Hobbies as ECs

[thebillsfan]

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So I've gotten into playing the guitar lately. I'm taking lessons and whatnot, and am not very good, but am spending a considerable amount of time (ie, 6 hrs/week on it). It really is just a hobby, I'm not going to be performing or competing at all...so given its something i just do for fun, and something that i spend a significant amt of time doing (6 hrs is a lot for me!), is this something i can put as one of my 15 activities on the amcas or would that be a waste of space? i wouldnt put anything else on the amcas in place of this.

basically, in general, what are the guidelines for putting fun activities on the EC portion of the amcas?

 

[sarahl86]

I put in that I play the violin and rock climb in my activities for my last application...I don't see any problem with adding it as long as you limit it to just one of your 15 activities. Maybe group them together if you have other ones to not make it look like its just filler. After all, we're still human right? Perfectly capable of finding things enjoyable to do with our time?

Of course if you have 50,000 research projects/publications or volunteer doing a ton of different things that would be better spent filling up those spaces instead of playing guitar, it would be advisable to use the 15 slots for something a little more substantial.

 

[Myuu]

I put in that I play the violin and rock climb in my activities for my last application...I don't see any problem with adding it as long as you limit it to just one of your 15 activities. Maybe group them together if you have other ones to not make it look like its just filler. After all, we're still human right? Perfectly capable of finding things enjoyable to do with our time?

Of course if you have 50,000 research projects/publications or volunteer doing a ton of different things that would be better spent filling up those spaces instead of playing guitar, it would be advisable to use the 15 slots for something a little more substantial.

Unless those 50,000 things are purely in the academic arena, in which case you should definitely add the guitar to balance things out (which is to say make you look human).👍

 

[bobbybobbob]

I am a classically-trained pianist who has competed in several state competitions

In addition, I am a member of the Cowboy Fast Draw association (quick draw shooting)

Finally, I ride in the Champion Cup series as an amateur middleweight

 

[nick_carraway]

I listed my hobbies in one of the EC boxes and advisors that I contacted at the end of the app cycle said that it's a nice thing to read. I say put it in!

 

[LizzyM]

I am a classically-trained pianist who has competed in several state competitions

In addition, I am a member of the Cowboy Fast Draw association (quick draw shooting)
Finally, I ride in the Champion Cup series as an amateur middleweight

👍 This is worthy of 3 of 15 spaces. Seriously, don't come across as a robot, show us what else gets your blood flowing. The quick draw reminds me of a joke:
Three doctors are in the duck blind and a bird flies overhead. The general practitioner looks at it and says, "Looks like a duck, flies like a duck... it's probably a duck," shoots at it but misses and the bird flies away. The next bird flies overhead, and the pathologist looks at it, then looks through the pages of a bird manual, and says, "Hmmmm...green wings, yellow bill, quacking sound...might be a duck." He raises his gun to shoot it, but the bird is long gone. A third bird flies over. The surgeon raises his gun and shoots almost without looking, brings the bird down, and turns to the pathologist and says, "Go see if that was a duck."

 

[Mobius1985]

👍 The quick draw reminds me of a joke:

You made me laugh out loud. It was a true joke.

OP, there is a selectable category on the AMCAS application called "Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations" meant for listing such activities.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

You made me laugh out loud. It was a true joke.

OP, there is a selectable category on the AMCAS application called "Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations" meant for listing such activities.

What's your opinion on including activities that the applicant no longer participates in? I played drums (self-taught) for about 5 years and spent ~4 years of that time in two bands. We played small shows where we all would have made more money by not taking the night off work, but it was fun.

Anyway, I haven't really played in the last two years. Is this still worth mentioning? (If I had a couple of willing participants, I would still be playing...)

 

[LizzyM]

What's your opinion on including activities that the applicant no longer participates in? I played drums (self-taught) for about 5 years and spent ~4 years of that time in two bands. We played small shows where we all would have made more money by not taking the night off work, but it was fun.

Anyway, I haven't really played in the last two years. Is this still worth mentioning? (If I had a couple of willing participants, I would still be playing...)

Sure, include it. If someone participated in an athletic event at the World Championship level but gave it up to focus on academics, would you suggest that he not include athletics? Bring your drums to med school... you are sure to meet up with some other musicians and find an outlet for your musical talents.