Let's talk about Extra-Curriculars

[MarieMarie]

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Forgive me if this has been covered. I did a search and browsed the FAQs threads and found nothing.

I'm currently entering my ECs, and I'm wondering a few things. Should I include a research conference attendance and both of my poster presentations on my primary app? When I was toying around with the idea of applying to MD schools, it seemed the AAMC application was friendlier to research related activities.

I'm also reconsidering including one of clubs. I was a member, then treasurer of an LGBTA caucus on campus. I know the medical establishment is still conservative 🙁 I'm pretty sure I'm going to include it, but has anyone else had similar concerns?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Include the poster presentations, because they are relevant. It doesn't really matter where you put them, but they should be on there. You never know who is going to read your application. Maybe someone with an interest in the topic.

Leave the other thing off. You are trying to sell yourself, not make a political statement. Like with the posters, you never know who is going to be reading it.

Look at what happened in California recently. Its pretty clear that a lot of people aren't quite ready to accept that lifestyle yet. It may not be fair, but it is not a chance you should take, in my opinion. Make your statements after you're already in.

 

[211519]

Forgive me if this has been covered. I did a search and browsed the FAQs threads and found nothing.

I'm currently entering my ECs, and I'm wondering a few things. Should I include a research conference attendance and both of my poster presentations on my primary app? When I was toying around with the idea of applying to MD schools, it seemed the AAMC application was friendlier to research related activities.

I'm also reconsidering including one of clubs. I was a member, then treasurer of an LGBTA caucus on campus. I know the medical establishment is still conservative 🙁 I'm pretty sure I'm going to include it, but has anyone else had similar concerns?

OP, I disagree with the previous post (respectfully).

You should include all of your activities, especially on AACOMAS, since you can enter unlimited extracurriculars.

Holding an office in any group shows responsibility and commitment, as well as the ability to do more on top of coursework. I personally had zero concerns about my more liberal activities, and I had no issues the entire interview season. No one is going to deny you admission based on participation in a club. I actually talked about gay marriage in my interview at a very conservative school, and I was accepted. You are applying to schools as yourself, and LGBT issues are a part of mainstream medicine. For both of those reasons and others, I think you should include it.

 

[beckhunter116]

I was also wondering if possibly you could just list it as student caucus or diversity caucus. I'm not sure if this is stretching it or what. Then at interviews if it comes up you describe it as LGBTQ there.

Personally, I am including my participation in a LGBTQ organization (it was a leadership position and I was with them for 4 years--too important to leave out); however, the title of the group is kind of vague so unless someone purposely googles I doubt anyone would know. During an interview I would state that it was to help troubled teens. Their sexuality made very little distinction. Will I go more in-depth? I'm not sure at this point.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to know what our interviewers are like and if they are mature enough to look beyond any differences or not so I can relate to your dilemma and I hope for our success like maldabrroc!

 

[Eilat87]

This might sound silly but where do I put such things as church choir or snowboarding or self taught guitar?

 

[MossPoh]

If it is something outside of your schoolwork then put it. It doesn't have to be a home run activity every time. Sometimes it is just something that shows you are a human being. This includes LGBT deal. It doesn't have to be made political. You aren't trying to justify it, but it is something you did and were active in. It was important to you. There are plenty of pressing health concerns within that community as well. To me, it isn't any different than putting College Democrats or Republicans, or any religious oriented group. Does it have the potential to be polarizing? Sure. Would you honestly want to go to a school where you have to hide who you are for the entire time out of fear? Probably not.

 

[Semicolon]

This might sound silly but where do I put such things as church choir or snowboarding or self taught guitar?

Put it under ECs; there's nowhere else you really can.