listing non-educational, non-standard extracurriculars

[hari-bhari]

i was posting in the car thread and it occured to me that i've spent about 5-6 hours a week for the past couple of years on my car, doing a lot of electrical, sound, and mechanical work, and in the process, learning a good bit too. so what's the opinion on including something like this in the activity list? could it be considered a negative distraction? or should i stick to the basic 'im a good student whos a good samaritan and leader and blah blah' activities?

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[Beau Geste]

i was posting in the car thread and it occured to me that i've spent about 5-6 hours a week for the past couple of years on my car, doing a lot of electrical, sound, and mechanical work, and in the process, learning a good bit too. so what's the opinion on including something like this in the activity list? could it be considered a negative distraction? or should i stick to the basic 'im a good student whos a good samaritan and leader and blah blah' activities?

It's a hobby.

 

[mvenus929]

It's a hobby.

So, no on the hobbies then?

 

[MollyMalone]

There is nothing wrong with listing your hobbies, provided you have room and you are involved in a significant way with them.

 

[hermit]

So, no on the hobbies then?

A few weeks ago some dude was asking if he should include his pumpkin carving hobby. Seriously. If he writes about that, I don't see why you can't write about working on your car. Or why I can't write about my digital porn collection. It's so much more engaging than coins or stamps.

 

[jackieMD2007]

A few weeks ago some dude was asking if he should include his pumpkin carving hobby. Seriously. If he writes about that, I don't see why you can't write about working on your car. Or why I can't write about my digital porn collection. It's so much more engaging than coins or stamps.

OMG.

 

[popbirch]

I put my car on my AMCAS last year. It came up in about half of the interviews I went on. I think it is a good thing to show that you have a life besides academics. I don't think you need to put an hour number with it just some stuff you have done on your car, or some shows you might have put it in, that sort of thing. I called my hobby 'classic car restoration' because my most of the work I do is fixing 35 year old parts that break, and I have also worked on some other old cars.

 

[Beau Geste]

Think about it - if you are serious about working on your car, then you have to know the "systems" of the car and diagnostics - you could even relate that to medicine if asked in an interview.

But, since it's for fun and you pay for it, it's technically a hobby. Same as me loving to go scuba diving or riding my motorcycle.