Do you have to list a hobby for the AMCAS list

[Zumab]

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I am not sure if I will have enough room to list the activities Ive been involved in for the 15 things on the AMCAS app. Does one of them have to be a hobby of some sort (something non-academic/volunteering/award/research etc)?

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

You don't HAVE to. But I would. Or at least find some way to get your hobbies on your application. Shadowing, volunteering, research, etc. are important but medical schools also want to see who you are and what you're interested in outside of medicine. These things are probably more likely to make you stand out.

Without knowing specifically what your ECs are, it's hard to say what you could cut to make room for hobbies. But my gut response is that awards probably don't add much to your application unless they're very significant. Perhaps one of these could go in favor of something non-academic?

 

[WedgeDawg]

You can list whatever you want. If you really want to add something else, see if you have two separate activities that you can condense into one.

 

[Svenson]

I would recommend finding room for hobbies. They were brought up at 2/4 schools I've interviewed at so far. At one school I was accepted at, that is almost all we talked about for the entire interview, besides a few minutes discussing my research; it was great, because I had a lot in common with my interviewer and we really jelled. It seems like there's no guarantee having hobbies listed will help, but there is a chance they could.

 

[Zumab]

I would recommend finding room for hobbies. They were brought up at 2/4 schools I've interviewed at so far. At one school I was accepted at, that is almost all we talked about for the entire interview, besides a few minutes discussing my research; it was great, because I had a lot in common with my interviewer and we really jelled. It seems like there's no guarantee having hobbies listed will help, but there is a chance they could.

But does it have to be a formal experience? Like playing an instrument and performing at events, being in a band, or taking classes? Or can you just list something that you do in your spare time and enjoy doing?

 

[Cawolf]

I listed a hobby that I did for fun with no formal involvement. Worked fine for my interviews and it actually came up often.

 

[CowboyNiceguy]

My hobby (which isn't even that interesting) came up at all of my non-MMI interviews, so I would agree with the previous posters.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

You may also get a chance to write about your hobbies in secondaries but that will depend on the school. I had a couple of schools that directly asked about things you do for fun or how you balance school and personal life.

 

[Catalystik]

1) But does it have to be a formal experience? Like playing an instrument and performing at events, being in a band, or taking classes? 2) Or can you just list something that you do in your spare time and enjoy doing?

1) No. It can be something that no one knows about except you, and you can use yourself as the contact.

2) Yes. And recall there is another category called Artistic Endeavors, generally used when your leisure-time activity is something you share with a wider audience, like music, dance, writing, sculpture, painting, etc.

 

[Svenson]

But does it have to be a formal experience? Like playing an instrument and performing at events, being in a band, or taking classes? Or can you just list something that you do in your spare time and enjoy doing?

I literally just made a bulleted list and did not expand on what I listed. Looking back, maybe I should have talked a little about each hobby, but I figured if they cared about it they would ask.

 

[lalex]

Oh **** I don't think I have hobbies.😵

 

[Wolf3D]

Seconding the above. You do not HAVE to, but you can if you do have something you spend quite some time on and would like shown. When I interviewed students I loved asking about a hobby or artistic endeavor that they put down because it let me see the more interesting side of a person (I find asking about academics all the time quite boring). Just don't be the guy who, when I asked about his proclaimed "hobby," let his eyelids droop so low and spoke in such monotone that I thought I was asking Garfield about his hobbies..so definitely don't write something you don't actually care about is all

 

[terra330]

You don't have to, but I would find a way to mention them, especially if you have any atypical interests. My hobbies came up a decent bit during my interviews, including at the school I got accepted to. They seemed to be genuinely interested.