"Non-academic accomplishments"

[loua0731]

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For secondaries that ask me to describe a significant non-academic accomplishment, I was wondering if this would be alright:

I wanted to write about my ongoing commitment/accomplishments in research. I've been working in the same lab for about 2 years and my sophomore year, I completed a poster which I presented at an undergraduate research symposium at my university as part of a research program. Next year, I will be doing an honors thesis project through the same lab.

My interest in research was first sparked in high school, when I completed an independent project which placed at my region's science fair and advanced me to an international science and engineering fair. I was also given an award for my research efforts by Michigan Governor Granholm.

Would this research count as "non-academic," even though the honors research will be through my concentration department and the research poster was through a university sponsored program? Or should I come up with something else?

 

[deleted202457]

I personally would think they mean something that shows you can do things besides school. Maybe a sport or you started a program that benefited your community or a musical aptitude? But I'm sure someone else will chime in with a better answer.

 

[apumic]

I'd call research more "cocurricular" than "extracurricular." Likewise, I'd say research is still an academic accomplishment as it is, by definition, of an academic nature.

I agree w/ mrdrdrjp. They're asking for what makes you unique. What is something you have accomplished apart from academia?

Sports? Music? Church-related? Professional? ...They want to know you're a real human being with some real human accomplishments and not just a slower version of the computer sitting in front of them! If they wanted to program robots all day, they wouldn't have gone into medicine and/or education!

 

[loua0731]

Ok. Thanks guys! 🙂

 

[OrkidLover]

.

 

[SweetRain]

I hate prompts like that...Maybe some people do have non-academic accomplishments, but I feel like I was barely able to keep my head above the water while getting A's and doing research ~20hrs/wk.

Maybe that's what makes them stand out (sigh)
Sorry to spill out my complaints here lol

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Orkidlover, I think that's a GREAT and RARE EC to have (compared to most pre-meds...)

OP, I would strongly suggest you find another activity unrelated to academic (research and courses)..You can talk about experiences volunteering in your community or hospital..I'm sure you have those?

 

[deleted202457]

Sorry to hijack, but along the same line, would training for a marathon/25+ lbs weight loss count or is it bordering on too personal? I was a real couch potato and now changed my way of life because of it, am now really active.

I know several ppl that listed marathon running. It takes a huge time commitment. You can't just wake up one day and say "I wanna run a marathone." I think it also shows a commitment to good health, which I think is a good quality for a dr.

Congrats on the weight too

 

[loua0731]

Orkidlover, I think that's a GREAT and RARE EC to have (compared to most pre-meds...)

OP, I would strongly suggest you find another activity unrelated to academic (research and courses)..You can talk about experiences volunteering in your community or hospital..I'm sure you have those?

I'm thinking of talking about my accomplishments as a site leader for Alternative Spring Break. The only thing is that I've discussed it in my personal statement, and it's also listed in my activities as well...but this has been an org I've been pretty invested in for the past several years. Do you think it'd still be ok to talk about in the secondary?

I was thinking either that or that I initiated and implemented a recycling/"green" program in my sorority house of ~50 residents this year. But I'm leaning a little more to the ASB.

What do you guys think?

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I hate prompts like that...Maybe some people do have non-academic accomplishments, but I feel like I was barely able to keep my head above the water while getting A's and doing research ~20hrs/wk.

Maybe that's what makes them stand out (sigh)
Sorry to spill out my complaints here lol

Med schools want well-rounded robots.

 

[sedaniel]

I'm thinking of talking about my accomplishments as a site leader for Alternative Spring Break. The only thing is that I've discussed it in my personal statement, and it's also listed in my activities as well...but this has been an org I've been pretty invested in for the past several years. Do you think it'd still be ok to talk about in the secondary?

I was thinking either that or that I initiated and implemented a recycling/"green" program in my sorority house of ~50 residents this year. But I'm leaning a little more to the ASB.

What do you guys think?

I like either one, depending on how much you talked about the ASB thing in your PS. If you focused on it in the PS, I wouldn't use it here, I'd use the recycling program experience.

This is one essay question I love because I have the perfect answer: founding my local sorority 😀

 

[loua0731]

I like either one, depending on how much you talked about the ASB thing in your PS. If you focused on it in the PS, I wouldn't use it here, I'd use the recycling program experience.

This is one essay question I love because I have the perfect answer: founding my local sorority 😀

Wow....props to you! What sorority/chapter?

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

I'm thinking of talking about my accomplishments as a site leader for Alternative Spring Break. The only thing is that I've discussed it in my personal statement, and it's also listed in my activities as well...but this has been an org I've been pretty invested in for the past several years. Do you think it'd still be ok to talk about in the secondary?

I was thinking either that or that I initiated and implemented a recycling/"green" program in my sorority house of ~50 residents this year. But I'm leaning a little more to the ASB.

What do you guys think?

I would say you can use it if it sincerely is your most valuable/insightful experience, but if you use it, make sure that you "spin" the essay so that it shows another aspect of your character not already shown in your primary application...Use it "if and only if" you can do so..otherwise, use another topic.

 

[sedaniel]

Wow....props to you! What sorority/chapter?

Phi Rho Alpha, we were founded in 2005. We're a local so we are only present on U of M's campus, although some colleges in Ohio and upstate New York have wanted to start chapters so that could be in the future, who knows 🙂

 

[loua0731]

I would say you can use it if it sincerely is your most valuable/insightful experience, but if you use it, make sure that you "spin" the essay so that it shows another aspect of your character not already shown in your primary application...Use it "if and only if" you can do so..otherwise, use another topic.

Yeah, there are a few things I didn't mention in my PS or work/activities, so I think I will highlight that.

Thank you for the advice! 🙂

 

[loua0731]

Phi Rho Alpha, we were founded in 2005. We're a local so we are only present on U of M's campus, although some colleges in Ohio and upstate New York have wanted to start chapters so that could be in the future, who knows 🙂

ooh, that's awesome! Is it a service or professional sorority?

 

[Web MD]

You're supposed to list any/all hook ups with drunk celebrities -fair warning certain names will actually net you negative points with adcoms

 

[loua0731]

You're supposed to list any/all hook ups with drunk celebrities -fair warning certain names will actually net you negative points with adcoms

oh oh alright. that makes this essay so much easier then. 👍

 

[sedaniel]

ooh, that's awesome! Is it a service or professional sorority?

We consider ourselves social but we do a lot of philanthropy around the Ann Arbor area, our biggest event is a benefit concert for Relay For Life that we hold each year with a different frat on campus.

 

[Slack3r]

I hate prompts like that...Maybe some people do have non-academic accomplishments, but I feel like I was barely able to keep my head above the water while getting A's and doing research ~20hrs/wk.

Maybe that's what makes them stand out (sigh)
Sorry to spill out my complaints here lol

I believe that's the point of the prompt, to show that you can do OTHER things in addition to academics.

 

[s1lver]

First King kill in Warhammer Online.

 

[stevalin]

Which of the following options is the best way to answer the "most significant non-academic accomplishment" question?

1. I helped my friend (a teenage boy at my church youth group) out of depression and prevented him from suicide. I reached out to him by showing that I cared to listen to him and encouraged him to pursue a hobby. He is now a motivational speaker who tours internationally. Is this subject appropriate?

2. I recruited and managed 50 student volunteers for a health fair that served over 200 participants. This was a team effort with my student group.

3. I organized a fundraising pasta feed with my volunteer club for Doctors Without Borders during junior year of high school. We raised close to $1000 at the event itself and obtained $500 in donations from local businesses.

Thanks for your help!

 

[loua0731]

Which of the following options is the best way to answer the "most significant non-academic accomplishment" question?

1. I helped my friend (a teenage boy at my church youth group) out of depression and prevented him from suicide. I reached out to him by showing that I cared to listen to him and encouraged him to pursue a hobby. He is now a motivational speaker who tours internationally. Is this subject appropriate?

2. I recruited and managed 50 student volunteers for a health fair that served over 200 participants. This was a team effort with my student group.

3. I organized a fundraising pasta feed with my volunteer club for Doctors Without Borders during junior year of high school. We raised close to $1000 at the event itself and obtained $500 in donations from local businesses.

Thanks for your help!

I personally like #1 the best. I think you could tell a very compelling story.

 

[liluoke]

did you guys write about how this extracurricular activity related back to medicine? after going through multiple versions of what i wrote and generalizing my experiences as a conference coordinator, i finally have about 1.5 lines that I was planning on writing about what it has to do w/ me and being a doctor. any suggestions?

 

[apumic]

did you guys write about how this extracurricular activity related back to medicine? after going through multiple versions of what i wrote and generalizing my experiences as a conference coordinator, i finally have about 1.5 lines that I was planning on writing about what it has to do w/ me and being a doctor. any suggestions?

Well... everything needs to relate back -- it is your personal statement as to why you're going into medicine after all. Nevertheless, I am not sure every such statement need be explicit. Sometimes, it's obvious (don't waste space explaining the obvious) while other times explanation may be necessary. Your call, in other words.

 

[Kaustikos]

I talked about getting all the cheats in Goldeneye - paying specific attention to detail about Facility and Archives.

But, as was said, the research I wouldn't consider extracurricular

 

[603222]

would it be better to use a volunteer activity in a hospital setting or to talk about my a career is a runner (trainings etc.)--since it is focusing on accomplishments but must be pretty brief what would med school rather see...my application states all my volunteer work and my PS focuses a lot on those experiences....do they want to see your growth as a person or in regards to medicine? i haven't really talked about my interests in running and health--but is that really anything of worth?

 

[LizzyM]

You might want to take the opportunity to add new information to your application rather than rehashing what is already there.