons you gave here are a satisfactory response. I like the strategy @DokterMom gives, though.

Thank you!

 

[Lawpy]

Well, activities never last forever, and I don't see how it would be required to continue doing an activity until the first day of medical school in order to list it as meaningful. It could be a year-long internship or something like that. I'm not quite understanding why you find it odd. I'm quitting now and applying a year from now though.

I guess this reply also alludes to what @ndafife said. I'm not understanding the arguments of you two.

Most meaningful activities pertaining to on-campus usually end till graduation, which is why it's unusual in your case. Will it hurt you? No.