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

[Catalystik]

I was a biology club member for 2 1/2 years, but held a position for one year. For entering start to end date in AMCAS, should I put the 2 1/2 years, and then in the description mention that I was a member for 2 1/2 years and that I held said position for 1 year? Or should this be listed seperately? Also, what should this be listed under? leadership, extracurricular?

Club membership alone doesn't count for much. I would list it as Leadership, putting the dates you held office and hours per week of activity. In the narrative mention that you were a member for 1.5 years prior to election to an office. it looks good that you took on responsibility after a period of familiarization with the club.

Or, you could list the club membership separately if you have lots of slots left, going into more detail about the activities you engaged in due to the club (hopefully, not just showing up for meetings once a month).

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[thebillsfan]

If you received ap credit but no grade, do you leave the transcript grade blank or do you enter "T" or "G"?

 

[klmnop]

If you received ap credit but no grade, do you leave the transcript grade blank or do you enter "T" or "G"?

almost positive you put "G"

 

[JubJub603]

Hello everyone-- this thread has been immensely helpful so far. Thank you all for the various bits of great input.

A question for LizzyM,

Does only having several activities run the risk of being "looked down" at by the adcoms? Right now I have 6 activities listed, and I am struggling to find anything else that would not come off as "fluff." The reason I only have that many is that I spent a great deal of time with the ones I do have-- for example spending over 3 years of my time doing research in two different labs on campus (2 years in one, 1 year in the other). I also have listed some doctor shadowing and pet clinic volunteering I have done, as well as a Deans list award and my main hobby playing volleyball (something I picked up fresh and developed my skill and teamwork abilities with over three years). However, the rest of my time was spent studying my butt off for my major and pre-med classes (which had no overlap at all, almost like a double major) and left me with little time to invest in other activities.

Will adcoms be able to recognize that my lower number activities are a result of me concentrating my time on these several things? Or will it look bad that I don't seem to have as many as most people do?

Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

 

[JBruin]

I'm sure this question gets asked over and over, but i'm sorry 51 pages is a lot of thread to troll through(and I did try!).

I'm filling out my EC section right now and I have to say i'm a little worried. I definitely have meaningful experience, but it only fills 4-5 slots .

Club leadership- involved for 3 years, leader for two. Heavily involved in community outreach and service, getting letter of rec for this one. ~600 hours of commitment so far.

Shadowing/volunteering -Meaningful, lots of patient contact, OR time, all with one doctor whom I've gotten to know very well. Providing LOR. ~150 hours spread over 2 years

Teaching Position - Teaching position, mcat related, roughly 50 hours of work so far

Camp Counselor for underserved kids- Roughly 90 hours of service so far.

It may not seem like much, but I feel as though combined I have invested a lot of time and energy into these activities and I've gotten a lot out of them. At the same time, I feel as though it looks bad to only have 4 slots filled out with 15 available, especially when people are putting down 15 activities(though I must wonder how you have the time to have 15 committed, meaningful activities and still find the time to study).

Do I need to pad my EC's with some fluff like hobbies, interests, IM sports? Should I include clubs where I am only a member rather than someone with a leadership position?

 

[klmnop]

I'm sure this question gets asked over and over, but i'm sorry 51 pages is a lot of thread to troll through(and I did try!).

I'm filling out my EC section right now and I have to say i'm a little worried. I definitely have meaningful experience, but it only fills 4-5 slots .

Club leadership- involved for 3 years, leader for two. Heavily involved in community outreach and service, getting letter of rec for this one. ~600 hours of commitment so far.

Shadowing/volunteering -Meaningful, lots of patient contact, OR time, all with one doctor whom I've gotten to know very well. Providing LOR. ~150 hours spread over 2 years

Teaching Position - Teaching position, mcat related, roughly 50 hours of work so far

Camp Counselor for underserved kids- Roughly 90 hours of service so far.

It may not seem like much, but I feel as though combined I have invested a lot of time and energy into these activities and I've gotten a lot out of them. At the same time, I feel as though it looks bad to only have 4 slots filled out with 15 available, especially when people are putting down 15 activities(though I must wonder how you have the time to have 15 committed, meaningful activities and still find the time to study).

Do I need to pad my EC's with some fluff like hobbies, interests, IM sports? Should I include clubs where I am only a member rather than someone with a leadership position?

yeah this exact question was asked not 3 hours ago in post #2604. You guys should wait for someone in the know to respond, but in the meantime, if it were me I would fill up what I could, and add one or two maximum for non-medical type of stuff like hobbies. You can add the club membership if you want, but don't fill like 5 slots with different memberships, just one. Just my opinion.

 

[thebillsfan]

Hey, I had a question about filling in leadership experiences. On the amcas work/activities section, under experience type, the choice is "leadership-not listed elsewhere"

I know it might sound dumb, but what does it mean by not listed elsewhere? Can you not have mentioned the experience in another entry? I volunteer for an organization, but also am in a paid leadership position for that organization, and so I really need to list them separately.

 

[ronaldo23]

Should you list things in order of importance to you?

 

[klmnop]

Hey, I had a question about filling in leadership experiences. On the amcas work/activities section, under experience type, the choice is "leadership-not listed elsewhere"

I know it might sound dumb, but what does it mean by not listed elsewhere? Can you not have mentioned the experience in another entry? I volunteer for an organization, but also am in a paid leadership position for that organization, and so I really need to list them separately.

thats a good question. you should probably only use it for one entry, just explain that you have a dual role. if you want you can split it up, but it looks redundant and an adcom will probably only view it as a single entry anyway.

 

[klmnop]

Should you list things in order of importance to you?

they automatically get re-ordered chronolgically

 

[ronaldo23]

I did research with a professor, and at the end of the year presented a poster at a Biology synposium hosted by our school (anyone in the bio dept who does research presents findings at this). Is this something that I should list under posters/presentations in addition to research? Or is it meant for presentations at actually well-known conferences...

 

[ronaldo23]

also...

I will be working an congressional internship full time this summer for June and July. I will then be working August onwards doing volunteer work in a city. Should I list these experiences? I really do not know what all the positions will entail, so could I list them and explain that I will send updates?

 

[thebillsfan]

just send it as an update later--you cant list things you havent done yet

 

[Catalystik]

I did research with a professor, and at the end of the year presented a poster at a Biology synposium hosted by our school (anyone in the bio dept who does research presents findings at this). Is this something that I should list under posters/presentations in addition to research? Or is it meant for presentations at actually well-known conferences...

A presentation at a national or regional conference would naturally carry more weight, but the fact is that you did present your research publicly. I think it's acceptable to list it under Presentations, so long as the narrative includes that it was at a campus Bio Symposium at your college on XXXX date.

Alternatively, and probably more correctly, you might mention at the end of the Research description that you presented the research at the Bio Symposium on campus on XXXX date. JMO.

 

[Catalystik]

Should you list things in order of importance to you?

they automatically get re-ordered chronolgically

LizzyM has said they changed the way activities are ordered:

Big change! in the 2009/2010 cycle, the experience type is shown alphabetically (at least at my school) rather than in reverse chronological (most recent actvitity first). Nothing you can do anything about or change but it is an interesting twist.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm filling out my EC section right now and I have to say i'm a little worried. I definitely have meaningful experience, but it only fills 4-5 slots .

1) Club leadership- involved for 3 years, leader for two. Heavily involved in community outreach and service, getting letter of rec for this one. ~600 hours of commitment so far.

2) Shadowing/volunteering -Meaningful, lots of patient contact, OR time, all with one doctor whom I've gotten to know very well. Providing LOR. ~150 hours spread over 2 years

3)Teaching Position - Teaching position, mcat related, roughly 50 hours of work so far

4) Camp Counselor for underserved kids- Roughly 90 hours of service so far.

It may not seem like much, but I feel as though combined I have invested a lot of time and energy into these activities and I've gotten a lot out of them. At the same time, I feel as though it looks bad to only have 4 slots filled out with 15 available, especially when people are putting down 15 activities(though I must wonder how you have the time to have 15 committed, meaningful activities and still find the time to study).

5) Do I need to pad my EC's with some fluff like hobbies, interests, IM sports? Should I include clubs where I am only a member rather than someone with a leadership position?

Substantive in-depth activities will be appreciated by adcomms. You will not be at a disadvantage compared to those with more Experiences that occurred over briefer timeframes.

1) I would split this into leadership and list the community service separately as both are important and you don't want one to be missed.

2) Consider splitting out the volunteering vs the shadowing. Again, both are very important. Alternatively, be sure to include "Shadowing" in the name you give the activity which would go under Community Service/Volunteer Medical/Clinical.

5) It isn't fluff to list Hobbies. Name it Leisure-Time Activites. List the sports, interests, avocations to make yourself look well-rounded and interesting with activities that are stress-relievers. If there is one that is a huge time investment or of great significance to you, give it its own slot.

6) Artistic Endeavors is another place to put music, art, movie collecting, painting, writing, etc. separate from #5.

7) Any leadership or research to mention?

8) Awards/honors/scholarships that are not Dean's List?

 

[klmnop]

LizzyM has said they changed the way activities are ordered:

interesting. i have my printed 2009/2010 app and its reverse chronological, but that doesn't mean thats they way schools see it. imo alphabetically is dumb, but i guess you could beat the system by titling stuff A), B), C). theoretically your most significant EC could be listed last and overlooked.

 

[Catalystik]

interesting. i have my printed 2009/2010 app and its reverse chronological, but that doesn't mean thats they way schools see it. imo alphabetically is dumb, but i guess you could beat the system by titling stuff A), B), C). theoretically your most significant EC could be listed last and overlooked.

On 4/5/2010 this was posted by LizzyM about "beating the system":

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dianyla
LizzyM, thanks for posting this information. Can you clarify which field the alphabetical sorting is keyed to? I would imagine the Experience Name field, but wanted to double check.

Which segues into my next question... How good/bad/devious would it look to intentionally manipulate the sorting order? For example, naming experiences like "1. My Most Important Experience" "2. My Next Most Important"...

I think that it is alphabetical on type of activity which comes from a pull-down menu so it is uniform for all applicants. Some that I recall from last season:

Artistic Endeavors
Employment, military
Employment, non-military
Meeting attended (this is for conferences & annual meetings)
Presentation
Publication
Research
Tutoring or teaching
Volunteer, clinical
Volunteer, non-clinical

 

[klmnop]

i guess that makes sense then

 

[JBruin]

Substantive in-depth activities will be appreciated by adcomms. You will not be at a disadvantage compared to those with more Experiences that occurred over briefer timeframes.

1) I would split this into leadership and list the community service separately as both are important and you don't want one to be missed.

2) Consider splitting out the volunteering vs the shadowing. Again, both are very important. Alternatively, be sure to include "Shadowing" in the name you give the activity which would go under Community Service/Volunteer Medical/Clinical.

5) It isn't fluff to list Hobbies. Name it Leisure-Time Activites. List the sports, interests, avocations to make yourself look well-rounded and interesting with activities that are stress-relievers. If there is one that is a huge time investment or of great significance to you, give it its own slot.

6) Artistic Endeavors is another place to put music, art, movie collecting, painting, writing, etc. separate from #5.

7) Any leadership or research to mention?

8) Awards/honors/scholarships that are not Dean's List?

1) I would like to split it, but i'm not really sure that I can. Nearly all of my volunteering with this club is intimately intertwined with my role as a leader. I included my title in the experience name and the description clearly describes the community service/volunteering aspect. That should be ok right?

2) I will definitely split these two then. The question arises though, how should I apportion my hours? Most of the volunteering was under the supervision of one physician, so technically I was shadowing her the whole time. However, I don't want to double count hours.

5) Excellent, I'll be sure to list this then.

7) No research, but I feel as though leadership was covered in 1).

8) I have a merit-based scholarship that has been in effect since I started university, but no other truly distinguishing awards. Perhaps lump this together with Dean's list? (I know it's generic but perhaps not so bad in conjunction with the scholarship?)

Thank You so much for your help.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I would like to split it, but i'm not really sure that I can. Nearly all of my volunteering with this club is intimately intertwined with my role as a leader. I included my title in the experience name and the description clearly describes the community service/volunteering aspect. That should be ok right?

2) I will definitely split these two then. The question arises though, how should I apportion my hours? Most of the volunteering was under the supervision of one physician, so technically I was shadowing her the whole time. However, I don't want to double count hours.

8) I have a merit-based scholarship that has been in effect since I started university, but no other truly distinguishing awards. Perhaps lump this together with Dean's list? (I know it's generic but perhaps not so bad in conjunction with the scholarship?)

1) Be sure it's named something that suggests both Leadership and Community Service. Maybe state again in the narrative that both are happening. Ask someone knowledgeable to read it for you to be sure you made it clear.

2) Shadowing is a passive observership when your attention is on what the doc is doing. Clinical experience is when you interact with and focus on the patient. You can carve out hours or a percent of the time if that's easier. Go with your gut.

3) Excellent. If the value of the scholarship is >$2000, you can mention that. If smaller, then don't. It's fine to throw in dean's list in the same slot.

 

[RB93]

.

 

[RB93]

Also, for the "Contact" field, should I always list the PI for research activities or should I list someone in the organization that I worked more closely with? Would it be ok to list the Director of the a research internship program rather than the PI (if the field is for verification purposes)? I have kept in good touch with the program director, and the PI I worked with travels frequently.

Thank you!

 

[gujuDoc]

1) Be sure it's named something that suggests both Leadership and Community Service. Maybe state again in the narrative that both are happening. Ask someone knowledgeable to read it for you to be sure you made it clear.

2) Shadowing is a passive observership when your attention is on what the doc is doing. Clinical experience is when you interact with and focus on the patient. You can carve out hours or a percent of the time if that's easier. Go with your gut.

3) Excellent. If the value of the scholarship is >$2000, you can mention that. If smaller, then don't. It's fine to throw in dean's list in the same slot.

For shadowing I always listed as OTHER

 

[Catalystik]

For shadowing I always listed as OTHER

I agree that "Other" is the best choice.

 

[Catalystik]

Also, for the "Contact" field, should I always list the PI for research activities or should I list someone in the organization that I worked more closely with? Would it be ok to list the Director of the a research internship program rather than the PI (if the field is for verification purposes)? I have kept in good touch with the program director, and the PI I worked with travels frequently.

Listing the Director of the Research Internship Program is fine.

 

[Catalystik]

what date do you put down for a future accepted publication? It won't let me enter a date that is later than today's (i.e. later than May 2010), but my publication won't be published until September. It says I cannot enter a "start date" later than today.

Should I put the date I started working on the publication and explain in the text??

You can cite it as an accepted publication at the end of your narrative about the research. Put the entire citation there except for maybe the page number (instead, say "in press"). After the actual publication date, you can update schools to highlight the accomplishment.

Alternatively (I've not seen it done, but it seems workable) you might list it under "Other" and name the activity 'Accepted Publication in ?Neuroscience Journal' then give the citation there. It would be nice to get more opinions on this idea.

 

[La Sevillana]

-

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I just have a quick question about the activities that one is allowed to legitimately submit for consideration.

I attended a program during my last two years of high school that allowed me to earn college credit and apply it towards fulfilling high school requirements. This program was residential (we were, for all intents and purposes, university students) and so I was wondering if school activities undertaken during that time could be listed in my AMCAS app.

I wouldn't list the activities unless they were continued while in college. Lots of folks earn college credit while in high school.

 

[La Sevillana]

I wouldn't list the activities unless they were continued while in college. Lots of folks earn college credit while in high school.

-

 

[klmnop]

That's why I was initially very hesitant about the whole idea. But how many people lived for two years on a college campus while earning that college credit? Do you think that might make a difference?

you lived on a college campus during hs and took hs courses simultaneously?
if this is the case its not relevant.... its just like taking a course at a CC during hs.

getting the college social/classroom experience is not an EC or achievement

 

[RB93]

.

 

[Catalystik]

The publication does go with one of my other activities, so I could put them together and just list the "date" as when I started the activity, while still classifying it under Publication. Do you think that would work? I'll make the narrative as clear as possible. I just don't want it to get lost in an "Other" category.

If you choose "Publication" from the pull-down menu, it asks you for 'Publication Date', not 'Start Date' as other activites do. That seems very specific to me. I don't know that you should insert the beginning date for the Research activity that led to it.

What about choosing "Research", then naming the activity Public Health Research/Publication Accepted? Or is that what you meant?

 

[RB93]

If you choose "Publication" from the pull-down menu, it asks you for 'Publication Date', not 'Start Date' as other activites do. That seems very specific to me. I don't know that you should insert the beginning date for the Research activity that led to it.

What about choosing "Research", then naming the activity Public Health Research/Publication Accepted? Or is that what you meant?

Thanks Cat. When I tried to leave the page, it said you must put a "Start Date" before today's date. But on the actual field it does say publication date. I could definitely put it under research, I just feel that Publication would be more accurate and give more balance to my apps. But I suppose either way it'll be clear. I'll also call AMCAS to see if they have any suggestion for future publications.

 

[Xinlitik]

Should I list Guitar under hobbies, or artistic endeavors?

I've been playing for 6 years regularly, but I am not in a college band or anything like that. (I've played a few shows, and I practice songs with friends, but it's mostly something I do at home for fun.)

And is it okay to put reading for pleasure as a whole activity of its own? I love reading and probably read at least an hour a day, often much more when I have a good book.

Also, what about awards that I am 100% sure I'll be getting, but wont actually get until graduation (~2 wks after submission of AMCAS)?
things like:
-latin honors
-distinction in the major (for senior research project)

Can I add them but say (upon graduation)?

Also, is this a reasonable way to organize things for adcoms? Or should I really have a separate spot for bigger things (eg scholarship)

Academic Awards
-scholarship
-latin honors
-deans list
-distinguished writing award (3rd place-- should I even bother?)

Research
-obviously, describe research
-distinction in major (for research)

Other Interests (toss this out?)
-working on car (~30 hrs / yr)
-basketball (~4 hrs / wk)
-gym (~4 hrs / wk)

Other Awards
-Eagle Scout

Guitar
Reading


thanks

 

[Catalystik]

I'll also call AMCAS to see if they have any suggestion for future publications.

Let me know if they have a soluntion we haven't thought of.

 

[RB93]

Let me know if they have a solution we haven't thought of.

Hi Cat, AMCAS said I could either put it down under research and note in the narrative, or put the accepted date as the publication date. In general they pretty much said to do whatever I want (both to this and other work/activities questions). I suppose either would work?

 

[Catalystik]

1) Should I list Guitar under hobbies, or artistic endeavors?

I've been playing for 6 years regularly, but I am not in a college band or anything like that. (I've played a few shows, and I practice songs with friends, but it's mostly something I do at home for fun.)

2) And is it okay to put reading for pleasure as a whole activity of its own? I love reading and probably read at least an hour a day, often much more when I have a good book.

3) Also, what about awards that I am 100% sure I'll be getting, but wont actually get until graduation (~2 wks after submission of AMCAS)?
things like:
-latin honors
-distinction in the major (for senior research project)

Can I add them but say (upon graduation)?

4) Also, is this a reasonable way to organize things for adcoms? Or should I really have a separate spot for bigger things (eg scholarship)

Academic Awards
-scholarship
-latin honors
-deans list
-distinguished writing award (3rd place-- should I even bother?)

Research
-obviously, describe research
-distinction in major (for research)

5) Other Interests (toss this out?)
-working on car (~30 hrs / yr)
-basketball (~4 hrs / wk)
-gym (~4 hrs / wk)

Other Awards
-Eagle Scout

Guitar
Reading

1) Since you've performed in shows, piut it under Artistic Endeavors.
2) You can slice the baloney any way you like: thick or thin. If you have the space, list it separately and make the narrative space-worthy. Otherwise, add it to your Leisure time Activities list.
3) Do not list future events, no matter how sure you are. If it's important enough, delay your submission to AMCAS until you've offically received the honors/awards. Otherwise, save them for update letters. Yes, include the writers award.
4) Add the Eagle Scout to this category and mention your service project. Otherwise, it's fine.
5) List it all under Hobbies/Avocations and name it Leisure Time Activities in one space.

 

[gujuDoc]

1) Since you've performed in shows, piut it under Artistic Endeavors.
2) You can slice the baloney any way you like: thick or thin. If you have the space, list it separately and make the narrative space-worthy. Otherwise, add it to your Leisure time Activities list.
3) Do not list future events, no matter how sure you are. If it's important enough, delay your submission to AMCAS until you've offically received the honors/awards. Otherwise, save them for update letters. Yes, include the writers award.
4) Add the Eagle Scout to this category and mention your service project. Otherwise, it's fine.
5) List it all under Hobbies/Avocations and name it Leisure Time Activities in one space.

For number 2, let me just note that that is not noteworthy unless you were say part of a book club or something like that. Don't list it. so does more then half the med population love reading. its not really note worthy though. if you were part of a regular book club or something that might be different.

 

[thebillsfan]

Consolidating all awards under one slot:

Hi, in order to avoid making multiple entries, I'm just putting all awards under one slot. For "award date," since there are a few, can I just put whatever I want? Also, what should I put under organization title/contact, since for each award these are undoubtedly different?

 

[Xinlitik]

For number 2, let me just note that that is not noteworthy unless you were say part of a book club or something like that. Don't list it. so does more then half the med population love reading. its not really note worthy though. if you were part of a regular book club or something that might be different.

thank you both. Would adding it hurt my app, or just not help? Because it was a large portion of my time and I could easily talk about it in interviews.

 

[thebillsfan]

if it was a large portion of your time then you should put it on there

 

[gujuDoc]

thank you both. Would adding it hurt my app, or just not help? Because it was a large portion of my time and I could easily talk about it in interviews.

Dude its a waste of space. Its not something you put on a resume and its not something you put on amcas.

If they ask in secondaries what you do for fun, then you put it. If you were part of a book club it would be a more meaningful activity. But you weren't.

So I mean it is a waste of space.

A lot of secondaries ask what you do for fun. In that space you could add that. But the truth is if you read a lot, what do you think most of these people who have 12s and 13s and 14s in verbal do? or even people with 10s and 11s in verbal? its how they got those 10s + in verbal. they became voracious readers in early life. Its not uncommon or unique. It doesn't add anything to the application anymroe then saying you hang out at the mall would even if you've read a lot unless you can show you did something like use your love for reading to promote literacy or start a book club or reader's club like the ones that used to meet at Barnes and Nobles in Tampa when I used to go there.

 

[Xinlitik]

Dude its a waste of space. Its not something you put on a resume and its not something you put on amcas.

If they ask in secondaries what you do for fun, then you put it. If you were part of a book club it would be a more meaningful activity. But you weren't.

So I mean it is a waste of space.

A lot of secondaries ask what you do for fun. In that space you could add that. But the truth is if you read a lot, what do you think most of these people who have 12s and 13s and 14s in verbal do? or even people with 10s and 11s in verbal? its how they got those 10s + in verbal. they became voracious readers in early life. Its not uncommon or unique. It doesn't add anything to the application anymroe then saying you hang out at the mall would even if you've read a lot unless you can show you did something like use your love for reading to promote literacy or start a book club or reader's club like the ones that used to meet at Barnes and Nobles in Tampa when I used to go there.

Hmm.. I guess I see your point. Although, just to note, you wouldn't put a lot of things from your AMCAS on your resume.

 

[thebillsfan]

what about things like golf and running? i just do it for fun--not entering the pga any time soon--but i wanted to have one section with these activities in amcas

 

[runawayclock]

what about things like golf and running? i just do it for fun--not entering the pga any time soon--but i wanted to have one section with these activities in amcas

The way I listed my activities, if i did it "seriously" (public exhibition, competitions, performance) i listed it. If i did it just did it for fun or for my own sake, i didn't. Artsy activities that were publically exhibited = listed under artistic endeavors; fencing + yoga, which i just do to keep in shape = not listed. Didn't think it was worth a mention, especially since there are only 15 slots...

A question - I've been working through all of college to support myself, but i don't have nearly enough space to list all the random jobs i've had separately (nor would adcoms care that much, i think). If i lumped them all together as Employment, non military, how should i go about listing them in the description? Job, Date, brief summary?

Also, I've done 2 years of research (with another on-going project), with all the presentations and the conferences that normally come with it. It was all in the same lab, but they were all each distinct projects (one was purely molecular bio, my thesis was behavioral, the one i am doing now is an expansion of my thesis for a pub). I listed them all separately, since they were technically all different projects. Is that okay or is that just a waste of slots?

 

[Catalystik]

The way I listed my activities, if i did it "seriously" (public exhibition, competitions, performance) i listed it. If i did it just did it for fun or for my own sake, i didn't. Artsy activities that were publically exhibited = listed under artistic endeavors; fencing + yoga, which i just do to keep in shape = not listed. Didn't think it was worth a mention, especially since there are only 15 slots...

1) A question - I've been working through all of college to support myself, but i don't have nearly enough space to list all the random jobs i've had separately (nor would adcoms care that much, i think). If i lumped them all together as Employment, non military, how should i go about listing them in the description? Job, Date, brief summary?

2) Also, I've done 2 years of research (with another on-going project), with all the presentations and the conferences that normally come with it. It was all in the same lab, but they were all each distinct projects (one was purely molecular bio, my thesis was behavioral, the one i am doing now is an expansion of my thesis for a pub). I listed them all separately, since they were technically all different projects. Is that okay or is that just a waste of slots?

1) I think it would be a mistake not to mention seasonal or temp work, as adcomms like to see what you did to stay busy. They can all be listed under Employment or Other, named Temp or Seasonal Work, then listed in the narrative with dates, hours per week, description, contact person, etc.

2) It's fine to list them separately or to lump them, depending on your space. Same with Presentations, which I'd use for national or regional presentations. Local presentations could be added after the research description in Research. There is no one right way.

 

[Catalystik]

what about things like golf and running? i just do it for fun--not entering the pga any time soon--but i wanted to have one section with these activities in amcas

I think you should list Leisure-time activities, but in one space generally, unless you have note-worthy things to say about the activity.

For "award date," since there are a few, can I just put whatever I want? Also, what should I put under organization title/contact, since for each award these are undoubtedly different?

Pick the best honor/award and put the contact info for that, then just list other honors in the same space with it's own info. You don't have to provide all the header information for awards.

 

[Catalystik]

When I tried to leave the page, it said you must put a "Start Date" before today's date. But on the actual field it does say publication date. I could definitely put it under research, I just feel that Publication would be more accurate and give more balance to my apps. But I suppose either way it'll be clear. I'll also call AMCAS to see if they have any suggestion for future publications.

Hi Cat, AMCAS said I could either put it down under research and note in the narrative, or put the accepted date as the publication date. In general they pretty much said to do whatever I want (both to this and other work/activities questions). I suppose either would work?

Thanks for reporting back. I think it's very helpful to have an official representative of AMCAS say, "it's OK to use acceptance date instead of publication date" ( in which case I don't know why they don't make that space more flexible sounding).

Personally (now that you've gotten the official blessing), I'd put it under Publications since it is an important achievement that should be highlighted. The narrative/citation with "in press" will make it clear enough that your work is yet to appear in print.

I appreciate your effort for getting that clarified.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hmm.. I guess I see your point. Although, just to note, you wouldn't put a lot of things from your AMCAS on your resume.

I don't know, every activitiy I listed on amcas was stuff I listed on my resume. My leadership positions, my volunteer positions, my job experiences, my professional organizations.

That's the kind of stuff that should be in activities or things that are real skills like if you've done an athletic endeavor that has actually been done competitively or if you play an instrument and have performed competitively that you've won awards for it or taught it to people.

So in truth yes most of what is in amcas activities if it is the kind of stuff that should be on there is stuff that could go on a potential resume. So is publications and poster presentations. these are all real awards and accomplishments.

Regular hobbies are not unless they are something like fixing equipment because labs like to see that so that they know you will be able to figure out how to fix equipment if it goes bad.

Also even things like writing and artistic endeavors when people usually put it on they've either performed stage performances if fine arts or if normal art works put their stuff on display etc. Its stuff that is noteworthy.

Noteworthy is the key word here. stuff that is noteworthy is what you put on there. I did not put stuff that was not noteworthy even if they were my hobbies. It looks like fluff and adcoms can see that.