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Great tips for entering your "Work/Activities" for AMCAS
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That article just convinced me to write in paragraph form. Sigh... Now I have to change everything...
interesting! i have been going back and forth on this, but their reasoning is solid. i think it looks better as a narrative anyways, as long as it isnt too long-winded.
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Hi,
I'm having trouble coming up with the Experience name and Hours/week. For instants, I'm just a member of an club, and to remain a member you have to attend three events and volunteer once at anyplace of your choice. So there were no "hours" requirement and nor did we have to meet every week. So I don't know what to put for number of hours. I was thinking of putting down Member as experience name, but don't know what to put for hours/week. I don't want to lie and put down something like 2 hours / week. So any advice on what to put for experience name and hours/week?
Thank in advance for any advice you provide. 🙂
I'm having trouble coming up with the Experience name and Hours/week. For instants, I'm just a member of an club, and to remain a member you have to attend three events and volunteer once at anyplace of your choice. So there were no "hours" requirement and nor did we have to meet every week. So I don't know what to put for number of hours. I was thinking of putting down Member as experience name, but don't know what to put for hours/week. I don't want to lie and put down something like 2 hours / week. So any advice on what to put for experience name and hours/week?
Thank in advance for any advice you provide. 🙂
Hi all,
I thought someone had asked this question earlier, but after searching, I can't seem to find where. I was just admitted to an surgical internship program that, based on everything I've seen and read, will provide really great, hands-on clinical exposure. I do have a few good clinical experiences already a part of my activities list, but I think this would also really help as something I'll be doing during my year applying. It's supposed to start in August .. is it appropriate to list it with my activities now, even though I'll be starting it a few months after submitting?
Thanks for the help!
I thought someone had asked this question earlier, but after searching, I can't seem to find where. I was just admitted to an surgical internship program that, based on everything I've seen and read, will provide really great, hands-on clinical exposure. I do have a few good clinical experiences already a part of my activities list, but I think this would also really help as something I'll be doing during my year applying. It's supposed to start in August .. is it appropriate to list it with my activities now, even though I'll be starting it a few months after submitting?
Thanks for the help!
You could do that if it won't let you hit august to present. Otherwise, mention it in secondaries. Can look up what secondaries will ask for the schools you are applying to right now. If a quick scan shows there is space to add additional info not on amcas you can add it in there.
List the activity under Other. Put Member of XXXX Organization as the activity name. You don't have to fill in the hours per week in the header. Rather, in the narrative mention the degree to which you participate.
I would list the activity under Leadership, entering the header dates as those when you served in that capacity. Name the activity President (or whatever) of XXXXXX(organization's name). In the narrative put in the date that you became a general member and that you continue at this time as a general member.
Hey guys can anyone help plz answer these questions! I need some help.
1.What are school clubs counted as for "Experience type" ?? Extracarriculars/Hobbies/Avocations? I keep thinking EC is similar to hobby in this case b/c it's next to hobbies and avocations.
2. I am a board member/leader of a student organization on campus. Where should I list this activity as?
3. Also, what is "Leadership not listed elsewhere" ?
4. Also, I'm into photography. I have DSLR and spend some free time doing photography. Do I count this as a "hobby" or "artistic endeavor" ?
1.What are school clubs counted as for "Experience type" ?? Extracarriculars/Hobbies/Avocations? I keep thinking EC is similar to hobby in this case b/c it's next to hobbies and avocations.
2. I am a board member/leader of a student organization on campus. Where should I list this activity as?
3. Also, what is "Leadership not listed elsewhere" ?
4. Also, I'm into photography. I have DSLR and spend some free time doing photography. Do I count this as a "hobby" or "artistic endeavor" ?
Not sure on number 4 which is more appropriate. I'd probably say either could work. But let us see what catalystik has to say. They know what they are talking about since they've taken over the thread.
Leadership not listed elsewhere is leadership like student organizations. Because some leadership roles like teaching are listed under teaching/tutoring or like job positions listed under employment categories, etc.
So that is prob. why leadership category is called leadership not listed elsewhere. at least that is my interpretation.
I would put your student roganization leadership in leadership not listed elsewhere. That is what I did on mine.
And as for clubs I listed that asthe hobbies, extracurriculars, avocation category that you talked about above.
If you enter shows or display your work for others to enjoy in some manner, it is an Artistic Endeavor. If you take photos for your own enjoyment and are still perfecting yor craft, then it's a Hobby.
I will begin shadowing several physicians in the emergency department of my local hospital later this month, and would like to list this as an activity on AMCAS.
1) Should this be listed under "Other?"
2) Is it ok to put in the description "Will be shadowing X physician blablabla..." implying that I haven't started yet but plan to?
Thanks in advance!
1) Should this be listed under "Other?"
2) Is it ok to put in the description "Will be shadowing X physician blablabla..." implying that I haven't started yet but plan to?
Thanks in advance!
I have a question:
I have this friend with Cystic Fibrosis who, a couple years ago, was very interested in traveling to Tanzania to work at an orphanage there. Unfortunately, her medical bills as well as a plethora of other bills her and her family had prevented her from achieving this dream by herself. Myself and a few friends decided to throw a fundraiser where a bunch of local bands played, and people baked goods to sell. Ultimately we raised close to 1000 dollars (I don't remember exactly how much, though) and my friend was able to squeak by with enough money to work over in Tanzania.
Could I list this as nonmedical volunteer, or other, or something, even though it wasn't through any official program, and thus there is no paperwork or proof outside of my peer's word that this actually happened? Also, would it be worth mentioning that my friend has CF, even though our fundraiser is not aimed at helping her find a cure or pay her medical bills?
Thanks!
I have this friend with Cystic Fibrosis who, a couple years ago, was very interested in traveling to Tanzania to work at an orphanage there. Unfortunately, her medical bills as well as a plethora of other bills her and her family had prevented her from achieving this dream by herself. Myself and a few friends decided to throw a fundraiser where a bunch of local bands played, and people baked goods to sell. Ultimately we raised close to 1000 dollars (I don't remember exactly how much, though) and my friend was able to squeak by with enough money to work over in Tanzania.
Could I list this as nonmedical volunteer, or other, or something, even though it wasn't through any official program, and thus there is no paperwork or proof outside of my peer's word that this actually happened? Also, would it be worth mentioning that my friend has CF, even though our fundraiser is not aimed at helping her find a cure or pay her medical bills?
Thanks!
I used peers as contact info in a few of my organizations. So yes you can list other people involved in organizing it.
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A while ago, a poster that I was first author on was presented by my PI at a conference. From this same conference, my abstract was also published in a journal. Should I list the poster under "posters/presentations" category or put it in "Publications" in the same slot as my abstract?
thanks for the help!
thanks for the help!
question answered.
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If the abstract appeared in a national journal, I'd list it under Publications. I'd probably mention the presentation at the end of the Research section, giving credit to the PI as the presenter, and naming the conference, its city, and date.
You can use your spaces for any activity that you like, however, in my opinion, you'd be better served to refer to these experiences in your Primary Statement as formative activities that developed your interest in medicine. They could also be drawn on as source material for Secondary essays.
You can do either, however I'd probably save any space where you list a single hobby for one that is substantive, significant, and about which you have a lot to say.
Thanks Cat for the feedback. I have way better stuff for my secondary essays though. More recent too. (and my personal statement goes more into my current research and clinical experiences -- trying to emphasize my characteristics that will make me be a good doctor -- not ohh I interned as a BME and it was sooooo cool, haha) 🙂
While working on the activities boxes on several I've ran out of characters to include their contact information. I know I will not be able to fill all 15 boxes with meaningful experiences would it be appropriate to have one box that is dedicated to the contact information for all of the other boxes?
Isn't the contact information outside of the box? They just ask for name and title.
I was under the impression they wanted the contact information such as phone numbers and possibly email address, so that, if they desire, they can contact and verify the information.
hmmm... well I would have given it to them if they asked for it. Otherwise, it shouldn't be too hard to look up most of the contact information. An experience description to me implies that you just should write down what you did and learned... not how to contact someone. I hope I'm not wrong because I just submitted my app.
Hey everyone, I'm new here. I'm really confused about what to put down for my Works and Activities section. My problem is that although I did quiet a bit of activities, they were all similar so I don't know how to organize them. Should I lump similar things together or leave them apart? what is okay to lump together? I read through many of the posts, but couldn't find a specific answer to my problem.
I did the following things:
For research (all in the same lab under the same professor):
* 3 years of doing special study (research for credit in a lab)
* one independent project
* one poster
* presented my poster at a undergraduate research conference
* a summer REU program
For clinical:
* 2 years in the ER (started out as a 2 qtr internship, then switched to being a community volunteer but still got transcript notation for all 2 years -- so does this count as community service?) where I got to see procedures, learned how to do EKGs, and followed a doctor who wrote one of my letter of recommendations
* 6 months interning at a Neuroscience Center where I shadowed doctors of different specialties, and got to interact with patients and staff more than at my other internships
* 1 quarter interning in a Operating Room where I got to see many operations up close
Awards/Honors:
- graduated with Honors
- Dean's Honor List for 7 qtrs
- Departmental Citation Award (for my gpa and research)
- Member of Golden Key Honor Society
- Member of Phi Sigma National Honor Society
Hobbies:
- 3 years of piano lessons in high school. In college, I continued practicing on and off (depending on what classes I took, and if I had midterms that week or not). I also took many music classes in college, and joined the Gamelan Ensemble for 2 quarters (can I list this as a hobby).
Tutoring:
- I'm from an immigrant family where the adults don't speak much English so the older kids in the family (me being one of them) had to help tutor the younger kids. Later in college, I worked for one quarter as a Physiology Tutor. (is this significant enough to list as an activity or would it be considered fluff?)
Volunteer Experience:
- I was the president of a community service club in high school, and received a small $500 scholarship and and a service medal for it. In college, I joined some small clubs, but only went to maybe 3-4 events per quarter. Instead I focused most of my volunteer work by volunteering in the ER because I was more interested in the hospital setting. (Is this okay to list as a volunteer experience? Should I list it as volunteer experience, internship experience, or both? Also, can I mention my role as president as leadership?)
Can someone, hopefully an adcomm like LizzyM, please give me suggestions on how I should organize this? If I lump them together too much, then I won't come close to having 15 activities. But I also don't want to spread them out too much if they are too weak alone to mention. Thanks in advance for anyone's help and suggestions.
I did the following things:
For research (all in the same lab under the same professor):
* 3 years of doing special study (research for credit in a lab)
* one independent project
* one poster
* presented my poster at a undergraduate research conference
* a summer REU program
For clinical:
* 2 years in the ER (started out as a 2 qtr internship, then switched to being a community volunteer but still got transcript notation for all 2 years -- so does this count as community service?) where I got to see procedures, learned how to do EKGs, and followed a doctor who wrote one of my letter of recommendations
* 6 months interning at a Neuroscience Center where I shadowed doctors of different specialties, and got to interact with patients and staff more than at my other internships
* 1 quarter interning in a Operating Room where I got to see many operations up close
Awards/Honors:
- graduated with Honors
- Dean's Honor List for 7 qtrs
- Departmental Citation Award (for my gpa and research)
- Member of Golden Key Honor Society
- Member of Phi Sigma National Honor Society
Hobbies:
- 3 years of piano lessons in high school. In college, I continued practicing on and off (depending on what classes I took, and if I had midterms that week or not). I also took many music classes in college, and joined the Gamelan Ensemble for 2 quarters (can I list this as a hobby).
Tutoring:
- I'm from an immigrant family where the adults don't speak much English so the older kids in the family (me being one of them) had to help tutor the younger kids. Later in college, I worked for one quarter as a Physiology Tutor. (is this significant enough to list as an activity or would it be considered fluff?)
Volunteer Experience:
- I was the president of a community service club in high school, and received a small $500 scholarship and and a service medal for it. In college, I joined some small clubs, but only went to maybe 3-4 events per quarter. Instead I focused most of my volunteer work by volunteering in the ER because I was more interested in the hospital setting. (Is this okay to list as a volunteer experience? Should I list it as volunteer experience, internship experience, or both? Also, can I mention my role as president as leadership?)
Can someone, hopefully an adcomm like LizzyM, please give me suggestions on how I should organize this? If I lump them together too much, then I won't come close to having 15 activities. But I also don't want to spread them out too much if they are too weak alone to mention. Thanks in advance for anyone's help and suggestions.
You are not obliged to provide the contact information, but IMO it's a good idea if it's at all possible to squeeze it in with a bit of editing elsewhere. If it's not there, and an adcomm wants to know badly enough, they can google it and find out for themselves. (But why put them to unnecessary work if it's avoidable?)
sorry if this has been asked a lot but I looked through as much of the thread as I could and couldn't find too clear of an answer
if you're a part of a club (let's say Red Cross or WHO) and have an active role but no leadership, do you put this under nonmedical volunteering or hobbies/EC? I guess I'm just kind of confused as to what is put into the hobbies/EC section since everything I can think of can fit in somewhere else too :/
if you're a part of a club (let's say Red Cross or WHO) and have an active role but no leadership, do you put this under nonmedical volunteering or hobbies/EC? I guess I'm just kind of confused as to what is put into the hobbies/EC section since everything I can think of can fit in somewhere else too :/
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Depends on what it is? Is the organization just purely volunteer work? Or is it volunteer work, lectures given by guest speakers, and tons of other stuff too?
If it is the latter then classify it as hobbies/ecs not listed elsewhere like I did for amsa and premed organizations. If it is like vUSF where all you are doing is volunteering then list it as nonmedical volunteering.
and if the organizations are World Health organization and red cross how is it non medical??? Was it the specific role you had there that made it non medical? I'm confused.
This kind of goes off that other person's question. I register people for the Bone Marrow Registry (have an active leadership position) and was wondering if that would be medical or non-medical volunteer work? My responsibilities are to explain who needs marrow, how the process works, help them with the forms, and cheek swabs.
I still feel like it medical schools really wanted to contact your Activities programs, they should just ask for email or phone number (like they do with the letter of recommendation people). It would have been very easy to provide and I was confused not to see them ask for this information. A experience description though is just that, the "opportunity to describe or summarize each experience" (as Amcas says).... you shouldn't be wasting it with phone numbers (I mean, I had room, but that just looks silly). Additionally, you shouldn't be making an entire description be contact information. That seems to be a student missing the point of what is asked of him or her. Maybe I should have added the contact info though.
Except for the cheek swabs the rest seems non clinical. So I would put it as non clinical.
Anyhow the explanation will be evident of what it is to a reviewer when it goes to schools.
About how long is it taking everyone to fill this out in, say time per activity?
10 min? 20 min?
Just curious as I have to complete this tomorrow.
10 min? 20 min?
Just curious as I have to complete this tomorrow.
It took me about 15 days working a few hours each day. A large part of my time was spent writing up descriptions for my activities. If you've already got everything written out, then it's just a matter of putting it all in and you could do it in one day. I went over my entire application tons of times to make sure everything was right...the next day after I submitted I found out that I had placed a comma in the wrong place and didn't spell "executive" right. Luckily, they're not huge things but it's still annoying. I'd highly recommend going over your stuff several times.
Sorry I mean to say medical! I guess I was confused because someone told me that all clubs go under EC/Hobbies since technically everything is an EC. So from what I understand the EC/Hobby section is just for things you couldn't fit into other slots?
Yeah that's what I used it for. Although when I listed shadowing, that was in the true category called OTHER.
But organizations I listed as you stated you were told to do. However, some of them I listed the organization but categorized as volunteer non medical because it was more the focus on what volunteerism I did then the concept of the organization as an organization.
Is this way too in depth for a resarch experience description?
"This was a paid research experience. The project that I was working on investigated the effects of species dispersal on environmentally forced aquatic metacommunities (an aggregation of multiple ecological communities experiencing environmental constraints). Species dispersal is the movement of a species away from its origin. The project investigated the effects of species dispersal on metacommunity stability (spatial insurance effect). It has been suggested that low dispersal rates result in higher levels of metacommunity stability. As such, we initiated an experimental test of spatial insurance effect on community stability of a system composed of three competing species of zooplankton. The environmental constraints applied to the system were in the form of pH oscillations and a variation of dispersal treatments (treatments resulting in none, low or high dispersal rates). Plankton population dynamics were followed for 108 days.
I was primarily responsible for running chlorophyll-a analysis on collected samples. I was also responsible for the enumeration of species in samples collected on a biweekly basis. I also ensured that the proper environmental constraints were applied to the system. Lastly, I noted any trends that resulted from the applied environmental constraints on the system."
"
"This was a paid research experience. The project that I was working on investigated the effects of species dispersal on environmentally forced aquatic metacommunities (an aggregation of multiple ecological communities experiencing environmental constraints). Species dispersal is the movement of a species away from its origin. The project investigated the effects of species dispersal on metacommunity stability (spatial insurance effect). It has been suggested that low dispersal rates result in higher levels of metacommunity stability. As such, we initiated an experimental test of spatial insurance effect on community stability of a system composed of three competing species of zooplankton. The environmental constraints applied to the system were in the form of pH oscillations and a variation of dispersal treatments (treatments resulting in none, low or high dispersal rates). Plankton population dynamics were followed for 108 days.
I was primarily responsible for running chlorophyll-a analysis on collected samples. I was also responsible for the enumeration of species in samples collected on a biweekly basis. I also ensured that the proper environmental constraints were applied to the system. Lastly, I noted any trends that resulted from the applied environmental constraints on the system."
"
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If goldwater scholarship is like some of these other programs where it is awarded in exchange for you to do research somewhere then you can mention what research you will be doing if you have not listed it elsewhere.
Otherwise just mention what you said and mention how competitive it is to get it. I know the people i've seen win it in the past are usually 4.0 40 kind of students from places like Harvard and Duke. So might want to mention how competitive it is for the small select few who might not realize it.
Yes. I'd have one spot for Awards/Honors and the other for Intercollegiate Sports.
Consider an opening paragraph that a nonscience person can understand, then proceed as above. Something like: This paid research focused on the dispersal rates of three competing microscopic organisms due to variations in their environment.
I would put the last date you were involved and then add a note at the end of the narrative that you will resume the activity during the academic year. Otherwise you're giving a mistaken impression of summer involvement.
Don't worry about it. Your approach is fine, too.
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