How many Post-Secondary Experiences on your AMCAS?

[dnelsen]

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I have heard (and it says right on the application) that schools want quality over quantity. I just want to see if this is stopping the majority of you from using up all 15 slots. If you used up all 15, were you really stretching to get those last few?

 

[dnelsen]

bump

 

[elephunt]

I agree, the whole "quality over quantity" thing makes me feel somehow like I shouldn't use all 15 spots. I'm planning to put everything in that I think is really relevant to my decision to be a doc or gives the adcoms some extra idea of who I am/what I care about that isn't already somewhere else (in another EC or in my PS.) Right now, that looks like 15 EC's, but I haven't submitted yet... Anyway, if you are feeling like you are stretching, I'd definitely limit myself to the EC's that I felt were strong...otherwise the adcoms may pick up on the same feeling. Just my two cents.

 

[dnelsen]

Also, are people putting their shadowing experiences in the post-secondary section? I can't seem to find an experience type that would fit, so I just wove them into my personal statement.

 

[ad infinitum]

I am a non-trad that has held several jobs both during school and after graduation. Also, I was involved in several activities and honors in my post-bac program, so I actually had to cut out a few to keep it at 15. I thought about cutting it down to less than fifteen just so I don't look like I am trying to pad my stats, but I couldn't figure out which ones to cut. I did leave off things like my EMT certification because I didn't feel like it added anything (never really did anything with it). 😎

 

[dnelsen]

I am a non-trad that has held several jobs both during school and after graduation. Also, I was involved in several activities and honors in my post-bac program, so I actually had to cut out a few to keep it at 15. I thought about cutting it down to less than fifteen just so I don't look like I am trying to pad my stats, but I couldn't figure out which ones to cut. I did leave off things like my EMT certification because I didn't feel like it added anything (never really did anything with it). 😎

I'm also a non-trad, but I lumped all of my employment into one entry because my employment hasn't been that interesting or related to the medical industry. I simply listed my current employer in the main part of the entry and then briefly described my other jobs (all in the same field) under the description section.

 

[ad infinitum]

I'm also a non-trad, but I lumped all of my employment into one entry because my employment hasn't been that interesting or related to the medical industry. I simply listed my current employer in the main part of the entry and then briefly described my other jobs (all in the same field) under the description section.

I really only listed 3 jobs and they were pretty different. I worked as an Ortho. Rep, Personal Trainer, and ran my own construction business for a while. I know the construction job doesn't have much to do with medicine (other than patching up job related injuries ) but I thought it was important to see that I had something like that in my skill set. Most docs are going to eventually run their own business and need to be able to manage personnel etc. Employment has always been a big thing for me ever since I was about 14.

 

[elephunt]

What does everyone think about lumping all hobbies/avocations into one entry? I was thinking about doing this, just to let adcoms know I have a life outside of work, school, and volunteering...

 

[dnelsen]

What does everyone think about lumping all hobbies/avocations into one entry? I was thinking about doing this, just to let adcoms know I have a life outside of work, school, and volunteering...

I guess I probably wouldn't lump hobbies together and I probably wouldn't list any hobbies at all unless they were REALLY significant. I mean I play golf and other sports recreationally, but I wouldn't list a hobby unless I was VERY serious about it (participated in many leagues, tournaments, etc. etc.).

 

[thewzdoc]

I guess I probably wouldn't lump hobbies together and I probably wouldn't list any hobbies at all unless they were REALLY significant. I mean I play golf and other sports recreationally, but I wouldn't list a hobby unless I was VERY serious about it (participated in many leagues, tournaments, etc. etc.).

Golf is directly related to becoming a doctor.... 👍

 

[apar01]

I listed a total of 9 experiences/activities/honors/jobs. I think that you shouldn't feel obligated to fill out all 15. The adcoms have thousands of these to read, do you think they are going to invest much time in each one listing? If they see some filler like "Intramural sports for x organization", they'll realize you're more than just a bookworm, but probably won't think of you as a more qualified applicant.

Put the ones that are most important to you. If anything, I would leave off a few and save them for essays on your secondary applications. It will be easier on you when doing those, and they can potentially be a topic to talk about during your interview.