How to format "Upcoming Activities" in AMCAS Primary

[greenhat06]

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Hey guys-
First just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the knowledge they've given me over the year. Even though I don't post much, I'm constantly reading and learning. Anyways, I have a quick question:

Unfortunately I was not accepted last cycle due to extremely late sitting of the MCAT and thus my application. Therefore, I finished my senior year with good grades and continued my extra-curriculars. Most of my "new" Work/Activities will be done in the year off I have in between graduating and hopefully 1st year in Med School. Yet, I was just wondering how to format these upcoming activities in the AMCAS Primary. Specifically, I will be working in one research lab over the summer (never been there before), continuing work in a research lab I've been at the past two summers for the full year, as well as bi-weekly shadowing and weekly volunteering on Saturday mornings. Should I make a single input titled "Upcoming Plans"-type thing or individual listings and just make sure it's known that it's future-plans? Sorry if I'm confusing and hopefully this makes sense. Would really appreciate any input from you all, as I'm sure Im not the only one in this situation. Thanks again.

 

[NickNaylor]

If the activities you're planning on taking part in are continuations from what you did in school, I would simply mention that you're continuing the activities in the description section. If you're planning on doing a lot of things that you haven't done before and have the space, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have an "upcoming activities" section.

 

[cfx]

Hey guys-
First just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the knowledge they've given me over the year. Even though I don't post much, I'm constantly reading and learning. Anyways, I have a quick question:

Unfortunately I was not accepted last cycle due to extremely late sitting of the MCAT and thus my application. Therefore, I finished my senior year with good grades and continued my extra-curriculars. Most of my "new" Work/Activities will be done in the year off I have in between graduating and hopefully 1st year in Med School. Yet, I was just wondering how to format these upcoming activities in the AMCAS Primary. Specifically, I will be working in one research lab over the summer (never been there before), continuing work in a research lab I've been at the past two summers for the full year, as well as bi-weekly shadowing and weekly volunteering on Saturday mornings. Should I make a single input titled "Upcoming Plans"-type thing or individual listings and just make sure it's known that it's future-plans? Sorry if I'm confusing and hopefully this makes sense. Would really appreciate any input from you all, as I'm sure Im not the only one in this situation. Thanks again.

It's my understanding that, if you haven't yet started the activity at the time you fill out the app, you can't include it. Even if it's a "sure thing".

 

[NotAsking4Much]

It's my understanding that, if you haven't yet started the activity at the time you fill out the app, you can't include it. Even if it's a "sure thing".

Yep. do NOT include anything you are "about to do" or "going to do." Send updates letter as necessary but do not talk about it in your description section (unless you've started on it in the past and definitely not in your PS. It just looks silly.

 

[greenhat06]

Hmm, okay, thanks alot for the input. So just to make sure I understand your thoughts correctly: The new lab that I am working in during this summer, which I have already started a week ago and will continue until September, I should include that. The same goes for the volunteering job I started 2 weeks ago, which will go throughout the year. But as far as the lab I will be in for the full year is concerned, even though it is already approved and a sure thing, I should not include it in my primary but write an "update letter" to the schools once that time comes to inform them of new information? Thanks again for the help guys, absolute lifesavers.

 

[NotAsking4Much]

Yeah.

If you were to ask someone why they want to go into medicine and they talked about a lab they were about to join and described how this future experience made him want to pursue medicine, you would think he was completely illegitimate and lying.

 

[thegreatergood]

Hey, what do you think about an activity that you just started? Like something you start in June? Should I put that?

 

[bonsaitree1]

Hey, what do you think about an activity that you just started? Like something you start in June? Should I put that?

If it's a significant activity (i.e. you started an organization or you began your research position), then I would put it down for sure, and say that it's ongoing