No updates during the app cycle?

[1289]

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Hey all,
just looking for some opinions here, i realize no one can answer this with 100% confidence.

im applying this cycle, I just graduated in May. I currently work full time in a healthcare setting (all patient contact), in addition to my employment I spend between 6-10 hrs a week doing different volunteer activities (hospice.. tutoring, one other). all of these activities will be continued throughout the following year. as such, my current schedule is packed. I have no plans to add any new activities because I feel that the ones I am involved in are significant enough and are doing what they need to do for me in this year before (hopefully) medical school. my concern right now is that throughout this app cycle, I will have no real "updates" to ever add to my application. if asked at an interview to bring things up to date, i'm imagining myself looking really unambitious and unmotivated when I have to say "oh well nothings changed.." ? I may do more shadowing, but nothing ground breaking. Just wondering if anyone else is in this situation and if my concerns are warranted. thanks for reading this and your response!

 

[wizedw]

I'm not really changing what I did before either. I hope that will be ok.

 

[Irish Football]

I have no plans to add any new activities because I feel that the ones I am involved in are significant enough and are doing what they need to do for me in this year before (hopefully) medical school.

Then just say that.

 

[DAPI]

Hey all,
just looking for some opinions here, i realize no one can answer this with 100% confidence.

im applying this cycle, I just graduated in May. I currently work full time in a healthcare setting (all patient contact), in addition to my employment I spend between 6-10 hrs a week doing different volunteer activities (hospice.. tutoring, one other). all of these activities will be continued throughout the following year. as such, my current schedule is packed. I have no plans to add any new activities because I feel that the ones I am involved in are significant enough and are doing what they need to do for me in this year before (hopefully) medical school. my concern right now is that throughout this app cycle, I will have no real "updates" to ever add to my application. if asked at an interview to bring things up to date, i'm imagining myself looking really unambitious and unmotivated when I have to say "oh well nothings changed.." ? I may do more shadowing, but nothing ground breaking. Just wondering if anyone else is in this situation and if my concerns are warranted. thanks for reading this and your response!

Don't say it in either of those ways. The first one is bad because "significant enough" sounds like you're not motivated and the second one gives no explanation.

You need to say something more along the lines of, "I've continued with my full time job as X during the day and have really enjoyed it because of [whatever] and have learned [whatever]. In the evenings I've continued doing A, B, and C and also enjoy these because they allow me to experience [whatever] and I have grown in [whatever] ways.

You need to tell them why you have continued doing what you are doing, not just say you have done something or say you have because you thought they were sufficient enough. The interviewer wants to get to know you as a person, not just what you are doing.

That's just my opinion, as I am in a similar situation.

As for update emails, that may be a bit more challenging and because I really don't know what you're doing, I have no advice. Sorry.

 

[Praefectus]

I would save updates for the interview or waitlist limbo.

 

[1289]

I would save updates for the interview or waitlist limbo.

yeah that's what I was thinking. I just know that for my state school, which accepts absolutely no updates or LOIs, at the interview they give you a chance to update your file for the last time, so that's the main one I'm concerned about

 

[NickNaylor]

yeah that's what I was thinking. I just know that for my state school, which accepts absolutely no updates or LOIs, at the interview they give you a chance to update your file for the last time, so that's the main one I'm concerned about

See DAPI's suggestions above. Spin it to be positive and focus on why the experience is meaningful/important to you. Even though it might seem boring/unimportant/whatever to you, framing it in that context in an interview is a bad idea. Don't be disingenuous, but play up what you've continued doing.