Kinda Unique ECs, what to do

[About28]

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Hey guys,
So I have some kinda unique ECs that I'm trying to figure out if/how I should include them into AMCAS.
I'm not sure schools would even like this stuff:
-I know a lot about the trades (particularly carpentry and HV/AC) and have had a trades based/ manual labor full time summer job since 2011
-I love sailing and do it recreationally as often as I can (makes me sound too pretentious?)
-I'm a Eucharistic Minister (I'm not crazy religious or anything, I never bring it up with people but I think it's fulfilling so I do it anyway. Would schools think this is weird/ how would I word the description?)
-I have a leadership role in a comedy group on my campus. Along with writing skits and acting, I organize meetings and event with the members. (If schools would find this interesting, I know how I would describe this EC. I'd even consider this one of my most meaningful experiences)

Thanks for any input!

 

[masaraksh]

-I know a lot about the trades (particularly carpentry and HV/AC) and have had a trades based/ manual labor full time summer job since 2011

wouldn't this fall under 'paid employment'

-I love sailing and do it recreationally as often as I can (makes me sound too pretentious?)

I didn't include hobbies on my AMCAS

-I'm a Eucharistic Minister (I'm not crazy religious or anything, I never bring it up with people but I think it's fulfilling so I do it anyway. Would schools think this is weird/ how would I word the description?)

volunteering (?)

-I have a leadership role in a comedy group on my campus. Along with writing skits and acting, I organize meetings and event with the members. (If schools would find this interesting, I know how I would describe this EC. I'd even consider this one of my most meaningful experiences)

non-clinical EC.

 

[snowflakes]

You should include all of those. Are you worried about fitting in all of your activities into your 15 slots? You can try combining some experiences if necessary, but all of the ones listed above are worthy of inclusion.

Include the sailing as a hobby--you should definitely include a hobbies section on your AMCAS. I didn't and kind of regretted it--I think schools want to know about your interests outside of medicine and outside of school. Since you're including manual labor jobs on your app, I wouldn't worry about sounding pretentious.

 

[corndogger]

Hey guys,
So I have some kinda unique ECs that I'm trying to figure out if/how I should include them into AMCAS.
I'm not sure schools would even like this stuff:
-I know a lot about the trades (particularly carpentry and HV/AC) and have had a trades based/ manual labor full time summer job since 2011
-I love sailing and do it recreationally as often as I can (makes me sound too pretentious?)
-I'm a Eucharistic Minister (I'm not crazy religious or anything, I never bring it up with people but I think it's fulfilling so I do it anyway. Would schools think this is weird/ how would I word the description?)
-I have a leadership role in a comedy group on my campus. Along with writing skits and acting, I organize meetings and event with the members. (If schools would find this interesting, I know how I would describe this EC. I'd even consider this one of my most meaningful experiences)

Thanks for any input!

all fine to put if they're important to you. number one wouldn't really be an EC, it's employment. Personally I wouldn't put eucharistic minister because people might have a negative reaction to it, and handing out pieces of bread might be of limited value to your application (perhaps it is more than this at the church you attend).

 

[LizzyM]

Some people would leave off the Eucaristic Minister activity... in all likelihood it isn't a lot of hours and some people might be biased against you because of your involvement in church activities. (It isn't right but it does happen.)

List the improv/sketch comedy either as a hobby or as "leadership". Many schools put on an annual comedy show so your talents may find an outlet in med school, too!

 

[organdonor]

I think those all sound pretty interesting and i would make a point to include all of them under the categories some of the above have said. At least half of my interview questions were about non clinical stuff (aka hobbies and past jobs) on my application.

As I said I would include the Eucharistic Minister but know that this does pretty much out you as at least somewhat religious and probably Catholic. I can't see either of those hurting you though. Much of my medical school class is openly religious and I can tell you the religious denominations of at least 10 of my classmates who I'm not even that close of friends with.

Anything, I mean anything, on your application is free game to questions during your interview. If you are uncomfortable talking about any of this then leave it out. If you aren't then I would find a way to include all of them!

 

[About28]

Some people would leave off the Eucaristic Minister activity... in all likelihood it isn't a lot of hours and some people might be biased against you because of your involvement in church activities. (It isn't right but it does happen.)

List the improv/sketch comedy either as a hobby or as "leadership". Many schools put on an annual comedy show so your talents may find an outlet in med school, too!

I was afraid of that being looked upon with bias, so it's good to confirm that. With regards to the comedy show, I was really hoping that med school wasn't four years of solemn seriousness, so that's great to hear!

all fine to put if they're important to you. number one wouldn't really be an EC, it's employment. Personally I wouldn't put eucharistic minister because people might have a negative reaction to it, and handing out pieces of bread might be of limited value to your application (perhaps it is more than this at the church you attend).

I was going to list the job separately, because in that job I do all kinds of manual labor. Everything from janitorial work to cleaning boilers to trades work. I wanted to list my trades work as something separate because I was taught the trades by my father and his friends and sometimes I go out and help with big jobs, or jobs where they think I can learn something.

I'm not sure if I should mention just my general trades knowledge separately or with the summer job, because they're somewhat different. Also, what do you guys think about mentioning how dirty that job can get i.e. janitorial work and cleaning boilers?

 

[LizzyM]

I was afraid of that being looked upon with bias, so it's good to confirm that. With regards to the comedy show, I was really hoping that med school wasn't four years of solemn seriousness, so that's great to hear!



I was going to list the job separately, because in that job I do all kinds of manual labor. Everything from janitorial work to cleaning boilers to trades work. I wanted to list my trades work as something separate because I was taught the trades by my father and his friends and sometimes I go out and help with big jobs, or jobs where they think I can learn something.

I'm not sure if I should mention just my general trades knowledge separately or with the summer job, because they're somewhat different. Also, what do you guys think about mentioning how dirty that job can get i.e. janitorial work and cleaning boilers?

I don't know if the dirty nature of the jobs is relevant unless you are going to work it into an interest in an interest in occupational exposures to toxins or something like that.