Hobbies & interests section...

[anologital]

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[alexrgross]

Someone has already asked the question regarding the hobbies section on the notion that they didn't have any -- but this might be a little different.

I spend the vast vast vast majority of my free time just sitting in a room talking to my friends. We don't really party or anything like that, but whenever any of us has any time instead of going out and doing more proactive things we just spend time together on the assumption that it's always going to be a fun and stimulating conversation. I guess we go out to eat pretty often, but the point is that the focus is on talking to each other -- really talking to each other. It's something I look forward to every day and I wouldn't rather spend my free time any other way. I honestly don't have enough good things to say about the way I feel about this "activity"...

The thing is, I feel like even mentioning this in any sort of serious manner to try and explain how I feel about it would probably get me rejected nearly everywhere...I'd just be some kid who loves hanging out with his friends, it's nothing special.

And as far as other things that I do for fun go, I used to play Super Smash Bros. Melee competitively and was considered the second best falco player in southern California, but now I only do that once in a while because of academics. I have been to a couple of tournaments recently, however, and placed well at one but had to leave the other early =\. The thing about this hobby is that: 1, it's video games and 2, there's no way I can prove my skills to an adcom (would it even be worth it if I could?).

And like any of the other billions of people out there, I really enjoy listening to music (but like I said, who doesn't?), and I can spend a few hours doing nothing but this as well. I do follow my favorite artists and try to catch concerts when I can. The problem with this is...I like electronic music. I go to these concerts exclusively for the music, but the stigma attached to the genre makes me reluctant to mention this, too -- especially because they could easily ask me about it in an interview and then they'd know exactly what kind of music I like...

So my questions to you guys would be...Are these things even acceptable to put on an application? It's probably true that I should just take up cooking (as in find some new hobbies), right?

Oh, and I also really like playing pool.

Sorry for the long post -- thanks for all the help.

Reading this I am convinced these activites are meaningful, why not list all them under on activity "Hobbies" and explain them like you did above.

 

[Lafakads]

besides the OP's trolling, I did play WoW competitively in high school. Got bunch of world firsts (Was in Death and Taxes back in TBC).

If only adcoms knew how hard and competitive it was.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

6/10

Although I knocked off a few points because of the recent influx of trolls in the forum, I really did enjoy your creativity. Keep up the good work!

They keep getting banned so quickly I bet they are all the same person.

 

[235788]

time to start "fluffing."


You would stay in with your friends and compose music (both electronic and classical), designed computer programs to make online banking safer, and gave golf lessons (as a group) to underprivileged minors for free

 

[09ine]

Had it been worded differently I probably would have bought it. I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen any professional gamers around the forums here.

 

[anologital]

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[235788]

Really not trolling guys
Lol

I'm new.

have you ever wondered what the difference is between a MD and a DO?

 

[09ine]

Maybe you should give some stats up like your GPA and MCAT. Gaming with a 4.0 vs a 2.3 is a huge difference.

 

[Conflagration]

Someone has already asked the question regarding the hobbies section on the notion that they didn't have any -- but this might be a little different.

I spend the vast vast vast majority of my free time just sitting in a room talking to my friends. We don't really party or anything like that, but whenever any of us has any time instead of going out and doing more proactive things we just spend time together on the assumption that it's always going to be a fun and stimulating conversation. I guess we go out to eat pretty often, but the point is that the focus is on talking to each other -- really talking to each other. It's something I look forward to every day and I wouldn't rather spend my free time any other way. I honestly don't have enough good things to say about the way I feel about this "activity"...

The thing is, I feel like even mentioning this in any sort of serious manner to try and explain how I feel about it would probably get me rejected nearly everywhere...I'd just be some kid who loves hanging out with his friends, it's nothing special.

And as far as other things that I do for fun go, I used to play Super Smash Bros. Melee competitively and was considered the second best falco player in southern California, but now I only do that once in a while because of academics. I have been to a couple of tournaments recently, however, and placed well at one but had to leave the other early =\. The thing about this hobby is that: 1, it's video games and 2, there's no way I can prove my skills to an adcom (would it even be worth it if I could?).

And like any of the other billions of people out there, I really enjoy listening to music (but like I said, who doesn't?), and I can spend a few hours doing nothing but this as well. I do follow my favorite artists and try to catch concerts when I can. The problem with this is...I like electronic music. I go to these concerts exclusively for the music, but the stigma attached to the genre makes me reluctant to mention this, too -- especially because they could easily ask me about it in an interview and then they'd know exactly what kind of music I like...

So my questions to you guys would be...Are these things even acceptable to put on an application? It's probably true that I should just take up cooking (as in find some new hobbies), right?

Oh, and I also really like playing pool.

Sorry for the long post -- thanks for all the help.

What is this, your e-Harmony profile?

Do you play an instrument? Are you in a club? There's got to be something that makes you stand out.

 

[anologital]

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[235788]

All right well my cGPA is 3.63 and BCPM is 3.67. The only reason I went into that detail was because I really feel like I don't have much in this department...thought the details would help decide whether three things are even worth mentioning. haven't taken the mcat yet though I got a 36 on aamc 4.I have research and clinical exposure as well as a publication in the American journal of transplantation.as for as the gaming thing goes I want to stress that I played competitively years ago and now it's just something I do for fun.

make crap up or tell them how you were lame and didn't do anything for four years. I'm sure you'll paint a picture of applicant who brings something to the whole.

 

[kestralray]

Someone has already asked the question regarding the hobbies section on the notion that they didn't have any -- but this might be a little different.

I spend the vast vast vast majority of my free time just sitting in a room talking to my friends. We don't really party or anything like that, but whenever any of us has any time instead of going out and doing more proactive things we just spend time together on the assumption that it's always going to be a fun and stimulating conversation. I guess we go out to eat pretty often, but the point is that the focus is on talking to each other -- really talking to each other. It's something I look forward to every day and I wouldn't rather spend my free time any other way. I honestly don't have enough good things to say about the way I feel about this "activity"...

The thing is, I feel like even mentioning this in any sort of serious manner to try and explain how I feel about it would probably get me rejected nearly everywhere...I'd just be some kid who loves hanging out with his friends, it's nothing special.

And as far as other things that I do for fun go, I used to play Super Smash Bros. Melee competitively and was considered the second best falco player in southern California, but now I only do that once in a while because of academics. I have been to a couple of tournaments recently, however, and placed well at one but had to leave the other early =\. The thing about this hobby is that: 1, it's video games and 2, there's no way I can prove my skills to an adcom (would it even be worth it if I could?).

And like any of the other billions of people out there, I really enjoy listening to music (but like I said, who doesn't?), and I can spend a few hours doing nothing but this as well. I do follow my favorite artists and try to catch concerts when I can. The problem with this is...I like electronic music. I go to these concerts exclusively for the music, but the stigma attached to the genre makes me reluctant to mention this, too -- especially because they could easily ask me about it in an interview and then they'd know exactly what kind of music I like...

So my questions to you guys would be...Are these things even acceptable to put on an application? It's probably true that I should just take up cooking (as in find some new hobbies), right?

Oh, and I also really like playing pool.

Sorry for the long post -- thanks for all the help.

You seem pretty sincere, so I'll take a stab at answering seriously.

1) Your assessment about your first activity is accurate. As far as I can tell, it won't translate into anything applicable to med school. While friendliness, good with people, and good communication are useful traits, I don't think that talking a lot to people you already know well demonstrates this at all.

2) This is interesting. I'm not sure how adcoms view video games, but it sounds like something you've put time into, committed to, and have gotten skilled at. Not exactly the same as a sport or a musical instrument, but similar. I think this is something that you could write about that would make you unique. But, then again, I don't know if there is a prejudice against video games.

3) Eh, once again, passive things that interest you generally aren't useful. If you composed music, that would be one thing, but just taking an interest in it and listening to it isn't that special, no matter the music. Maybe if you'd written something about the history of it, happened to be an expert on it, or were actively involved in it somehow, you could write about it.

 

[AllDay24]

Damn you west coast Melee players. Anyway, which tournaments did you go to? Zenith, Apex, Impulse, ROM?

I refrained from including video games on my AMCAS since it conflicts with my other interests.

 

[NightGod]

If you actually attended a fair number of competitions for gaming, I dunno, could possibly spin that. I mean, it's a HOBBY and it's not like your GPA suffered for it. Seems like a stretch tho. Can't be any worse than saying you played inter-mural disc golf or kickball. You're still getting out and spending time around other people doing something entertaining. I'd be pretty loathe to have that be the focus of/only hobby on my list, though.