Great tips for entering your "Work/Activities" for AMCAS

[booswim542]

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Members don't see this ad.

Maybe you should just try calling the hospital? That's all I can think of really. As for your college organizations - they may want to contact the current director to confirm the organization's existance/what they do. They may also have records of past membership, as I know many clubs have, via the historian. It's better than putting nothing as far as I'm concerned.

Don't go crazy, I know it's a lot, and that details are hard to deal with, but no matter what you do, as long as you do put your involvement, you will most likely be alright. Good luck!

 

[jsnuka]

Merging with previous thread.

 

[nancycy]

Hi,
I have been heavily involved in the research these years. So far I have 3 publications. Should I list them seperately or altogether? (I don't have many other activities to list.🙁) Thanks very much.

 

[007xx]

SailCrazy,

Your advice is greatly appreciated - thanks so much for sharing. I know have much more clarity concerning the relay of my experiences.

Like others (hopefully), you want to submit all of the endless activities and honors in which you were involved; however, what are you passionate and excited about communicating in your interview? I have learned that it's about listing experiences that will encourage the admissions committee to "bring it on!"

FYI, I have now deleted five activities after reading your advice. 🙂

Just a couple of questions for you:

1) Who do you list as a contact from a job or experience from over five years ago? What does AMCAS deem as acceptable?

2) What if you are a teacher and work for a very large district? In my opinion, listing "Human Resources" as a contact would suffice - what do you think?

3) I trained years ago, while I was in college, in the spring/summer months at a rural EMS site in the vicinity of my university. Following my training, I passed the state test and became certified as an EMT. I never practiced and time has passed since the expiration of my EMT license. I would never neglect this experience, so...SPECIFICALLY, how would I list this on the AMCAS app? I am not referring to the "Experience Description" section, but everything BEFORE this section.

I graciously appreciate any responses to my questions. I feel that an AMCAS application should be an honest and well-dimensional description of the applicant. Thus, I seek advice on how to most accurately describe myself and my life experiences.

Thanks!!!

 

[GeorgeFoster]

Why isn't this listed in the Pre-Allo Application stickies?

 

[gaki]

Hello, can anyone give me some advice on this?

I have about 2.5 years that I was doing freelance work of various kinds. Illustrations, animations, production assistant/preproduction research, one each of set construction, market research, and writing copy for an ad.
If I don't account for this work, it looks like I have been doing nothing for that time period, but the each work is diverse and a little short lived, because its project based. The only thing they all have in common is they came through connections with people in art and entertainment, so it's hard to fit and explain in one entry. However, each experience was so short, that breaking them up (even by of job, when I took the job just to get some money, in some cases) that I doubt they are worth individual entries separately.

I was thinking I might want to summarize the over all freelancing for art and entertainment business with half the space given, and then put on a few (maybe three?) token examples with one line descriptions.

A few people I have talked to suggested I list and date as many diverse examples I can into one entry, because it looks like im "well rounded."

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[gujuDoc]

Hello, can anyone give me some advice on this?

I have about 2.5 years that I was doing freelance work of various kinds. Illustrations, animations, production assistant/preproduction research, one each of set construction, market research, and writing copy for an ad.
If I don't account for this work, it looks like I have been doing nothing for that time period, but the each work is diverse and a little short lived, because its project based. The only thing they all have in common is they came through connections with people in art and entertainment, so it's hard to fit and explain in one entry. However, each experience was so short, that breaking them up (even by of job, when I took the job just to get some money, in some cases) that I doubt they are worth individual entries separately.

I was thinking I might want to summarize the over all freelancing for art and entertainment business with half the space given, and then put on a few (maybe three?) token examples with one line descriptions.
A few people I have talked to suggested I list and date as many diverse examples I can into one entry, because it looks like im "well rounded."

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I think what you suggested in the bolded will be fine. I think its better to describe the general connecting concept of passion for art and entertainment freelancing and just give a few examples as you suggested.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi,
I have been heavily involved in the research these years. So far I have 3 publications. Should I list them seperately or altogether? (I don't have many other activities to list.🙁) Thanks very much.

are they in the same lab or different labs?? If they are from the same lab list them together in my opinion. LizzyM can confirm what's best though.

If from different labs you can list it separately. Do you also have poster presentations or conferences you can list?? You can list those separately from publications. You can also list actual research/lab experience separately from publications and that will give a lot to talk about.

 

[gujuDoc]

SailCrazy,

Your advice is greatly appreciated - thanks so much for sharing. I know have much more clarity concerning the relay of my experiences.

Like others (hopefully), you want to submit all of the endless activities and honors in which you were involved; however, what are you passionate and excited about communicating in your interview? I have learned that it's about listing experiences that will encourage the admissions committee to "bring it on!"

FYI, I have now deleted five activities after reading your advice. 🙂

Just a couple of questions for you:

1) Who do you list as a contact from a job or experience from over five years ago? What does AMCAS deem as acceptable?

2) What if you are a teacher and work for a very large district? In my opinion, listing "Human Resources" as a contact would suffice - what do you think?

3) I trained years ago, while I was in college, in the spring/summer months at a rural EMS site in the vicinity of my university. Following my training, I passed the state test and became certified as an EMT. I never practiced and time has passed since the expiration of my EMT license. I would never neglect this experience, so...SPECIFICALLY, how would I list this on the AMCAS app? I am not referring to the "Experience Description" section, but everything BEFORE this section.

I graciously appreciate any responses to my questions. I feel that an AMCAS application should be an honest and well-dimensional description of the applicant. Thus, I seek advice on how to most accurately describe myself and my life experiences.

Thanks!!!

Ok I'm not answering this necessarily in order that the questions were presented.

Regarding question 3, I'd find a way to incorporate that into your PS and show them that you've been interested in medicine for a long time and that that was one of the experiences that influenced you.

In regards to the question about contact info for your teaching job, are you a substitute teacher or a permanent teacher at a particular school?? If it is the latter case maybe you can list the principal as your contact info for reference. If it is the former who do you most directly respond to? List that person if there is a higher up you are in contact with quite a bit.

In regards to question one, well I'd do your best there. If you don't still have the contact info, just put whoever is in charge now. I don't think they check these things much though. They only check when it looks fishy.

 

[gujuDoc]

I really appreciate your response, b/c I'm going crazy at this point. OK...

Concerning the hospital volunteering, there is no contact person on the website - I have been struggling w/ this kind of stuff all day.😱 That's why I truly want to ascertain, "What will AMCAS deem as being sufficient?"

Also, I just don't understand how putting the current advisor for an organization would supply AMCAS w/ info about my officer/member status from over five years ago?

Put the current volunteer coordinator's name and if its not on the website try to go there in person if it is not too far or call them if there is a volunteer office for the name of the person.

 

[anumama]

Could volunteering for a Crisis Hotline be considered a clincal volunteering experience?

 

[silverlining1]

Could volunteering for a Crisis Hotline be considered a clincal volunteering experience?

I would be inclined to say no - I would say that it is non-clinical volunteering. My opinion is that "clinical" more strictly refers to working with doctors or patients in a hospital or clinic. I do emphasize that this is my opinion, so maybe someone will disagree and be more sure.

 

[anumama]

Well the reason I say that is because a good chunk of our training consisted of learning all the symptoms/behaviors exhibited by people with different types of mental illnesses. The only thing is that there wasnt much focus on the treatments for the different illnesses.

 

[gaki]

Thank you very much!

I think what you suggested in the bolded will be fine. I think its better to describe the general connecting concept of passion for art and entertainment freelancing and just give a few examples as you suggested.

 

[5jabi]

I guess I have a somewhat generic question. Most of my ECs show that I am "work" oriented, rather than "fun" oriented.
For instance, I volunteered in youth camps, I shadowed, I volunteered with docs, I tutored, I was in the Dean's list, etc. These all show that I am willing to work hard and give myself to my community and such, but none of them show how I relax.
I like to watch TV, play chess, work on my car, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Should any of these be included in the ECs? These are mostly passtime activities, not too substantial and nothing that I have been awarded medals for....any advice? How do med schools know about your human side? Or am I the only one in this scenario?😱

 

[gujuDoc]

I guess I have a somewhat generic question. Most of my ECs show that I am "work" oriented, rather than "fun" oriented.
For instance, I volunteered in youth camps, I shadowed, I volunteered with docs, I tutored, I was in the Dean's list, etc. These all show that I am willing to work hard and give myself to my community and such, but none of them show how I relax.
I like to watch TV, play chess, work on my car, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Should any of these be included in the ECs? These are mostly passtime activities, not too substantial and nothing that I have been awarded medals for....any advice? How do med schools know about your human side? Or am I the only one in this scenario?😱

ECs should be more work/volunteer activities. The way to incorporate what you do for fun is either by the questions about that on your secondary essays or through incorporation into your personal statement.

I'd only list a hobby if it was something substantial that you've been doing a while. Like if you've been in some chess club or you've been participating in an intramural sports team or varsity sports team or playing an instrument or learning a dance for a long time etc.

 

[gujuDoc]

Well the reason I say that is because a good chunk of our training consisted of learning all the symptoms/behaviors exhibited by people with different types of mental illnesses. The only thing is that there wasnt much focus on the treatments for the different illnesses.

It might not officially be counted as clinical experience but when you talk about it you can relate it back to the idea of patient care and confidentiality and gaining trust of those in need of help and the things you encounter in medicine. I've always felt such things should be counted as clinical but some people say it doesn't count as that.

Maybe LizzyM can answer that one for you or perhaps REL.

 

[5jabi]

I have a question:
I am an Engineer. I am currently working towards a nationally recognized professional certification by going through training and passing the required exams, but my work is paying for this training, so can I still list it as one of my ECs?
A few previous posts in ths thread said that the ECs are supposed to be somewhat like a resume, so I would like to show that I currently working on this in addition to my work and volunteering and such. Would this be advisable? And if so, under what category might this be placed?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Moshe Rabbenu]

I know this thread is kind of old, but I didn't want to start a new one, and I didn't really see the answer to my question (also, a few other people had questions that didn't get answers, so maybe someone can answer them for future reference).

I am a writer for a science journal. Should I list my feature articles as publications, or should I just list in the description of the EC that I write articles that are published each month?

 

[gujuDoc]

I know this thread is kind of old, but I didn't want to start a new one, and I didn't really see the answer to my question (also, a few other people had questions that didn't get answers, so maybe someone can answer them for future reference).

I am a writer for a science journal. Should I list my feature articles as publications, or should I just list in the description of the EC that I write articles that are published each month?

If its many publications that ou can't list them all I'd just give a description. Some secondaries like UMiami's has space for you to further expand upon journalism activities.

 

[BearsDoc]

Hey LizzyM, I have a question regarding volunteer time:
I spend 2 hours a day commuting to a clinic, should I count this time, or I should only count the time at the clinic. Thank you!

 

[LizzyM]

Hey LizzyM, I have a question regarding volunteer time:
I spend 2 hours a day commuting to a clinic, should I count this time, or I should only count the time at the clinic. Thank you!

Only count the time in the clinic, not the time spent traveling. Find something to do during the commutes (listen to podcasts or do something else for enrichment) so it doesn't seem like wasted time.

 

[premed8844]

would you put mission trips that you did while you were in high school down? To show that you began caring for others/helping others at an earlier age, not just in college/or in prep for med school? or is this streching it?

 

[premed8844]

also, one more thing... if you don't fill all 15 spots, how do schools look at that? quality over quantity I suppose. Has anyone had any response from medical schools about this?

 

[LizzyM]

Stuff from HS: if it is that important to you, figure out a way to work it into your essay as a formative experience that led you toward medicine.

Listing the experiences: at least one member of "my" adcom will read every work. And that faculty member will be a little bit pissed if it looks like you were padding the application or listing a bunch of stuff into which you didn't invest much time & effort. Quality over quantity is good advice.

And one more bit of advice: unless you are listing your autonomic nervous system as a full time job, nothing you do requires 168 hours per week.

 

[premedinpa]

Hi! I have a question about grouping activities/work. I am involved with several honors socities and the honors program at my school should I just do one entry entitled [X Universitry] Honors and then list each honor society, deans list, awards, etc? I feel like that would be the most efficient way to do it but I wasn't sure thanks 🙂

 

[wizenedone]

LizzyM,

Is it fine to list the total number of volunteer hours in the description? For example, I volunteered in the ER in three stints (two short, one longer commitment). All of these were at same exact place. The first two short stints were 50 hours each and the longer stint was 1000 hours approximately. Should I add them up and list the total number of hours in the description field? AMCAS application asks for hours per week. I find that odd because not everyone puts in same exact number of hours each week. Some weeks I put in 15 hours a week and some weeks I put in 25+ hours a week. Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

not everyone puts in same exact number of hours each week. Some weeks I put in 15 hours a week and some weeks I put in 25+ hours a week. Thanks.

The adcom realizes that your schedule may vary from week to week. You should list the start and end dates of your activity. Next, count the number of weeks represented by that time period. Divide your total number of hours by the number of weeks to find the hours per week. You may provide some clarification in the narrative section for that activity stating that you worked xx hours per week during time period A and x hours per week during time periods B and C.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

Hi! I have a question about grouping activities/work. I am involved with several honors socities and the honors program at my school should I just do one entry entitled [X Universitry] Honors and then list each honor society, deans list, awards, etc? I feel like that would be the most efficient way to do it but I wasn't sure thanks 🙂

I'm no adcom, so I don't know, but that is what I did.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

How would you list hours/week if it is one or two weeks a year, but you do it for multiple years?

 

[wizenedone]

How would you list hours/week if it is one or two weeks a year, but you do it for multiple years?

I guess just leave the "hours per week" blank and just put in the hours in the description.

 

[BearsDoc]

I have 3 different activities at this one Free Clinic, I volunteered there first from Jan. to April as an office/Physician assistant,(volunteer) I also recruit and trained and lead other volunteers to promoting healthy eating program sponsored by this place(Leadership role). And then I was offered a employment position here as a physician assistant(Paid employment).

Should I list this 3 into one activity explain 3 roles I have or it is better to separate them into 3? Thank you very much for your help

 

[LizzyM]

I have 3 different activities at this one Free Clinic, I volunteered there first from Jan. to April as an office/Physician assistant,(volunteer) I also recruit and trained and lead other volunteers to promoting healthy eating program sponsored by this place(Leadership role). And then I was offered a employment position here as a physician assistant(Paid employment).

Should I list this 3 into one activity explain 3 roles I have or it is better to separate them into 3? Thank you very much for your help

Because they are three different roles (volunteer, leadership, and clinical employment) and three different time frames, I would give each its own slot.

 

[LizzyM]

How would you list hours/week if it is one or two weeks a year, but you do it for multiple years?

List it for one year (the most recent): e.g. 4/08-4/08

List the hours per week during the weeks that you did it.

In the description, note that you have been involved for two weeks each year since 20__.

 

[BearsDoc]

How can we do it without you!!!!!!!!!!! Your time and kindness help are very appreciated.

 

[pride4jc727]

Did anyone notice that this thread is for AMCAS 2006 and NOT AMCAS 2009?

It is rather interesting people are still posting on a thread from years ago.

 

[copperfrog09]

It still has very useful information... after all, the same 15 spots still appear on the AMCAS.

 

[wizenedone]

Did anyone notice that this thread is for AMCAS 2006 and NOT AMCAS 2009?

It is rather interesting people are still posting on a thread from years ago.

Although the title of the thread says '2006', people can still use the information for current AMCAS. It hasn't changed much. The same 15 spots for ECs appear on the AMCAS application.

 

[Sonel]

should I put regional AMSA conferences and other conferences/events as one group? the main reason why I would want to include them is because I got to do many of the workshops that they had like suturing, casting, intubation and other simulations. I've done suturing and intubation several times at other events too, so I want to include them in the activities since they could be seen as really short clincial experiences, couldn't they? Sure there were no real patients involved but i did get a tiny taste of some medical training. And there were some interesting lectures at those conferences that i could briefly mention as well in the description box. So would it be a good idea to list those conferences or it won't really do much for my application?

 

[ramseszerg]

Would this advice in the original post apply to the Canadian, Ontario's OMSAS?

 

[LizzyM]

should I put regional AMSA conferences and other conferences/events as one group? the main reason why I would want to include them is because I got to do many of the workshops that they had like suturing, casting, intubation and other simulations. I've done suturing and intubation several times at other events too, so I want to include them in the activities since they could be seen as really short clincial experiences, couldn't they? Sure there were no real patients involved but i did get a tiny taste of some medical training. And there were some interesting lectures at those conferences that i could briefly mention as well in the description box. So would it be a good idea to list those conferences or it won't really do much for my application?

It would not be a good idea. Doing simulated patient care is not a clinical experience.

 

[gujuDoc]

Did anyone notice that this thread is for AMCAS 2006 and NOT AMCAS 2009?

It is rather interesting people are still posting on a thread from years ago.

That is irrelevant. The information provided by Sailcrazy in the original post still stands as the AMCAS has not changed much from that time, and I've seen the old AMCAS. Its the same every year. Just looks different in background but the format is the same essentially. Same requirements. Only thing that has changed in the alst fw years i that about 4 or 5 years ago there were only 500 characters per EC, whereas now there is 1325 characters as your character limit for each EC description.

 

[gujuDoc]

Because they are three different roles (volunteer, leadership, and clinical employment) and three different time frames, I would give each its own slot.

I'm in agreement with LizzyM.

There are separate tabs for employment, volunteer, and leadership, etc. so you would use each one of those different tabs to classify the different activities as your 3 slots. Use the EC description space to talk about the roles you had in each.

 

[gujuDoc]

Because they are three different roles (volunteer, leadership, and clinical employment) and three different time frames, I would give each its own slot.

I have a question for you LizzyM.

I've done shadowing at different places and different hospitals, so there are different contact informations for different doctors, and different locations (hospitals). So how would I clump it all together because I don't want to put them as different activities since we have such limited space?? Also, in the description, would I just put the amount of hours or list the different fields cuz some places I went only for 1 hour, others for 2 hours, others for more, and the time period (i.e. number of weeks) I spent at each were different for each. How would I list this? Thanks for your response.

 

[LizzyM]

I have a question for you LizzyM.

I've done shadowing at different places and different hospitals, so there are different contact informations for different doctors, and different locations (hospitals). So how would I clump it all together because I don't want to put them as different activities since we have such limited space?? Also, in the description, would I just put the amount of hours or list the different fields cuz some places I went only for 1 hour, others for 2 hours, others for more, and the time period (i.e. number of weeks) I spent at each were different for each. How would I list this? Thanks for your response.

Call it shadowing. Skip the contact information fields. Put the inclusive dates (to show that you didn't just start doing it last week) but leave the hours/wk blank. In the description, list something like this:
Shadowed gynecologist in outpatient surigical center, 4 hours; cardiac surgeon in OR, 5 hours; pediatrician, office, 2 hours. You can always abbreviate and use hrs to save a few spaces.

 

[LizzyM]

I was offered a employment position here as a physician assistant(Paid employment).

Are you a physician's assistant (PA)? That is, I think, a licensed profession. I'd be very careful about using the term physician assistant if you are not licensed. You might want to call it "clinical assistant" so as not to be mistaken for something that you are not.

 

[gujuDoc]

Call it shadowing. Skip the contact information fields. Put the inclusive dates (to show that you didn't just start doing it last week) but leave the hours/wk blank. In the description, list something like this:
Shadowed gynecologist in outpatient surigical center, 4 hours; cardiac surgeon in OR, 5 hours; pediatrician, office, 2 hours. You can always abbreviate and use hrs to save a few spaces.

LizzyM,

Thanks. will do. Just one more question: Should I mention abbreviation of hospital names or just mention they were almost all affiliated with USF med school despite the fact that they were at different hospitals and facilities??

 

[wizenedone]

LizzyM -

I am currently volunteering at three different places (all with clinical exposure). Currently, I volunteer in the ER (~20 hours/week), then I volunteer in Outpatient Surgery (~3-4 hours/week) and also volunteer at a Heart Center Nursing Unit (~4 hours/week). How would you list all of these experiences? All of these are at three different hospitals. Should I just use one slot for all these or separate? Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM,

Thanks. will do. Just one more question: Should I mention abbreviation of hospital names or just mention they were almost all affiliated with USF med school despite the fact that they were at different hospitals and facilities??

If you have the space, put the names. It could lead to a conversation at an interview if someone knows the particular hospital or clinic

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM -

I am currently volunteering at three different places (all with clinical exposure). Currently, I volunteer in the ER (~20 hours/week), then I volunteer in Outpatient Surgery (~3-4 hours/week) and also volunteer at a Heart Center Nursing Unit (~4 hours/week). How would you list all of these experiences? All of these are at three different hospitals. Should I just use one slot for all these or separate? Thanks.

A total of 26-28 hours per week? That's a lot!

If you will have 12 items or less by listing these individually, then I'd say split them. If you need to conserve space (you have >15 items), then lump them.