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You have to put whole numbers and if you put "2.5" AMCAS automatically changes it to "25" so be careful.
Just round, I don't think it matters so long as it is a reasonable estimate.
*~*~*~*Official AMCAS "Work/Activities" Tips Thread 2012-2013*~*~*~*
Started by sector9
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You have to put whole numbers and if you put "2.5" AMCAS automatically changes it to "25" so be careful.
Just round, I don't think it matters so long as it is a reasonable estimate.
can we put web links in the description box?
I've done volunteering during the summer for this one non-profit museum since about 2006 when I was still in high school. Back then I did a lot more than I did during college but I've still continued doing it for about 20-30 hours per year during the summer. How does one list this on AMCAS in terms of dates/hours collected/etc?
I debated not listing it because it contains some high school stuff but I figured since I've continued it somewhat it would be okay. I also really love this organization and I took "classes" at the museum from when I was about 6-12 years old. It felt nice to give back to the next generation so to speak and to help run the operation.
Oh and one more shameless plug for the museum for anyone in the Vermont/upstate New York area: http://www.lcmm.org/index.htm
I debated not listing it because it contains some high school stuff but I figured since I've continued it somewhat it would be okay. I also really love this organization and I took "classes" at the museum from when I was about 6-12 years old. It felt nice to give back to the next generation so to speak and to help run the operation.
Oh and one more shameless plug for the museum for anyone in the Vermont/upstate New York area: http://www.lcmm.org/index.htm
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Really? I took it from this exchange that links could be clicked on. Since everything is digital now I can see it being possible to click on a link. Hopefully Catalystik can verify
I would focus on the prompt as given by AMCAS
1. If they're the same project, then group them. If they're different projects (even in the same lab) then I would separate them. Of course, only include them if they're in national or regional journals not campus ones
2. I would include that with the same entry where you talk about your club leadership
how many slots did you guys dedicate to awards? and what is a good rule for determining which awards get their own slots vs grouping?
I would group all of these things in one entry. Be sure to include the competitiveness/selection process for the scholarship
If the scholarship is really really special, then list it separately. Most run-of-the-mill scholarships should be grouped with other honors/awards
I grouped all my scholarships, awards (honors programs, etc), and dean's list as one. Someone on here said underplay your hand and don't try and fill up all 15 spots with garbage.
This is getting to be a common question so I edited the FAQ to include an example. Let us know if you have further questions
But wouldn't you already put that info in your "research" category for activities?
Btw would it be frowned upon if you got 2 publications, 1 LOR from your PI and you don't mention it as most meaningful?
CV language is OK if you're trying to save space but I'd recommend full sentences or bullet points as alternatives
Thanks. It was a scholarship that I never even applied for, that's how competitive it was! 🙂
What's your weekly commitment for this? I'm not familiar with how being an online mentor works. Can you expand a little bit?
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What he wrote, isn't that already bullet points? Or do you mean actual "-" in front of each line/sentence?
do people really list deans list? I mean it's on your transcript anyway?
This is a tough question. The best answer I can come up with is in the FAQ already
You are allowed to list stuff that was required as part of your coursework. However, as Blais suggests, this may not be what adcomms are looking for with the research designation. I'd be more convinced if it wasn't done as a class group project TBH. Hopefully Catalystik can provide clarification if she feels differently
For me I was trying to show an upward trend. I got Dean's List first semester (almost President's but I had an A- in Chem 1) in college then I kind of dropped off a bit because I tried to overload myself. But my junior year I cranked it up a ton, got one President's list semester at 4.0 and a Dean's list at 3.85. I also included it because I have scholarships and such I wanted to include and I felt that it couldn't hurt.
You're right; no one will notice that it isn't an official major unless you tell them. How much time did it take to organize?
If you want to include it, it would go under "Other". I wonder if it would be better to try to work in under a secondary essay though if possible
Shadowing doesn't require hours/week. Just put total hours in the description
I'd include it. List the header info for the most recent summer volunteer stint and explain the past involvement in the description
No, see newly edited FAQ for clarification 🙂
I think that 99% of applicants should be grouping all of their awards, honors, scholarships, etc in one slot.
If you have something insanely competitive then you could consider splitting them but this is not the norm
1. You're right, you definitely don't want to repeat info. I meant that you would talk about your role in the publication (i.e. performed the statistical analysis, created the experimental design for the paper, created the figures, wrote the discussion section, etc) within the publication entry. I don't imagine that your main research entry would contain such detailed information.
Even if you already talked about the project in your research entry, I would still add at least a sentence explaining the impact and purpose of this specific publication though. The entry should be able to stand on it's own at least a little bit (even though you would still reference back to the main research entry)
2. No. You may find that you've already dedicated so much room to the activity that you don't really need to expand on it. Be sure to read FAQ 8a though
Ok let me describe it. I did undergrad research for a lab for 2 years, resulted in writing an honors thesis (for my honors program). the work I did ended up going into a paper for two grad students (separate ones), same journal. I did basically the same work but different proteins and stuff.
EDIT:
Ok that clarifies it. I'll write a little blurb about it at the bottom, not sure what I can write about though! Do we title each publication with something unique? Or just leave it as publication1 and 2?
EDIT:
Ok that clarifies it. I'll write a little blurb about it at the bottom, not sure what I can write about though! Do we title each publication with something unique? Or just leave it as publication1 and 2?
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Those are the best scholarships 😉
Exactly
Great, thanks!
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Dean's list isn't too important to include since it is already evident by your grades that you are a good student. However, adcomms don't see your actual transcript so you'd need to include it in your EC list if you want adcomms to know about it. AMCAS doesn't add stuff like that to your application even if it is listed on the transcript that you send them
Hmm well if the end results were different (i.e. you personally did the same work but the papers were about different topics) then I'd separate them. If it's all exactly the same but just different proteins then I'd group. You're getting into subtle distinctions that aren't quite as clear
Publications in national or regional journals are nothing to scoff at. If the projects were different enough to be listed separately, I'd rather see you get the credit for all your hard work by listing them separately as long as you've got the room.
As for the title, that's one approach but I'd suggest making the title somewhat more interesting if possible 🙂
I thought all colleges ended up getting an official transcript from AMCAS?
Schools get one after you accept and matriculate. before you Start the school
Yeah basically, I did the same technical work, but with different proteins, for two different students and the papers were on "different" topics within the lab, you know what I mean? I'll keep your words in mind. Thanks!
Agree with syoung. AMCAS doesn't forward your official transcript. Your application has the coursework section and the space for your AMCAS-calculated GPAs but medical schools won't see your actual transcript until you send it to them after you've been accepted
I think what they mean by "clinical experience" is either a paid profession in the medical field or exactly what you are describing, a volunteering position in a clinic/hospital.
I work at a free clinic too and I'm listing it as Volunteering-Clinical.
I work at a free clinic too and I'm listing it as Volunteering-Clinical.
You can simply list it in your Work/Activities section under the category "Volunteer/Community Service - Medical/Clinical" and describe it accordingly.
Also, merging with Official Work/Activities Thread.
I'm planning to nix a part of my PS discussing my leadership, and instead spend the time expanding more on my work as an ER volunteer, so that it would comprise about 1/2 my essay. While I still consider my ER volunteering one of my most meaningful activities, would it be appropriate to now switch the most meaningful designation to my leadership, considering I won't have discussed it much in my PS? I still want to be asked about my ER work in my interviews...
ok thanks, reason I asked was because I also have an upward trend, and didn't know people did this.
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It sounds like weak sauce to me also, but maybe you can convince me differently. Did the study result in new generalizable knowledge? Was it potentially publishable? It sounds more like orientation classes taken prior to starting actual research, to get one accustomed to the structure/format of hypothesis-driven research. If you have nothing better, you have the choice to list it anyway, but don't make it something that it's not. Make the purpose of the class clear.
That sounds like a practical decision, provided you had enough space to say everything important about the ER experience, in one location or another. You could also keep in mind that it's OK to designate something as "Most Meaningful," so it is labeled as such, without necessarily using up much of the additional provided space.
Hi I also had a question in regards to this. If I have been doing an activity that I started in high school on a weekly basis, and then continued doing it in college but only during the summers, should I leave the hours blank and just say this in the description as you mentioned? Maybe something like this?
"I started this activity in august of 2004 on a weekly basis of with a 1 hour per week commitment and continued it until august of 2009. After August of 2009 I went to college so I was only able to continue this activity during summers. "
Is it worth mentioning clubs that I was an active member of but held no leadership role in?
One last question, is it ok if almost all of my activity descriptions follow this format:
"My responsibilities included
-
-
-
....
this experience was meaningful to me because..."?
Or do adcoms frown upon that sort of thing?
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1) Instead, to create more impact, consider saying, "Starting August 2004, I engaged in this activity for 50 hours per year until 8/2009. After this date, . . . ."
2) Clubs can help demonstrate your interests and give you an official contact to list, but you can also list such interests as hobbies, etc, and use yourself as a contact for a group of similar activities. If you are short on space, you need not list clubs, except where you had leadership, or it led to community service, or it was unique.
3) It looks fine. I'm not clear on what would be frowned on. Of course, every activity doesn't he a deeper meaning, so don't force it.
1.) Ok that sounds great.
2.) Sounds good, I think I'll use one space for all of my clubs and one space for non club hobbies.
3.) I just wasn't sure if they would be ok with the same format for each, but I guess not.
Thank you so much for your help!
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