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

[LizzyM]

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Wow, you must never get bored with all these forums! This is like a full-time job!

It is a nice break from my full time job. 😀

Thanks for the responses! So you think I should seperate the volunteer-clinical summer program from the shadowing experiences, making an entry for each?

If you did different things, then separate. If it was all shadowing, then combine.

I have one more question also, I worked for a large retail store about 4 years ago, but it has since closed down. Is it okay to put "N/A (out of business)" under contact first name and leave the rest of the contact info blank? How would you recommend going about this?

Thanks again!

Your solution for the problem of the defunct organization sounds fine.

 

[LizzyM]

I volunteered at a summer camp for burn victims a few years ago (think HS), is this an appropriate item to list on the application given that it was in HS? I also was not a camp counselor, I did a number of clerical duties such as fundraising, mailings, and so on. I was also involved in a number of their activities as well, more of like a junior counselor. What would be the most appropriate way to list this activity, if at all?

Repeat after me: "I will not include activities done in high school in the experience section."

What would be the best way to list research that I did as an undergraduate if it was presented at say the National American Chemical Society Conference as a poster, and won an award?

I'd call it a presentation or an honor/award. Decide what you want to highlight (the presenting or the award or the research) call it whatever and describe the rest in the text box. Or, if you don't have many slots filled, slice the salami and list each separately.

Also as an undergrad I was involved in a separate research project that did not culminate in any publications/presentations. However I did serve as Team Leader for that project. (The project was on Seahorse survival)

Call it research.

Would it be appropriate to list that I was the freshman class rep for the honors program at my university and elected VP for the following year even if due to personal circumstances (Cancer) I stepped down from the position?

If you want to put in on the application, call it leadership. You can put in the text box that you were elected VP but stepped down due to illness or personal circumstances. Be prepared to be asked what the personal circumstances were. If you'd rather not say, don't list it at all (just list the freshman service).

Can I use my role as a Head Resident Assistant (x2 years, and 1 year as a regular RA) as leadership?

Yes, or an employment.

I also volunteered as a zoo keeper during a summer (20h/week). Is this something an ADCOM would care about?

Very cool and quite unusual compared to being an RA and all the other stuff. This is what you're sure to get asked about because it is not every day that an interviewer gets to talk to someone who worked in a zoo and we can all related to it, etc.

I was also the student representative for an Alcohol Task Force at my University, and organized, managed, and oversaw an education initiative for all incoming students. How should this be stated, or should it be included at all?

Volunteer, non-clinical.

I have also been a blackbelt in Karate for 11 years (total time taking karate 18years) I was also the youngest female to receive a blackbelt in that discipline at the time. Is any of this something an ADCOM would be interested in?

Goes to physical fitness and stress-reducer so it could be included under athletics or hobby/advocation.

Lastly, I was told that ADCOMs like for applicants to explain how each activity influences why an applicant would be a good medical student/future doctor/etc. From your posts I have gotten the feeling that ADCOMs prefer to make their own conclusions about how activities relate to the future success of an applicant.

Thanks so very much in advance.

Well, I'm just going by what a dozen adcom members have told me. They don't like the longer descriptions that they've been faced with since AMCAS went to the larger text box for comments about each activity. Make of it what you will or YMMV as they say.

 

[bozz]

I noticed an MLA rule that a publication with 3+ authors should have:

FIRST AUTHOR et al.

1) The pub. I'm including is a book with 10+ authors. Each have their own chapter. I'm thinking of just citing the first author (professor) as suggested by the MLA format .. although it would look nice to have my name cited too :/

and then a description of my contribution to the book.

or

2) Just cite all of them anyways ... just like scientific journals

 

[NBA Cares]

Hi Lizzy,
For entering info for Dean's list, is it unnecessary for me to specify the GPA requirements? If I just say I have been on the list for seven straight semesters, is that good enough? Thanks.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Hi Lizzy,
For entering info for Dean's list, is it unnecessary for me to specify the GPA requirements? If I just say I have been on the list for seven straight semesters, is that good enough? Thanks.

Im not lizzy...but I just wanted to say I find your name hilarious...after watching 90% of the playoff games and seeing there "nba cares" commercials endlessly lol.


My guess is go ahead and specify the requirements, but realize that if you ahve 15 other things to put on amcas then you might try to do that...Because adcoms can look at your GPA and tell you made deans list

 

[NBA Cares]

Im not lizzy...but I just wanted to say I find your name hilarious...after watching 90% of the playoff games and seeing there "nba cares" commercials endlessly lol.


My guess is go ahead and specify the requirements, but realize that if you ahve 15 other things to put on amcas then you might try to do that...Because adcoms can look at your GPA and tell you made deans list

I am glad someone got a laugh out of name🙂
I have currently 13 activities with Dean's list included, so I guess I will specify the GPA requirements, thank you.

 

[wavedoctor]

Hey Lizzy,

I worked construction full time last summer 50+ hours a week so that I could support myself during the school year. It was mostly manual labor, shoveling, hammering, raking, ect, not much critical thinking involved. Its really not medically related at all but I feel it helped me develop work ethic (10 hr. days in 100+ degree heat will make any finals week feel like a walk in the park) and an genuine appreciation for the people who do it as a career. Do you think this is something I should put in my activities? I haven't really seen anyone bring this up so I wasn't really sure, its kind of off-beat.

Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

I noticed an MLA rule that a publication with 3+ authors should have:

FIRST AUTHOR et al.

1) The pub. I'm including is a book with 10+ authors. Each have their own chapter. I'm thinking of just citing the first author (professor) as suggested by the MLA format .. although it would look nice to have my name cited too :/

and then a description of my contribution to the book.

or

2) Just cite all of them anyways ... just like scientific journals

Use the science journal format... this is medicine, hon.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi Lizzy,
For entering info for Dean's list, is it unnecessary for me to specify the GPA requirements? If I just say I have been on the list for seven straight semesters, is that good enough? Thanks.

It is unnecessary to list it but it would put the achievement in perspective.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey Lizzy,

I worked construction full time last summer 50+ hours a week so that I could support myself during the school year. It was mostly manual labor, shoveling, hammering, raking, ect, not much critical thinking involved. Its really not medically related at all but I feel it helped me develop work ethic (10 hr. days in 100+ degree heat will make any finals week feel like a walk in the park) and an genuine appreciation for the people who do it as a career. Do you think this is something I should put in my activities? I haven't really seen anyone bring this up so I wasn't really sure, its kind of off-beat.

Thanks!

Absolutely. I know docs who worked in building construction, road construction, and in an abattoir prior to med school. It does give you an appreciation for manual labor but also for laborers, some of whom may be your patients some day. Anything that helps you better understand the human condition is a good experience for med school.

 

[ar2388]

hi,

i was wondering if adcoms prefer the descriptions to be paragraphs or just bullet points?

 

[LizzyM]

hi,

i was wondering if adcoms prefer the descriptions to be paragraphs or just bullet points?

There are 120+ adcoms and each has ~20-50 members. Do you think that every one of them thinks alike?

Either way is acceptable. Keep it as brief as possible while highlighting that which is out of the ordinary or items with which the adcom might be unfamiliar. (e.g. we all know what o-chem tutors do and we are familiar with the duties of volunteers in the pediatric ward).

 

[LostLost]

Hey
Lizzy or significant others, would you mind looking at my activity list? I have eleven activity entries but obviously I can break it down to make them 15. (1) Should I keep it grouped or separate some of them. For instance, should I separate the research entries because one is humanities while the other two are science. And should I break them down if I don't have enough space to explain mini entries in detail? (2) Should I put in summer of 05 where I canceled my summer classes and quit my job to take care of a loved one and shadowed a doctor. I know its a weird entry but I just don't want any gap in my resume. Thank you very much.

1.EMT

2.Clinical Volunteering
Mercy Hospital (3 years)
Children Memorial Hospital (two semesters)
Rush Medical Center (one year)

3.Non-Clinical Volunteering
Soup kitchen (4 years)
ESL tutor (2 years)
Refugees’ translator (now)

4.Research
Hektoen Institute paid research internship (three summers)
Philosophy research (one summer)
Chemistry Lab Volunteer (one year)

5.Publications
Two abstracts from Hektoen internship
One published article on philosophy research
Chemistry Lab data used in published article

6.College Employment
Library page (20hrs/week, one year)
Bus boy (seasonal, 2004-present)
Overnight stock (15hrs/week, one year)

7.Awards

8.Faith Involvement
Bible study group
Totus tous

9.Invisible Conflicts
Founding members, treasurer for two semester, went to DC to lobby, etc

10.Hobbies
Reading, Biking, Guitar

11.Summer 2005
Took care of ill grandpa and shadowed the physician on the side.

 

[LizzyM]

Lostlost:
I'd suggest breaking the research into 3 (that makes 13) and breaking the employment (that makes 15).

The shadowing & family caregiver role can go together under "other" and each compliments the other as you got so see things from the doc's perspective and from the loved one's perspective.

 

[WinterLights]

If you did an activity over the course of two summers, should you only enter this once? If so, how does one let them know that you did the activity over more than one summer?

 

[ChemGrad08]

I was wondering what people are doing about the date on grouped awards/scholarships.
Should you put the earliest date (often the beginning of college for scholarships) or the latest (often the end of college for awards)?

Thanks

 

[LizzyM]

If you did an activity over the course of two summers, should you only enter this once? If so, how does one let them know that you did the activity over more than one summer?

Either list it twice and describe what you did each summer (particularly if you had more responsibility the second year) or show the second year and state in the free text that you were there the previous summer as well.

What you want to avoid is something like June 2006-August 2007 40 hours/wk

because that makes it look like you worked full time for 15 months.

 

[BearsDoc]

Hello, for the activity section, I don't see anywhere I can put a phone number and address for contact information. Do I need to? If it is yes, where? Thank you.

 

[hypnix]

How would you list some religious activity such as playing the guitar before and after you meet a group for Bible study? I do play also on my own time as well so it's a hobby and sort of a leadership position, but I read somewhere it's a big no-no to put religious activities and beliefs in the application. Is this true?

 

[gujuDoc]

How would you list some religious activity such as playing the guitar before and after you meet a group for Bible study? I do play also on my own time as well so it's a hobby and sort of a leadership position, but I read somewhere it's a big no-no to put religious activities and beliefs in the application. Is this true?

I think its ok as long as you don't preach to others about what they should believe, but if it is a big part of who you are and you've done community service through your church, been a leader i.e. via leading the choir or music at the church or things of that nature you can mention it.

 

[chad5871]

Hello, for the activity section, I don't see anywhere I can put a phone number and address for contact information. Do I need to? If it is yes, where? Thank you.

No, you don't need to. If the adcom REALLY wants to contact this person, they'll just google the organization and call them.

 

[BearsDoc]

No, you don't need to. If the adcom REALLY wants to contact this person, they'll just google the organization and call them.

I saw somewhere in here, LizyM talked about calling old pal, I was afraid of missing something.

 

[dtown5887]

LizzyM and others,
I play a varsity sport and I was honored as conference scholar athlete, and I wanted to put this in the awards section. Should I describe the criteria for being a conference scholar athlete (i.e. gpa above xx, must be a starter on team, etc) in the description section or just leave it blank because it is kind of self-explanatory?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[dtown5887]

I am also the captain of my team. Should I put team captain in the leadership category or should I just put that I was captain under the description of the sport itself?

Thanks again

 

[LizzyM]

I am also the captain of my team. Should I put team captain in the leadership category or should I just put that I was captain under the description of the sport itself?

Thanks again

Your two posts raise the question: do you want to split or lump? Too much splitting looks like padding and too much lumping can make for very long, involved items (and if you have 15 lumps it can be hard to pick out the high points of a very dense experience section).

Your posts also make me ask: what do you want to highlight? do you want to highlight that you were a scholar athlete? (the adcom can already see your gpa so that is a given) do you want to focus on the leadership skills you learned and practiced as team captain? do you want to focus on the effort (hrs) expended in varsity athletics and the teamwork you learned?

I can't answer this for you. In the end, the application needs to reflect your personality and your values.

Good luck. Whatever you decide, you can't go wrong because you'll have chosen what is best for your situation.

 

[wannabedocta]

If I'm lumping my awards in one section for Awards, and also for publications and presentations, how should I title each section? Should I simply restate it as Awards/Honors ??? and Research Presentations??

 

[dtown5887]

thanks, LizzyM.

another related question, how do i list the start and end dates of my sport? i've been playing since freshman year and we participate during the winter season. should i say november 2005- february 2008? or november 2005- present because i am still on the team? or november 2007-february 2008 and say in the description section that i have been playing since freshman year?

 

[chad5871]

If I'm lumping my awards in one section for Awards, and also for publications and presentations, how should I title each section? Should I simply restate it as Awards/Honors ??? and Research Presentations??

Yep. I think those titles would accurately describe what is appearing in the description section.

 

[lisasimpson87]

Hey I have a question about how to convey that I've spent time in a clinical setting in the activities section. I have one year of volunteering at a hospital (3 hrs/week for 20 weeks) during sophomore year and one week of shadowing (40 hrs).
This doesn't seem like a whole lot, but I worked at a doctor's office for 36 hrs/week for 4 summers during high school. Also, I stopped volunteering after sophomore year bc my dad was sick and I spent a lot of time in the hospital with him (throughout high school and college, but way more starting the end of sophomore year (in college) until last december). I mention these in the personal statement, but should I/can I include either/both in the activities section? I know they say not to include high school things or personal things, but these were big factors in getting me interested in/ exposed to medicine, and i want to make sure to convey to adcoms that i have that exposure and know what being a doctor entails. thanks for any help

 

[talbo]

i was wondering if you can enter activities in such a manner

the catergory is award and name is something like Award X

i have numerous awards and would like to enter them and some of them are pretty big at my school

so i was thinking in the description if i can talk about Award X and also mention Award Y, Z, etc

thanks and hope to hear some response!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

i was wondering if you can enter activities in such a manner

the catergory is award and name is something like Award X

i have numerous awards and would like to enter them and some of them are pretty big at my school

so i was thinking in the description if i can talk about Award X and also mention Award Y, Z, etc

thanks and hope to hear some response!

If I were you I would do it like this...

Name: Academic awards or whatever
Contact: blank
Hours/week: blank
Description: list the awards and describe the criteria.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey I have a question about how to convey that I've spent time in a clinical setting in the activities section. I have one year of volunteering at a hospital (3 hrs/week for 20 weeks) during sophomore year and one week of shadowing (40 hrs).
This doesn't seem like a whole lot,

But it is enough, particularly if you are going to talk about your motivation to medicine in the PS.

The experience section is a place to list your experiences since HS graduation. Don't pad it with stuff you did in HS.

I stopped volunteering after sophomore year bc my dad was sick and I spent a lot of time in the hospital with him

In the slot where you list the volunteering in the hospital, add a comment that you stopped volunteering when the need to care for your dad increased.

i want to make sure to convey to adcoms that i have that exposure and know what being a doctor entails. thanks for any help

that's what the PS is for and your activities have something so you should be OK in that regard.

 

[futuredrcrawfor]

This might sound crazy but how important is it that you use all 15 spots on the application?

I have 11 currently and am not sure if I should break it up more or keep it the way it is- I am pretty stable- I have volunteered over 250 hrs with the same organization, I held the same job since the beginning of my senior year of high school, etc...

I was going to list both of my study abroad programs separately and then uses 2 spots for my research- one for the project itself and one for a presentation at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum... I have a couple extracurriculars and stuff-

also do I need to list stuff like president's and dean's list, amsa, and NSCS??? I was a member but didn't hold a leadership position (I did in another organization which is on the app)

 

[DRBHOOM]

i thought it was kind of risque to put down 15? so bunched some of mine together.

Thanks for the help LizzyM (and sorry for asking dumb questions)

 

[LostLost]

Hey Lizzy or significant others,
Thank you before I ask question. (1) What citation style should I use for philosophy paper publication and a cancer research abstract. APA? MLA? (2) I have a copy of my science abstract but I can't seem to find it anywhere as on the web. Would that be a problem?

 

[LizzyM]

Hey Lizzy or significant others,
Thank you before I ask question. (1) What citation style should I use for philosophy paper publication and a cancer research abstract. APA? MLA? (2) I have a copy of my science abstract but I can't seem to find it anywhere as on the web. Would that be a problem?

I always go with the biomedical way of citing articles but that's my discipline's way:

lastname intials, lastname initials. Article title with only first word capitalized. J Article Abbrev 2007;82:1234-8.

(those last numbers are year, volume and pages.) If the numbers don't run consecutively through the entire volume you can add the issue number as follows: 2007;82 (3): 1234-8.

If it would seem totally incongruent to cite a philosophy paper that way use whatever style you used in the paper itself.


I don't think that the science abstract not being on the web would be a problem. If you have copies, you can bring one to the interview to add to your file.

 

[Ariadne]

I have a couple questions concerning listing activities that fall under more than one category. A brief synopsis of some of my ECs:

Research

1. Clinical Research Assistant in the Department of EM at local Medical College (I work in the ED/Trauma Center)
~15 hours a week for six months now

2. Clinical Research Assistant for a center carrying out tobacco research and cessation work (also through a medical school, although separate from the one listed above, but I worked in an outpatient clinic)
~15-20 hours a week for almost two years

Teaching/Tutoring

3. Teaching Assistant for first semester A&P
25% appointment for two semesters, scheduled to continue in the fall

4. Supplemental Instruction Leader (specialized form of tutoring) for same class
10 hours a week for one semester, scheduled to continue in the fall

5. Horseback riding instructor
I don't even know how to count the hours on this one. It was my main way of supporting myself for approximately three years, but didn't exactly follow the normal M-F 9-5 convention.

Leadership (?)

6. Campus Ambassador (led freshman groups through orientation and mentored them throughout the school year)
Also not sure on the hours for this one, it encompassed about 4 to 5 12 hour days each year before the start of the fall semester and then sporadic time throughout the school year (I participated for two years)

So, my questions:

First, 1-6 above were/are all paid activities to some degree. Is it okay to list them in their more specific categories, instead of just all in the 'Paid Employment - Not Military' section? And if so, should I mention in the description area that they were for employment purposes as well as experience?

Second, I've worked 30+ hours (usually through multiple jobs) for the last five years in order to support myself/pay tuition while also going to school full time. This fact is something I mention in my personal statement to help explain the somewhat inconsistent trend in my grades at times. Therefore, I feel like the rest of my application should support the assertion I'm making about work history, and I'm wondering if I should include all the other jobs I've held/hold (i.e. Gallery Assistant, Program Assistant for College of Nursing Cont. Ed. Program, Testing Center Proctor, etc.). I'm just concerned about a) having enough space for my other non-work activities, and b) not looking like I'm trying to pad my application.

Finally, just a technicality question, does #6 above count as leadership? I feel like a gained/helped improve on my leadership skills tremendously through the experience, which is why I chose the category. However, given the necessity for brevity in the description area, I wondering if it comes across as leadership to others...

I appreciate any feedback others can give, sorry this was such a long read!

 

[scarletgirl777]

I have a couple questions concerning listing activities that fall under more than one category. A brief synopsis of some of my ECs:

Research

1. Clinical Research Assistant in the Department of EM at local Medical College (I work in the ED/Trauma Center)
~15 hours a week for six months now

2. Clinical Research Assistant for a center carrying out tobacco research and cessation work (also through a medical school, although separate from the one listed above, but I worked in an outpatient clinic)
~15-20 hours a week for almost two years

Teaching/Tutoring

3. Teaching Assistant for first semester A&P
25% appointment for two semesters, scheduled to continue in the fall

4. Supplemental Instruction Leader (specialized form of tutoring) for same class
10 hours a week for one semester, scheduled to continue in the fall

5. Horseback riding instructor
I don't even know how to count the hours on this one. It was my main way of supporting myself for approximately three years, but didn't exactly follow the normal M-F 9-5 convention.

Leadership (?)

6. Campus Ambassador (led freshman groups through orientation and mentored them throughout the school year)
Also not sure on the hours for this one, it encompassed about 4 to 5 12 hour days each year before the start of the fall semester and then sporadic time throughout the school year (I participated for two years)

So, my questions:

First, 1-6 above were/are all paid activities to some degree. Is it okay to list them in their more specific categories, instead of just all in the 'Paid Employment - Not Military' section? And if so, should I mention in the description area that they were for employment purposes as well as experience?

Second, I've worked 30+ hours (usually through multiple jobs) for the last five years in order to support myself/pay tuition while also going to school full time. This fact is something I mention in my personal statement to help explain the somewhat inconsistent trend in my grades at times. Therefore, I feel like the rest of my application should support the assertion I'm making about work history, and I'm wondering if I should include all the other jobs I've held/hold (i.e. Gallery Assistant, Program Assistant for College of Nursing Cont. Ed. Program, Testing Center Proctor, etc.). I'm just concerned about a) having enough space for my other non-work activities, and b) not looking like I'm trying to pad my application.

Finally, just a technicality question, does #6 above count as leadership? I feel like a gained/helped improve on my leadership skills tremendously through the experience, which is why I chose the category. However, given the necessity for brevity in the description area, I wondering if it comes across as leadership to others...

I appreciate any feedback others can give, sorry this was such a long read!

As long as everything does not total more than 15, I would include everything.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are mentioning in the PS that you worked 30 hrs/wk, I'd list everything as paid employment and then describe the work. If you say you had paid employment and the job title was "tutor" the adcom will figure it out. I would call the Ambassador gig "leadership". The horse thing... figure out how many months and how many hours from week to week. If you have your old tax returns you might be able to figure it out by dividing your annual wages by your hourly wage and then dividing by the number of weeks you worked.

 

[medlover247]

I have a couple of questions:

When describing our activities can we talk about what we learned? For example, I had a shadowing experience was really great, and got me thinking and realizing a lot about why I want to do medicine. Can I talk about this, or is it strictly what you did...I hope this makes sense

Also, I volunteered over the past year at a hospital and have close to 100 hours, but I took time off now and then for various reasons. Should I explain this?

Last question: Is it okay if I don't have the email address for one of the contacts, can I leave this out, will it make a huge difference?

Thanks!

 

[lisasimpson87]

Hey, should I include "sigma xi research honor society" as one of my activities? My advisor says I should definitely include it, but it seems silly to me...I've never done anything for it after being inducted other than occasionally go to dinners/speakers. She says it looks impressive and will make them know I am interested in research. Should I just put it after the research item that got me inducted? I wanted to put something like: Research with doctors xxx doing yyy, submitted this article to this journal. Was allowed into sigma xi after this. which is the best way to do this? Thanks for any help.

 

[arizona1982]

I realize that it's inappropriate to list high school accomplishments. However, I spent a year abroad as a Rotary exchange student in between high school and college...should this be listed as an activity?

 

[LizzyM]

I realize that it's inappropriate to list high school accomplishments. However, I spent a year abroad as a Rotary exchange student in between high school and college...should this be listed as an activity?

If it happened after HS graduation it is OK.

 

[LizzyM]

Hey, should I include "sigma xi research honor society" as one of my activities? My advisor says I should definitely include it, but it seems silly to me...I've never done anything for it after being inducted other than occasionally go to dinners/speakers. She says it looks impressive and will make them know I am interested in research. Should I just put it after the research item that got me inducted? I wanted to put something like: Research with doctors xxx doing yyy, submitted this article to this journal. Was allowed into sigma xi after this. which is the best way to do this? Thanks for any help.

Excellent and modest approach. I like it.

 

[LizzyM]

I have a couple of questions:

When describing our activities can we talk about what we learned? For example, I had a shadowing experience was really great, and got me thinking and realizing a lot about why I want to do medicine. Can I talk about this, or is it strictly what you did...I hope this makes sense

Put "why medicine" in your PS.

Also, I volunteered over the past year at a hospital and have close to 100 hours, but I took time off now and then for various reasons. Should I explain this?

No need. Just list the inclusive dates and the average # of hours.

Last question: Is it okay if I don't have the email address for one of the contacts, can I leave this out, will it make a huge difference?

Thanks!

It's OK, I doubt it will make a difference.

 

[BDNF]

Whats wrong with having more than 13 activities? Even if one of them is scholarships and honor societies?

I'm sure all the pre-meds out there who don't know about sdn don't worry about these kinds of things, are they put at a disadvantage if they put 15 things, with 5 of them each as a separate scholarship for example?

Unless you have 13 other things on the application already, I'd suggest giving b-ball, swimming and piano their own slots because they are different activities. It won't look like padding, it will look well rounded. You could list b-ball and swimming as athletics and say that you practice both as a way of staying physically fit and as a stress reliever (adcoms value stress relievers and physical fitness). Piano can also be a stress reliever or a way to relax or you might be the type who plays to entertain others at parties so it is a different bird than athletics (It can go under hobbies or under performing arts.) Depending on when you started on each activity (start from the date of your first lesson) these activities tend to land at the end of the list because AMCAS uses the start date to place experiences in reverse chronological order.

 

[BDNF]

When I entered my experiences, it put my most recent thing done last on the list and the thing I've done for the longest time first. Isn't that just regular chronological order?

Is there any way to choose the order they are displayed? It feels a little weird having my hobbies (done for a long time) first.

Keep in mind that the activities are listed in reverse chronological order so that if you give the dates for the first summer but not the second, the activity will fall closer to the bottom of the list.

An adcom member wants to be able to read your application in 20-30 minutes and among other questions the reader may want to know how you account for your time during the academic year & in the summer. Digging for the information can make an adcom member a bit cranky and that can make the difference between interview and no interview (many application readers are expected to accept no more than half of all applications for interview, in some cases there are several layers with each layer cutting the pool by half, anything that gives you the slightest edge can help.) Even if you don't make the adcom member cranky, you could cause them to misunderstand your application and think that you did the activity for only one summer.

 

[BDNF]

No - most recent on top, down to earliest on the bottom.

Chad, is this what your experience list looks like?

When I entered mine, it put my most recent activities on the bottom and my hobbies on the top.

Is there a special way to enter it? like pressing "add another work activity" instead of "continue" ?

 

[pianola]

Most recent are on top. Look at the printout.

 

[chad5871]

Chad, is this what your experience list looks like?

When I entered mine, it put my most recent activities on the bottom and my hobbies on the top.

Is there a special way to enter it? like pressing "add another work activity" instead of "continue" ?

Most recent are on top. Look at the printout.

If you look at it within the application system itself, they appear in forward chronological order. Looking at it on the printout (which is how the schools will receive it), they're in reverse chronological order.