I don't have any Achievements to list in AACOMAS

[winterwind_23]

I'm filling out my AACOMAS application and realized they have a separate section for "Achievements." I don't have any achievements to list. I obviously have volunteer, work, and research experience to list, but I have absolutely nothing for my achievements section. How much of a red flag would it be if I submitted my application with nothing listed in the Achievements section?

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[YourMD]

I suggest taking a year off, set your mind to achieving something, and applying next year.

 

[winterwind_23]

I suggest taking a year off, set your mind to achieving something, and applying next year.

I feel like I have achieved enough to apply for medical school, so that is the problem. I don't think an extra year is going to allow me to win any awards that will make me a better applicant. What kind of awards could one list in this section? I know "Dean's List" is pretty common in this section. Unfortunately, my GPA is 3.4 so I never made a "Dean's List" and it's way too low for those graduation cum lauda stuff. Too bad there is no award for getting a 96th percentile on the MCAT. 🙁

EDIT: Could I put some work "award" I got? I mean, everyone on my team got it, but it technically was awarded to me. Ad-coms wouldn't know, though, right? For another job, I once got a gift card from a project I worked on. Can I list "employee recognition" award? Do these awards have to be publications or something more meaningful?

 

[winterwind_23]

I just recalled I got some scholarships going into college. These scholarships had names attached to them, and they were merit based. Can I list those awards? They were awarded my freshman year in 2007. They were also not from the school I attended, but from programs in my local community that awarded the highest performing students. Would this be too old to list?

 

[senzen]

I thin listing employee awards are fine. I also don't think it's a big deal to not have "awards."

 

[asdf123g]

Do achievements/awards/scholarships carry a lot of weight if they were earned in college or post college? I could be wrong but I feel like most applicants have 0-maybe 2 achievements (not including deans list).

 

[mathnerd88]

In my opinion, they care about the whole package. Achievements/awards/scholarships are a small part of what adcoms really look at. While they are important, I doubt not having many in that category would severely hinder your chances in getting accepted.

Your GPA/MCAT scores are first and foremost the most important. Once you pass in that category then they start looking at your EC's, etc.

 

[adrian710]

I feel like I have achieved enough to apply for medical school, so that is the problem. I don't think an extra year is going to allow me to win any awards that will make me a better applicant. What kind of awards could one list in this section? I know "Dean's List" is pretty common in this section. Unfortunately, my GPA is 3.4 so I never made a "Dean's List" and it's way too low for those graduation cum lauda stuff. Too bad there is no award for getting a 96th percentile on the MCAT. 🙁

EDIT: Could I put some work "award" I got? I mean, everyone on my team got it, but it technically was awarded to me. Ad-coms wouldn't know, though, right? For another job, I once got a gift card from a project I worked on. Can I list "employee recognition" award? Do these awards have to be publications or something more meaningful?

Never made a Dean's list in a specific semester? I put down the semesters I got onto dean's list, an award I got for being a volunteer at a hospital, and also being captain of my fraternity soccer team since being a freshman. Thinking about adding winning State Cup and MVP awards in high school but that seems like I'm reaching for achievements a bit, right?

 

[BB8730]

I suggest taking a year off, set your mind to achieving something, and applying next year.

You're joking, right?

In my opinion, they care about the whole package. Achievements/awards/scholarships are a small part of what adcoms really look at. While they are important, I doubt not having many in that category would severely hinder your chances in getting accepted.

Your GPA/MCAT scores are first and foremost the most important. Once you pass in that category then they start looking at your EC's, etc.

This 👍

 

[winterwind_23]

Regarding this here:

Q: How far back in my career should I list achievements?
A: Please enter achievements you earned as a college student or post-college. High school achievements should not be included.

Does this mean that I shouldn't include scholarships I was awarded as an entering freshman? I didn't win any scholarships during college, but did enter college with a handful of scholarships. I'm thinking of listing these, but the instructions deter me...Any advice?

 

[Gordon Gekko]

If they were used for college, put them all in. Separately, if they were awarded by different organizations.