Does the most-meaningful activity have to have had the longest duration?

[gogogadget1499]

Hey guys,

I just had a quick question. Should the most meaningful activities be the ones that you spent the most time doing? Does it seem odd if it is not?

For instance for me, one of my clinical experiences was very meaningful for me but I only spent 80 hours doing it. The other two clinical experiences I did had significantly more hours, but were not so impactful. Is it okay if write about the clinical experience with the least amount of hours?

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[965978]

I don’t think there is anything wrong with that!

 

[907914]

No, they should be the ones that have had the greatest impact on you and you want to highlight/talk about the most. My second longest activity is like 3,000 hours, but I still have an 80 hour activity as most meaningful over it.

 

[gogogadget1499]

I don’t think there is anything wrong with that!

Thanks! I was just unsure of how it looks if the most meaningful isn't the one you did for the longest period of time.

 

[907914]

Thanks! I was just unsure of how it looks if the most meaningful isn't the one you did for the longest period of time.

It doesn’t matter at all. If you worked at McDonald’s full time for 6 years, would that be meaningful towards medicine?

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

Going to echo what other people have written — it’s fine to choose the 80 hour activity.

the activities you designate as most meaningful are strategic pieces of your application: they’re things you want to point adcoms toward. If this is an activity you want readers to notice/an activity about which you can write a compelling essay, then you are making a good call.

 

[gogogadget1499]

Going to echo what other people have written — it’s fine to choose the 80 hour activity.

the activities you designate as most meaningful are strategic pieces of your application: they’re things you want to point adcoms toward. If this is an activity you want readers to notice/an activity about which you can write a compelling essay, then you are making a good call.

Most definitely, I want to highlight it in both my activity list and a bit in my personal statement as well. I was not sure if I should choose another one which I had more hours or stick to this one.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

In case you’re not aware, you can designate up to three experiences as most meaningful. Your most meaningful experiences should be whatever experiences were most meaningful to you regardless of hours. It will be much more beneficial for you to write what is actually meaningful rather than just BS something because it has the most hours.