Hobbies

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EyesOfTheWorld

EyesOfTheWorld

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I thought it would be interesting to see a comparison between SDN users actual hobbies and those that they listed on their application. I'm betting that there are a lot of people who have similar hobbies but for varying reasons chose differently regarding whether or not to list them, and I'd love to see why.

So, list your actual hobbies compared to the ones you felt should be listed on AAMCAS. What made you choose not to list some hobbies and what made you list others? Were there any really important/beloved hobbies of yours that you didn't list? I think the reasoning is a lot more interesting than the hobby itself.

Unfortunately I can't start off the thread because I'm not sure what hobbies I'm going to end up finalizing on my app.

Edit: After posting this, I'm finding the word "hobbies" to be a very bizarre word indeed.:laugh:
 
Video games and game of thrones.


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Video games are one of my hobbies as well, but I'm almost tempted to list it. I work part time at a video game store and it's a great way to relieve stress for me. Also, I think there are a handful of video games that are intellectually stimulating (more than just reflexes, too. For example, the portal games always give me an intense mental workout), emotionally compelling and beautifully crafted works of art.

But there's a stigma attached to video games and it doesn't add much to my app unless there's a random ADCOM who would find it interesting so I'd probably just include it in a list of other hobbies if at all. :shrug:
 
EyesOfTheWorld said:
Video games are one of my hobbies as well, but I'm almost tempted to list it. I work part time at a video game store and it's a great way to relieve stress for me. Also, I think there are a handful of video games that are intellectually stimulating (more than just reflexes, too. For example, the portal games always give me an intense mental workout), emotionally compelling and beautifully crafted works of art.

But there's a stigma attached to video games and it doesn't add much to my app unless there's a random ADCOM who would find it interesting so I'd probably just include it in a list of other hobbies if at all. :shrug:
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Video games still have a negative stigma associated with them. I would not list it because it may make you seem lazy. Yeah it sucks.


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canadianinusa said:
I did not write any hobbies on my application because they didn't fit, as I'm a non-trad. One hobby of mine is weight lifting. I once mentioned this at a job interview at a very big, famous tech company that does advertising. The interviewer asked me to design an ad for the Shake Weight! It was very awkward. So no more hobbies.
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Now all I can think about is that South Park episode...
 
canadianinusa said:
I did not write any hobbies on my application because they didn't fit, as I'm a non-trad. One hobby of mine is weight lifting. I once mentioned this at a job interview at a very big, famous tech company that does advertising. The interviewer asked me to design an ad for the Shake Weight! It was very awkward. So no more hobbies.
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This made me LOL. 🤣

goft20 said:
Video games still have a negative stigma associated with them. I would not list it because it may make you seem lazy. Yeah it sucks.
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That's what I'm thinking too. It's such a silly stigma though, everyone sits around once in a while so I don't see why sitting around to do something interactive and mentally stimulating should be seen as lazy, but whatever. :shrug:I'm hoping my job at the video game store wont come with that stigma, though, since I've gained a lot of management experience and it's definitely going on my app.

I wonder if discussing it in interviews would be okay? I wouldn't be honest if I didn't list it as a hobby and discuss my appreciation of the interactive art form if asked about hobbies and the like. (Please note I would not start gushing about my favorite moments in The Last of Us or something without being asked. )
 
Learning guitar and random percussion instruments. Also writing music.

Also wasn't there a study from a few years back that showed surgeons who played 30 mins of mario kart before a laparoscopic operation performed better on average than those who didn't game? Might not be an entirely useless skill. Or at least that's what I tell myself when I play CoD...
 
The only one I know for sure I'm listing is scuba diving.

All of my other "hobbies" aren't worth listing.
 
Wait, did you not list the musical hobbies? I would definitely have listed those personally.

And yeah, I think it's generally accepted that video games improve hand eye coordination at the very least. There was a study in molecular psychiatry this year that discussed video games increasing grey matter in areas of the brain responsible for "spatial navigation, strategic planning, working memory and motor performance."
 
EyesOfTheWorld said:
Wait, did you not list the musical hobbies? I would definitely have listed those personally.

And yeah, I think it's generally accepted that video games improve hand eye coordination at the very least. There was a study in molecular psychiatry this year that discussed video games increasing grey matter in areas of the brain responsible for "spatial navigation, strategic planning, working memory and motor performance."
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If that was directed at me, I listed one of them because it was a significant time investment (over 100 hours) and I've made a lot of progress (as in if they gave me a guitar, I could play something at least somewhat cohesive), but I don't write enough (or good enough) pieces or play drums enough to warrant listing those.
 
I also had no room on the AMCAS, but I really enjoying making/creating things (like my own kinda art). I do a lot of knitting during the winter months and work with wood/furniture during the summer. And running, but I feel every premed has their own physical activity go to haha

But I think it's okay to not necessarily put down all your hobbies on the primary, because you can bring it up during secondaries and interviews to show more depth and possibly intrigue adcoms. But this also just may be my wishful thinking!
 
The only one I put on AMCAS was painting, which I've been doing for over 20 years and it's genuinely a part of me. Ones I didn't include: speed-running super Mario 64 (reveals too much of my inner nerd) and photography (not that good at it).
 
Zelda840 said:
The only one I put on AMCAS was painting, which I've been doing for over 20 years and it's genuinely a part of me. Ones I didn't include: speed-running super Mario 64 (reveals too much of my inner nerd) and photography (not that good at it).
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I recently watched a 2 hour world record speed run of all 120 stars in SM64. It was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. The coordination and planning required to pull it off were absolutely astounding, and the guy who did it even replicated it live at some gaming convention.
 
I have seen a couple that were under 2 hours! Both Japanese guys, I think. I personally am down to 3 hours 21 minutes and I'd be embarrassed to admit just how many hundreds of hours I've put into it. :wacky:
 
So, list your actual hobbies compared to the ones you felt should be listed on AAMCAS. What made you choose not to list some hobbies and what made you list others? Were there any really important/beloved hobbies of yours that you didn't list? I think the reasoning is a lot more interesting than the hobby itself.

Listed on AMCAS : reading, book collecting, foreign currency collector, travel, outdoor activities, genealogy, theater

Additional Actual hobbies : book trading, astronomy, writing, medieval reenactment.

I had listed medieval involvement for the past few years but apparently rennies have a really bad reputation so many people think that makes me very sketchy.
 
Yeah, the 120 star speed run is mind blowing, I don't even think I've ever gotten 120 stars on a save file let alone in such a small amount of time.

Zelda840 said:
I have seen a couple that were under 2 hours! Both Japanese guys, I think. I personally am down to 3 hours 21 minutes and I'd be embarrassed to admit just how many hundreds of hours I've put into it. :wacky:
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That's impressive. The video game nerd in me thinks you're pretty awesome based on this and your username. 👍
 
Video games...
Wish I could take a year off from school and work to play video games. I call this a video game fellowship.
 
EyesOfTheWorld said:
Yeah, the 120 star speed run is mind blowing, I don't even think I've ever gotten 120 stars on a save file let alone in such a small amount of time.


That's impressive. The video game nerd in me thinks you're pretty awesome based on this and your username. 👍
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Hahaha! I've never gotten all 120 stars either, let alone beat the game.
 
Frisbee, motorcycles, SCUBA.
I play the cello now and then, and I go on not-irregular video game binges. I try to shoot a few hoops if I can find a partner in crime. Occasional rock climbing (enough to be belay certified, not enough to purchase equipment of my own)
Fixing my own car (when I had the time)
Reading.
Netflix.
I'd like to get into indoor skydiving, but I am short on time and $$.
 
mehc012 said:
Frisbee, motorcycles, SCUBA.
I play the cello now and then, and I go on not-irregular video game binges. I try to shoot a few hoops if I can find a partner in crime. Occasional rock climbing (enough to be belay certified, not enough to purchase equipment of my own)
Fixing my own car (when I had the time)
Reading.
Netflix.
I'd like to get into indoor skydiving, but I am short on time and $$.
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You're at least the second person to mention scuba diving. If I had the time to get certified I would love to do that. Maybe the summer after I graduate college...
 
WedgeDawg said:
You're at least the second person to mention scuba diving. If I had the time to get certified I would love to do that. Maybe the summer after I graduate college...
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It's so incredibly worth it! I actually got mine while abroad, absolutely amazing.
 
Chess
Reading
Singing
Amateur Astronomy
 
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WedgeDawg said:
You're at least the second person to mention scuba diving. If I had the time to get certified I would love to do that. Maybe the summer after I graduate college...
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My mom started during college to fulfill her PE credit. I was too young to cert then, but I was obsessed, so I got my Jr. as soon as I hit 13, and my Advanced Jr. a summer or 2 later. It's been too long, though...gotta find time for a vacation!
 
Music, lacrosse, weight lifting, water skiing, scuba diving.. Oh and drinking. We can consider drinking a hobby can't we? I'm sure amazing beer pong skills will impress some adcom somewhere... Totally joking btw
 
I included music and music composition on mine (huge part of me and too many hours performing)

Ones I did not list: boating, water skiing, lifting, video games, frisbee, my girlfriend
 
BrCo said:
Music, lacrosse, weight lifting, water skiing, scuba diving.. Oh and drinking. We can consider drinking a hobby can't we? I'm sure amazing beer pong skills will impress some adcom somewhere... Totally joking btw
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Assuming you mean Beirut (beer pong uses table tennis paddles)...a few friends of mine actually travelled to Vegas to enter in the official tournament. Which is apparently a thing.
 
mehc012 said:
Assuming you mean Beirut (beer pong uses table tennis paddles)...a few friends of mine actually travelled to Vegas to enter in the official tournament. Which is apparently a thing.
Click to expand...
Table tennis paddles with the handles broken off to be more specific.
 
mehc012 said:
Assuming you mean Beirut (beer pong uses table tennis paddles)...a few friends of mine actually travelled to Vegas to enter in the official tournament. Which is apparently a thing.
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Beirut indeed!
 
Where are you guys listing hobbies? In the activities section? I don't think I have room to list, but if there is room, I would include yoga and surfing.
 
I wouldn't list hobbies in the activities section. Most secondaries ask for "hobbies" and I put basketball and video games. I even told some interviewers I play Pokemon on my 3DS. I wait until the interview to talk about hobbies though. Puts them in context.
 
Zelda840 said:
Why?

I've compiled a list of secondary questions from last year for 20 schools and none of them had questions about hobbies.
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Of all the secondaries I've filled out over three cycles, the only one I can remember that had a hobby-like question was one that asked what I liked to do in my spare time. I think that was MSU but I can't remember.

It does on the other hand come up in interviews a lot.
 
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