Do you put hours for your hobbies in the Work/Activities section?

[futuredoc212]

I bike as a hobby, but have no idea how many exact hours I have. Can I just estimate it- it might be way off because the time I spent per week varies (due to weather, school etc)
Thanks

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[907914]

I bike as a hobby, but have no idea how many exact hours I have. Can I just estimate it- it might be way off because the time I spent per week varies (due to weather, school etc)
Thanks

I guessed. Something 5000 hours over the last 10 years or some such. It really doesn’t matter as much.

 

[Catalystik]

I bike as a hobby, but have no idea how many exact hours I have. Can I just estimate it- it might be way off because the time I spent per week varies (due to weather, school etc)
Thanks

You can enter a zero, 9999, or a good faith estimate.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

On the hobbies I’d only been doing for a couple years, I made a good faith estimate. For the ones I had been doing for a long time, I just maxed it out at 9999.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

You can enter a zero, 9999, or a good faith estimate.

In regard to our hobbies; if we performed exceptionally well in two major competitive tournaments (top 20 in State Championships) back in high school.... would it add any value if it's included in the hobbies section (keeping in mind we continued that hobby as a recreation/ stress relief in college).

 

[907914]

In regard to our hobbies; if we performed exceptionally well in two major competitive tournaments (top 20 in State Championships) back in high school.... would it add any value if it's included in the hobbies section (keeping in mind we continued that hobby as a recreation/ stress relief in college).

If you continued it fairly extensively in college, mentioning (not writing a lot about but stating the past experience) can be beneficial and highlight your dedication and commitment, or interest at the very least.

By mention I mean like:

“Wrestling - 9000 hours; January 2006 - June 2020; contact Coach Whiffle ball 509-555-5555

After wrestling for all of elementary, middle, and high school, winning two state championships along the way, I continued to wrestle for club sports at XYZ university.”

 

[Catalystik]

In regard to our hobbies; if we performed exceptionally well in two major competitive tournaments (top 20 in State Championships) back in high school.... would it add any value if it's included in the hobbies section (keeping in mind we continued that hobby as a recreation/ stress relief in college).

The value added is rounding out a better idea of who you are as a person to the adcomm. I agree with the narrative example given above by @Mr. Dr. Prof. Patrick , but I'd also want to know more exactly what your college involvement was. You could do this by using the Repeated feature, breaking the timeframes down into childhood, HS, and college date spans with their individual hourly estimates. If you've wrestled twice in all of college, then don't bother.

And Hobbies don't require a Contact, BTW.

 

[LizzyM]

Even if you play only informally (pick-up games at the gym rather than a club sport), it is legit to list a hobby that you continue to enjoy but not at the level of involvement you had in the past.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Even if you play only informally (pick-up games at the gym rather than a club sport), it is legit to list a hobby that you continue to enjoy but not at the level of involvement you had in the past.

I have a two part question:

1.So say we have around 1000 hours of clinical, 900 hours of community service and around 600 hours of research with a publication, a poster and an oral presentation at a national conference. Would you view these hours favorably Or is it kind of commonplace for applicants to have these many clinical and community service hours ( obv I’m sure some people have crazy high research hours)?

2. What are your thoughts on including hobbies as a single space on AMCAS? I have friends who view it as a waste of a space and others who says this is precisely what will allow you to diversify your self from so many similar things most premeds do.

Thanks!

 

[bluepeony]

I have a two part question:

1.So say we have around 1000 hours of clinical, 900 hours of community service and around 600 hours of research with a publication, a poster and an oral presentation at a national conference. Would you view these hours favorably Or is it kind of commonplace for applicants to have these many clinical and community service hours ( obv I’m sure some people have crazy high research hours)?

2. What are your thoughts on including hobbies as a single space on AMCAS? I have friends who view it as a waste of a space and others who says this is precisely what will allow you to diversify your self from so many similar things most premeds do.

Thanks!

1) Yes, those are good hours. The norm is to have 150 clinical and 150 clinical so you have above average hours. But whats more important than the numerical value is ultimately how you articulate about the experience in both your apps and interviews. Quality>quantity.

2) Yes, you can and should write about your hobbies if you have space in your primary app. It gives adcoms a fuller picture of you aside from the typical premed ECs on your app.

 

[LizzyM]

Dedicating one slot (or even up to three slots) to activities that are not related to medicine such as athletics, artistic endeavors, hobbies/advocations provides the opportunity to differentiate yourself and what makes you distinctive outside of your pre-med activities.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Hey @LizzyM @Catalystik @gonnif

Say for a particular activity we have around 50 hours by the time June comes around and we are getting ready to submit our primary. In the scenario that we are committed to two future events for that same activity that'll take place in September and November of that same year would it be a big deal if we just group these hours in the total hours section rather than in the "future projected hours?"

I know faculty don't care much about the projected hours that's why in this case since I am basically committed to taking part in the two events can i just include these hours as part of my total.

Thanks.

 

[Catalystik]

Hey @LizzyM @Catalystik @gonnif

Say for a particular activity we have around 50 hours by the time June comes around and we are getting ready to submit our primary. In the scenario that we are committed to two future events for that same activity that'll take place in September and November of that same year would it be a big deal if we just group these hours in the total hours section rather than in the "future projected hours?"

I know faculty don't care much about the projected hours that's why in this case since I am basically committed to taking part in the two events can i just include these hours as part of my total.

Thanks.

In what category is the activity? Is it a Hobby, as the thread title suggests?
How many more hours would those two future events add to your 50?
What if you have an injury, illness, or family situation that keeps you from participating?

 

[shemer77]

Best guess but including as many hobbies as possible would be the most important

 

[LizzyM]

Say for a particular activity we have around 50 hours by the time June comes around and we are getting ready to submit our primary. In the scenario that we are committed to two future events for that same activity that'll take place in September and November of that same year would it be a big deal if we just group these hours in the total hours section rather than in the "future projected hours?"

I know faculty don't care much about the projected hours that's why in this case since I am basically committed to taking part in the two events can i just include these hours as part of my total.

Thanks.

AMCAS allows for past and future activity hours reported separately. Do that. To do otherwise would be less than completely honest.