i'm from a semi-low income family and try to help out when i can. however, my course wrk, volunteer wrk, research, & shadowing take up most of my time so i can't really commit to an actual job. i've been an extra for some short films since the pay is pretty good (relative to the time commitment) but i don't know if i should include this in the work experience section. will it just make me look stupid for putting it on a med app?
extra in films- include as work experience?
- Thread starter luuc
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Haha I haven't seen anyone post about this before. I'm in favor of adding somewhat unusual hooks to get your app noticed... How many hours/week (or per month) have you done it and what has the time span been?
haha yea i was searching for a similar post/thread but didn't find anything. i started about a yr and a half ago and the hrs are hard to say... some months 5hrs, some months none. i've also done other random gigs but those are even less consistent (like makeup artist for a show/performance, piano player for an event, etc.)
the hrs do start to add up, but the type of work is so varied and work hrs are so sporadic that i don't know if i should include it.
or should i just create an umbrella term/category? like "entertainment __x___"
the hrs do start to add up, but the type of work is so varied and work hrs are so sporadic that i don't know if i should include it.
or should i just create an umbrella term/category? like "entertainment __x___"
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I say the umbrella of entertainment might work.
I had some trouble with these kinds of activities as well. My problem was theater, though it was a bit easier to enumerate because I could just list the individual shows I was in and call it all acting experience.
You would probably be able to get away with the same sort of thing, though.
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One of my main EC's (and probably the one with the most time involved, because it was my main job in college) was my work as a fashion model. I know it's not the same thing as film extra work, but it's a similar industry. Some people told me not to list it because it could "look stupid," but I listed it because it allowed me to meet a lot of interesting/creative people and travel (etc. etc.). I think including it allowed me to stand out from other applicants and it is a fun life experience to talk about during interviews.
Make sure you include what you learned from the experience (e.g. meeting creative people, traveling, managing your "career", etc). If you are interested in the medical humanities you can also link these two if you want (I did). You may want to include that you will stop doing extra film work when you start medical school because you won't have enough time. I think one of my interviewers was concerned that I would continue modeling while in medical school, but I reassured him that I would stop before school starts.
A blanket "entertainment" category might be a good idea. Definitely include any other creative endeavors you participated in, I really think medical schools like seeing applicants with unique life experiences like yours.
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I think it's unique and interesting. You might list it under the provided designations of Employment or Artistic Endeavors.
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Unless it's an extra in an X-related film, put it in.
EIDT: Oh that sounded sooo wrong.
EIDT: Oh that sounded sooo wrong.
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It's unique and will stand out - so yes! Plus, if you had to do this during school to support yourself/family, mention that. It will help put your grades/experiences into context for the adcom.
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I would change Frazier's check list to:
Is this an activity that is significant and important to me, or is it just filler to make my resume look busier. If the former, fine. If the latter leave it out.
Is this an activity that is significant and important to me, or is it just filler to make my resume look busier. If the former, fine. If the latter leave it out.
well i'm not planning to include this just to pad my resume. it's not my life's passion, but i do find this line of work interesting and helpful in terms of developing certain skills. my grades aren't stellar so i think i'd be helpful to show them i've been busy doing various things and not just lazy.
@nuance: did you talk about this in a lot of your interviews?
@nuance: did you talk about this in a lot of your interviews?
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what skills did you find that it helped to develop?
Luuc,
I, too, have done extra work for additional income. I know how crazy it can be!
As far as what skills it helps develop; I think there are many.
--First of all, many extras do not find out about their work until the night before or morning-of (I'm talking 12AM for work at 7AM, or getting a call at 6AM to be on set by 8AM). Such crazy scheduling is, I'm sure, reminiscent of the crazy, unpredictable hours that healthcare professionals endure. It also forces you to be able to quickly respond, get ready, become alert/awake/prepared for work within a very small window.
--Additionally, the hours that extras work may be horrendous. Ex: a 5AM call time, that works until 7PM or later. It basically depends on when the producer/director decides he has had enough. Or, a 5PM start time, with a 7AM end time (overnight). I believe that being able to work and stay alert and focused under such conditions may prepare you for the highly demanding schedules of physicians.
--As an extra, you are required to follow every set of directions exactly. One mess-up, and you'll be publicly humiliated and sent home (aka with no pay). This reinforces the skills of staying alert, and following all directions given by authoritative figures.
Clearly, the acting field is not related to the medical field. But I do believe that you can translate these skills into any profession (if translated quite well)
Just my two cents 🙂
I, too, have done extra work for additional income. I know how crazy it can be!
As far as what skills it helps develop; I think there are many.
--First of all, many extras do not find out about their work until the night before or morning-of (I'm talking 12AM for work at 7AM, or getting a call at 6AM to be on set by 8AM). Such crazy scheduling is, I'm sure, reminiscent of the crazy, unpredictable hours that healthcare professionals endure. It also forces you to be able to quickly respond, get ready, become alert/awake/prepared for work within a very small window.
--Additionally, the hours that extras work may be horrendous. Ex: a 5AM call time, that works until 7PM or later. It basically depends on when the producer/director decides he has had enough. Or, a 5PM start time, with a 7AM end time (overnight). I believe that being able to work and stay alert and focused under such conditions may prepare you for the highly demanding schedules of physicians.
--As an extra, you are required to follow every set of directions exactly. One mess-up, and you'll be publicly humiliated and sent home (aka with no pay). This reinforces the skills of staying alert, and following all directions given by authoritative figures.
Clearly, the acting field is not related to the medical field. But I do believe that you can translate these skills into any profession (if translated quite well)
Just my two cents 🙂
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One of my interviewers at Keck spent ~ 5 minutes asking me questions about it. I couldn't tell if he was questioning my commitment to medicine, or if he was legitimately interested in my experience, or if he was just trying to see if I could handle a bunch of questions about an unconventional work experience. I think it was a combination of all three.
If you include it, be prepared for questions about the experience (e.g. what you learned, the names of any films or events you were involved in, why you decided to do it, etc) and make sure you give everything a positive spin.
See my and Erin23's previous posts. Being on the set of a movie is analogous to shadowing in a doctors office. Although he wasn't actually involved in producing the film, he was exposed to a creative industry/team of professionals. This environment was likely drastically different from anything a typical "pre-med" student normally encounters.
I'm also guessing that he had to audition for some of his work, and auditioning provides great public speaking practice and builds confidence when interacting with different types of people.
And, as I previously mentioned, any exposure to a creative field is beneficial if you are interested in medical humanities.
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@erin23 and nuance: thanks for your input!
i don't think i've committed as much time as the both of you since my experiences have been a mixture of entertainment work, not solely working as an extra... but i can definitely relate!
as for skills, i think you 2 pretty much covered it- time management, teamwork, patience (esp w/ retakes), social skills/networking, etc.
thanks for sharing your interview experiences, nuance.
i've had other somewhat serious experiences that i plan on including in my personal statement. i was expecting to get asked about those so it didn't they'd even care about my entertainment work. it's good to know though, so i can prep for a range of q's
haha i like that all 3 of us are from CA
i don't think i've committed as much time as the both of you since my experiences have been a mixture of entertainment work, not solely working as an extra... but i can definitely relate!
as for skills, i think you 2 pretty much covered it- time management, teamwork, patience (esp w/ retakes), social skills/networking, etc.
thanks for sharing your interview experiences, nuance.
i've had other somewhat serious experiences that i plan on including in my personal statement. i was expecting to get asked about those so it didn't they'd even care about my entertainment work. it's good to know though, so i can prep for a range of q's
haha i like that all 3 of us are from CA
