Mentioning menial jobs in secondary application answers

[DBC03]

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I have noticed that a few secondary applications are requesting lists of paid employment. While I have substantial long-term employment, I also worked a lot of menial jobs over the past few years in an effort to survive the recession (cleaning office buildings at night, working at the YMCA, etc.). I did not include these in the AMCAS primary application because they were in addition to full-time work and self-employment. When asked for a chronological list of paid employment, should I include these so schools may have a better understanding of why I was unable to volunteer as much during that time?

 

[watermelon master]

I have noticed that a few secondary applications are requesting lists of paid employment. While I have substantial long-term employment, I also worked a lot of menial jobs over the past few years in an effort to survive the recession (cleaning office buildings at night, working at the YMCA, etc.). I did not include these in the AMCAS primary application because they were in addition to full-time work and self-employment. When asked for a chronological list of paid employment, should I include these so schools may have a better understanding of why I was unable to volunteer as much during that time?

yes

 

[tiramisucheese]

As a fellow non-trad, I've been quite frank in explaining that I've had to work to support myself. Not in every essay obviously, but when they specifically ask for things you've been doing, etc.

 

[LizzyM]

Absolutely.
It also shows that you have walked in the shoes of the blue collar workers who may someday be your patients and you have a familiarity with their work and their point of view.

 

[BurntFlower]

I have noticed that a few secondary applications are requesting lists of paid employment. While I have substantial long-term employment, I also worked a lot of menial jobs over the past few years in an effort to survive the recession (cleaning office buildings at night, working at the YMCA, etc.). I did not include these in the AMCAS primary application because they were in addition to full-time work and self-employment. When asked for a chronological list of paid employment, should I include these so schools may have a better understanding of why I was unable to volunteer as much during that time?

After I graduated college, I worked minimum-wage customer service jobs. You bet I mentioned them in my AMCAS and will talk about the experience in my secondaries. You should too!

 

[PreMedMissteps]

I have noticed that a few secondary applications are requesting lists of paid employment. While I have substantial long-term employment, I also worked a lot of menial jobs over the past few years in an effort to survive the recession (cleaning office buildings at night, working at the YMCA, etc.). I did not include these in the AMCAS primary application because they were in addition to full-time work and self-employment. When asked for a chronological list of paid employment, should I include these so schools may have a better understanding of why I was unable to volunteer as much during that time?

Yes, mention them.

Not only would that be the truth, but IMHO it shows your willingness to do unglamorous work.

I would think adcoms would prefer applicants like you over the trust-fund-set who've hardly worked a day in their lives.