ERAS question about experiences.

[oudoc08]

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On the "EXPERIENCE" section on ERAS, where you can select volunteer, work or research experience. Is that just during medical school or can it be prior?
For example, I was a volunteer firefighter 10 years ago. It was significant in that it heavily impacted my gateway into the medical field.

Also, I was a paramedic for several years prior to medical school. Does that go in there also?

Thanks!

 

[JunkintheTrunk]

good question, i was wondering the exact same thing!! 🙄

 

[gutonc]

Any relevant experience is worth putting on there. Nobody cares that you were captain of the intramural handball team your freshman year in college but if you worked as a volunteer FF or EMT or ER Tech or whatever (or paid...there's nothing bad about getting paid for your skillz) and that had a significant impact on your reasons for going into medicine then put it on your application. Honestly, nobody reads that crap anyway so as long as you don't blatantly lie (I was C. Everett Koop's volunteer advisor on tobacco during the second Reagan Administraion) it doesn't really matter what you put down there. If it's so important, weave it into your PS and make it matter.

 

[Bertelman]

I'd definitely throw in the firefighter biz, as well as the EMT. The firefighter stuff is a great story, even if it hadn't led to your decision to pursue medicine. It's something unique to discuss during an interview.

And you'd be surprised at the things some people do read. In my interviews I was questioned about some of my hobbies.

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

In the First Aid for the Match book, it says to only include your medical school experiences, but that's only one opinion. I plan to include relevant undergrad activities that relate to medicine or my specialty choice.

On a similar subject, I became EMT certified during my year off between undergrad and med school. I never got an EMT job, but I'm wondering if and where to include this on ERAS. Should I put it under education, even though it was only a one semester non-degree program? I don't want it to detract from my other educational achievements. Should I put it under experiences? Or should I leave it out since I never used the training I got?

 

[parvas24]

....it is better not to include other experiences like fire fighting ,cooking.. you may include such experiences in the Miscellaneous section and describe them if necessary in your personal statements ....if you have international experiences like electives it can be included in experience section .. do not confuse your program directors .... overall they look for medical experience ..

 

[HiddenTruth]

I have a question re: experiences. How much detail should we get into it with these under the description? Should I keep it minimal, like no more than a para, or...just a line or two?

Also, how many of these do we put. I did a lot of random volunteer stuff first and second year, should I include those? I know there is no set number of course, but on an average, what's the range (#) you guys suggest?

Thanks.

 

[ESPNdeportes]

I have a question re: experiences. How much detail should we get into it with these under the description? Should I keep it minimal, like no more than a para, or...just a line or two?

Also, how many of these do we put. I did a lot of random volunteer stuff first and second year, should I include those? I know there is no set number of course, but on an average, what's the range (#) you guys suggest?

Thanks.

I'm keeping it brief. PD's are gonna be reading many apps, and putting paragraph descriptions aren't gonna help. My descriptions are no longer than 2 lines, and most are one line.

My most meaningful activities are mentioned in my PS or I'll bring them up in the interview to expound on them.

Just remember its all about the interview. I talked to one former chief resident (this is for peds, FYI) who said they looked at 3rd year grades, board scores, and letters, and barely glanced at the CV and PS, just to make sure there wasn't anything alarming. Everyone I've talked to who has been on residency selection committees (again, for peds) have said its all about the interview.

 

[caffeine37]

I know people have discussed this but I was wondering if I could get a definitive answer...

#1: Is it better to talk about experiences from college? Or should it all be med school experiences?

#2: Is it better to write in bullets or paragraph form? Should I just describe the experience or also write how it was meaningful to me?

 

[Seville]

I was told to cover time off so it doesn't show that there are big gaps in my timeline from graduating college to going to medical school. I worked for a couple of years after undergrad so I put that in my work experience. I kept the descriptions really brief though.

 

[gostudy]

How does one classify D-I athletics on the experience section? The only options are work, volunteer, or research. Of these, volunteer seems appropriate as one is an amateur if they participate in the NCAA. But "volunteer" just doesn't correctly fit the experience.

 

[MagnetoInTx]

I put EVERYTHING I did from college on there. Depending on how involved I was, I put one line on some, a paragraph on others. You are all kind of scaring me, but oh well, it's sent. I doubt they would penalize someone for including stuff from college, especially if it was a leadership position or humanitarian in nature.

My adviser said to put everything on there. His reasoning was that even that summer job as a waiter shows that you can show up on time, be responsible, and work hard.

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

How does one classify D-I athletics on the experience section? The only options are work, volunteer, or research. Of these, volunteer seems appropriate as one is an amateur if they participate in the NCAA. But "volunteer" just doesn't correctly fit the experience.

You could hack the software and make an "Athletics" tab. I think you have to go with Volunteer, as it's definitely not work or research. Though you could probably get away with work in a pinch, I mean that's how you paid for college if you were on scholarship.

I included things from college, one of which was not medicine related but one of my attendings found it intriguing when writing my LoR so I kept it in there.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

How does one classify D-I athletics on the experience section? The only options are work, volunteer, or research. Of these, volunteer seems appropriate as one is an amateur if they participate in the NCAA. But "volunteer" just doesn't correctly fit the experience.

i wud put it in the other achievements section in the misc tab

 

[Emily2009]

If you have international elective, where should you put it?

-- medical education or experience?
-- if it should be put in experience, what kind of experience should it be (work vs. volunteer experience)?

Thanks!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It will already be listed on your transcript, and will likely be mentioned in your MSPE. If you'd like to have more space to discuss it (because you think it's important to your application) then you could list it as an experience or simply talk about it in your PS, but that would be optional.