*~*~*~*Official AMCAS "Work/Activities" Tips Thread 2012-2013*~*~*~*

[AlexUniv]

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So, If anyone could help with this, I'd really appreciate it. This is what I have so far:

Community Service- Clinical:
Intern at Alexandria University Hospitals in Egypt
Volunteering at Local E.D

Community Service Not Clinical:
Intern at "Our Health"(WHO Organization in Alexandria)
Voluntary Youth Service Organization Volunteering in Alexandria (standard non-clinical volunteering)

Extracurricular:
Fitness Training/Ultramarathon runner
Arabic Culture Club/Arabic Flagship Program (Home university)
Arabic Flagship Year-long Program (Egypt)
Arabic Flagship Summer Program (Morocco)
Physician Shadowing (in Egypt as well as America)

Awards and Honors:
Collegiate Awards and Honors

Research:
I currently have a grant to research refugee access to Egyptian healthcare. (This starts May 1st, 2012)

Paid Employment- Non-Military:
Working for Parents' company
Soccer Referee (Was part of a Referee Development Academy before I went abroad)

Leadership:
University Skydiving Club (President and founder)

Teaching/Tutoring:
I teach grade school kids English in Egypt through a local NGO.



So, I by the time I apply this cycle, I will have spent the last year or so abroad. I had two scholarships for two different programs (Summer in Morocco, followed by a year in Egypt. About 15 months total). So, I have a few questions, if anyone could give some much appreciated advice:


1. My senior honor's thesis (starting Fall 2012, so it'll be listed on my courses) will be on the same topic as my summer research. Is it ok to mention in the summer research part a little about continuing this with my senior honor's thesis?

2. I was in ROTC my freshman year (left due to finincial reasons. I needed a scholarship, and I found the Arabic Flagship Program). Should I mention this somewhere in my activities section? It took up a significant amount of time freshman year, making other activities almost impossible.

3. How should I list the contact info for my overseas experiences? Would adcoms like me to list an American colleague in the activity, or an Egyptian manager/supervisor (although without a valid phone number)?


4. For my domestic volunteering, should I write something in the description indicationg why I stopped, or that I plan on restaring in august, when I come home?

Again, sorry for the long post, and thanks for all the help!

 

[LodgeJig]

So I understand that a research paper which is not yet submitted or published should not be listed under "publications." It should instead be listed along with the research experience.

But what about this: I am co-author (along with my professor) on a chapter for an Abnormal Psychology Through the Ages textbook. The book is not yet published but it's a guarantee that it will be. Should I list this under "publications?" OR, should I list it under "Laboratory/Research", considering the gathering of information and writing of the chapter as "Research?"

Also, what is the standard character limit for each work/activity?

THANK YOU!!! 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

All right, that makes sense. My biggest concern is that if I put them together and mark it as leadership, I'd have one less clinical experience activity listed. But, as people mentioned earlier, I don't want it to seem like I'm filling it with fluff. How much of a time commitment would both activities have to be so that adcoms wouldn't see the double listing as filler?

What do you have for each. It's not just a time thing, it's also a 'what did you accomplish' thing.

 

[Catalystik]

So, If anyone could help with this, I'd really appreciate it. This is what I have so far:

Community Service- Clinical:
Intern at Alexandria University Hospitals in Egypt
Volunteering at Local E.D

Community Service Not Clinical:
Intern at "Our Health"(WHO Organization in Alexandria)
Voluntary Youth Service Organization Volunteering in Alexandria (standard non-clinical volunteering)

Extracurricular:
Fitness Training/Ultramarathon runner
Arabic Culture Club/Arabic Flagship Program (Home university)
Arabic Flagship Year-long Program (Egypt)
Arabic Flagship Summer Program (Morocco)
Physician Shadowing (in Egypt as well as America)

Awards and Honors:
Collegiate Awards and Honors

Research:
I currently have a grant to research refugee access to Egyptian healthcare. (This starts May 1st, 2012)

Paid Employment- Non-Military:
Working for Parents' company
Soccer Referee (Was part of a Referee Development Academy before I went abroad)

Leadership:
University Skydiving Club (President and founder)

Teaching/Tutoring:
I teach grade school kids English in Egypt through a local NGO.



So, I by the time I apply this cycle, I will have spent the last year or so abroad. I had two scholarships for two different programs (Summer in Morocco, followed by a year in Egypt. About 15 months total). So, I have a few questions, if anyone could give some much appreciated advice:


1. My senior honor's thesis (starting Fall 2012, so it'll be listed on my courses) will be on the same topic as my summer research. Is it ok to mention in the summer research part a little about continuing this with my senior honor's thesis?

2. I was in ROTC my freshman year (left due to finincial reasons. I needed a scholarship, and I found the Arabic Flagship Program). Should I mention this somewhere in my activities section? It took up a significant amount of time freshman year, making other activities almost impossible.

3. How should I list the contact info for my overseas experiences? Would adcoms like me to list an American colleague in the activity, or an Egyptian manager/supervisor (although without a valid phone number)?


4. For my domestic volunteering, should I write something in the description indicationg why I stopped, or that I plan on restaring in august, when I come home?

Again, sorry for the long post, and thanks for all the help!

1) If you won't have started working on the thesis,don't mention it. Save it for update letter.

2) You can list ROTC as an activity, probably under Other, as the educational benefit does not consitute employment.

3) If you have an advisor at your US school who can attest to your involvement, use that. Since it will be on your transcript, you could also list the US college Registrar. Last choice would be an overseas manager. If they don't speak English, mention the appropriate language with which to make an inquery.

4) You can mention why you stopped and that you hope to resume in August 2012, but that won't be regarded, being a future event. Be sure to add the info to Secondary essays and update letters once you do go back to it.

 

[Catalystik]

So I understand that a research paper which is not yet submitted or published should not be listed under "publications." It should instead be listed along with the research experience.

But what about this:
1) I am co-author (along with my professor) on a chapter for an Abnormal Psychology Through the Ages textbook. The book is not yet published but it's a guarantee that it will be. Should I list this under "publications?" OR, should I list it under "Laboratory/Research", considering the gathering of information and writing of the chapter as "Research?"

2) Also, what is the standard character limit for each work/activity?

1) If it is not accepted, it cannot be entered under Publication, as the AMCAS application won't accept future dates. If it is accepted, but not yet in print, it can cited as "in press" in a Publication space.

The gathering of information for the book does not constitute hypothesis-driven research, for which the Research designation is intended. You might instead list it under Other, as a you would a special project or thesis experience.

2) You have 700 characters per Experience unless you designate it as "Most Meaningful." Then you get an added 1325 characters.

 

[tak08810]

When describing research I've done, how much scientific jargon should I use? Should it be understandable to someone with just basic knowledge of biology/chemistry etc? For example part my description for one of my research positions states: [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]"Assisted in an experiment that developed and optimized cytokine TNF-.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]α.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif] assays using HTRF (homogenous time resolved fluorescence) and AlphaLISA technologies" .

 

[vayntraubinator]

Any employment (summer or school year) or other activities even if they aren't related to medicine can be included. You've got 5 items which is on the low side but if each is years in length then it isn't worrisome.

Need some help please!!

Question: I did construction, "employment", under my dad renovating three homes (for rent to invest and avoid as much debt from college) for 2 summers and a winter. It was work done only by my dad, brother and I and we put in ~40hr/week from landscaping to laying shingles and hard wood floors. I didn't get paid except for my parents paying for the rest of my college tuition.

How do I mention this activity?

 

[LizzyM]

Need some help please!!

Question: I did construction, "employment", under my dad renovating three homes (for rent to invest and avoid as much debt from college) for 2 summers and a winter. It was work done only by my dad, brother and I and we put in ~40hr/week from landscaping to laying shingles and hard wood floors. I didn't get paid except for my parents paying for the rest of my college tuition.

How do I mention this activity?

I'd call it "employment, non-military" or "other". I'd' list just the 2nd summer and list the other summer & the winter in the text to avoid filling in the top section to look like you were working 40 hours wk from June '09-August '10. (Some readers just skim the headings and end up feeling that the applicant could not have worked f/t duirng the academic year and therefore that the information is exaggerated.) The alternative is to take the f/t work for 2 summers (800 hours plus Winter 120 hours) and call it 920 hours /62 weeks = 15 hrs/wk from June 2009-August 2010 and then in the text describe it as f/t during those 2 summers plus one winter. A third option would be to give it 3 slots for each time frame.

 

[Catalystik]

When describing research I've done, how much scientific jargon should I use? Should it be understandable to someone with just basic knowledge of biology/chemistry etc? For example part my description for one of my research positions states: [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]"Assisted in an experiment that developed and optimized cytokine TNF-.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]α.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif] assays using HTRF (homogenous time resolved fluorescence) and AlphaLISA technologies" .

Keep in mind that you audience will vary widely in their ability to grasp scientific jargon. I suggest you open with something generic and get more specific as you go along. That way by the time a reader's eyes start to glaze over they will have already have gotten the gist. Those capable of a deeper understanding and who have an interest can forge ahead. You do want to include that too as sometimes faculty interviewers are chosen on that basis.

 

[catzzz88]

In the past, Lizzy M has specifically said not to use study abroad programs as one of the 15 activities. I think a lot of study abroad programs involve partying/easy classes or something. However, my experience was not like this. I attended DIS's Medical Practice and Policy Program in Copenhagen, Denmark--not your average study abroad program.

http://www.dis.dk/study-abroad/programs/medical-policy/

A basic description is found at their website--it was very medically centered and very hands on. In Human Health and Disease class, we had clinical practice labs where we learned suturing, IV entry, and blood drawing and also had weekly clinical cases as part of our class where we would team up and complete extensive differential diagnoses (this class was taught at the Hospital by two Danish Physicians). We also learned quite a lot about the Danish social medical system; pros, cons, challenges, etc. coming straight from the experiences of physicians working in the system. I also took two biomedical ethics courses (one on HIV/AIDS specifically, and one on the general history and possible future ethical dilemmas that plague medical decisions). I also took a Danish language class, which was extremely difficult. The program included two "Study Tours" including one regional (into the medical practices of the Danish countryside) and one European (we went to Poland and Germany). Both of these study tours were extremely cool. Some of the many things I did: observed an autopsy, shadowed a doctor at a cystic fibrosis clinic, and got to talk to doctors running a rural clinic about the challenges and benefits of ambulatory and private services to rural communities. And much more...

Not only do I really want to add this to my list of 15 experiences, I was considering using it as one of my three most significant experiences (which Lizzy M also specifically advised against).

If I do use it, are there any things that I should watch out for in my description? I know this is not a US experience, so translating it to the US medical system is not my intent. But, to deny that this study abroad experience did not have a significant effect on my understanding of what it means to be a doctor would be silly (whether it took place in the US, in Denmark, or on the moon, the ideas that were instilled are undeniably translatable to my desire to be a doctor!)

What say ye? Don't we think that this program is an exception to the rule? Speak, SDN, speak! 😀

Thanks all,
C

 

[NickNaylor]

But, to deny that this study abroad experience did not have a significant effect on my understanding of what it means to be a doctor would be silly (whether it took place in the US, in Denmark, or on the moon, the ideas that were instilled are undeniably translatable to my desire to be a doctor!)

If that's the case - if you really feel as if your app would be missing something by not including this experience - then you should include it. Keep in mind that despite anyone's credentials, they are offering only one opinion that is likely biased in some ways. You should also keep in mind that this is YOUR application, not those from whom you get advice. Take advice from many different people, but don't follow anyone's advice as if it's dogma.

In general, I think with activity descriptions you should strive to show how that activity provides insight into your character (i.e., what's important to you, what your values are, etc.) and what you did if you don't think the adcoms would be able to figure that out on their own (which seems to be the case here). You don't need to go into painful details - e.g., "I took X, Y, and Z courses" - but talking about the experience and the opportunities you had certainly wouldn't be out of the question.

Ultimately, go with your gut. Again, this is YOUR application - while there certainly are some ways you can completely screw yourself over, I don't think describing this activity falls in the basket.

 

[catzzz88]

My goal in choosing the 15 experiences is to A) amplify impressive and interesting experiences that I have had in my life, and B) to augment my argument that I:

1. have at least some idea of what it is like to be a doctor
2. would be a good doctor
3. have had interesting and meaningful experiences that have matured me as an individual.

I think that my DIS experience does A, B1, and B3 and thus should be included. But, I am also biased and I want the opinion of SDN to tell me if I am on track. I am seeking multiple opinions because I am a first generation college student and my family can't really offer me advice here.

I saw LizzyM's advice and got nervous that I was making a naive decision about what to include on my application. Nick suggests that if it was important to me, that it should be included.

I just need some affirmation that including DIS would be helpful for my application; my naivety gets in the way of this application process all the time. I am constantly fighting against some pretty severe cultural and economic disadvantages that hold me back in this process. SDN is such a lifesaver for me... Without it, I would literally be lost and would probably give up on the application process altogether! So thanks... sincerely. 🙂

Best,
C

 

[LizzyM]

The Danish program sounds different than a typical semester abroad and so it might be worth devoting a slot to it as well as having the courses listed on your "transcript" section of the AMCAS.

 

[coyotelime]

The Danish program sounds different than a typical semester abroad and so it might be worth devoting a slot to it as well as having the courses listed on your "transcript" section of the AMCAS.

Sorry for the thread hijack, but by the same token, would a semester abroad at University College London also be okay to put down as one of my activities, considering some included medical aspects (for genetics, one of our main textbooks was also used by the med students, and I also took a pediatric statistics course)? The classes were definitely not easy. Thanks!

 

[NickNaylor]

Sorry for the thread hijack, but by the same token, would a semester abroad at University College London also be okay to put down as one of my activities, considering some included medical aspects (for genetics, one of our main textbooks was also used by the med students, and I also took a pediatric statistics course)? The classes were definitely not easy. Thanks!

I know this wasn't addressed to me, but I would include the experience without trying to hype up the fact that you took classes that were "definitely not easy." Keep in mind that if you include this you might be asked about things entirely unrelated to the academic nature of the experience.

 

[LizzyM]

Sorry for the thread hijack, but by the same token, would a semester abroad at University College London also be okay to put down as one of my activities, considering some included medical aspects (for genetics, one of our main textbooks was also used by the med students, and I also took a pediatric statistics course)? The classes were definitely not easy. Thanks!

The courses you take and the name of the school where the courses were taken go in the transcript section of the application. It is redundant to list them in the experience section as well.

 

[sliceofbread136]

The courses you take and the name of the school where the courses were taken go in the transcript section of the application. It is redundant to list them in the experience section as well.

But if they're just on your transcript you don't have a chance to describe the activity and how it impacted you. Isn't that worth the redundancy?

 

[vayntraubinator]

I'd call it "employment, non-military" or "other". I'd' list just the 2nd summer and list the other summer & the winter in the text to avoid filling in the top section to look like you were working 40 hours wk from June '09-August '10. (Some readers just skim the headings and end up feeling that the applicant could not have worked f/t duirng the academic year and therefore that the information is exaggerated.) The alternative is to take the f/t work for 2 summers (800 hours plus Winter 120 hours) and call it 920 hours /62 weeks = 15 hrs/wk from June 2009-August 2010 and then in the text describe it as f/t during those 2 summers plus one winter. A third option would be to give it 3 slots for each time frame.

Thanks LizzyM 🙂 I will probably do the 920 hours to save slots. Although it's probably less because my '10 summer I was also employed as a waiter (30hr/week).

Do you think the fact that my "employer" would be my dad would lose credibility for this job? I really worked my butt off and can talk in depth about the challenges we went through together from selecting materials to constructing and opening up the homes for rent. I know if I were an adcomm at least I may be somewhat skeptical of this.

 

[otggwmfs]

.

 

[coyotelime]

I know this wasn't addressed to me, but I would include the experience without trying to hype up the fact that you took classes that were "definitely not easy." Keep in mind that if you include this you might be asked about things entirely unrelated to the academic nature of the experience.

Yeah I won't use that or hint at the difficulty of the courses; I just wanted to refute the common misconception that all study abroad programs include blow off classes and 5 days of partying a week 😳

 

[LizzyM]

Go ahead. I've never seen an adcom member impressed by study abroad enough to comment on it but it could happen.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Go ahead. I've never seen an adcom member impressed by study abroad enough to comment on it but it could happen.

I've sure you've seen worse filler 😳

 

[vayntraubinator]

How can you list an entire semester abroad as a significant EC? I feel like that encompasses too much. Why don't you just list the activity/event that most impacted you instead of, for ex: Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain.

I feel a much stronger EC would be if you actually volunteered and did something with the rural communities in Denmark. That would be much more specific and interesting since you passed some cultural/ethnic barriers, rather than saying "Denmark Medical experience abroad." The EC would obviously have been in said country without directly listing it, and the adcomm would take into account experiential diversity and may then probe your study abroad experience in an interview (which should be an advantageous talking point for you)

 

[aspiringdoc09]

I work as an Anatomy Technician at a osteopathic school. How should I classify this on my application? Should it be Employment/Non-Military or Employment/Medical? Also, I manage/supervise work-study students, so it is a leadership position too.

 

[Catalystik]

I work as an Anatomy Technician at a osteopathic school. How should I classify this on my application? Should it be Employment/Non-Military or Employment/Medical? Also, I manage/supervise work-study students, so it is a leadership position too.

I suggest using Employment/not military. There is no Employment /medical category. In the name make both roles clear EG, Anatomy Tech and Work Study Coordinator.

 

[sector9]

Do you think the fact that my "employer" would be my dad would lose credibility for this job? I really worked my butt off and can talk in depth about the challenges we went through together from selecting materials to constructing and opening up the homes for rent. I know if I were an adcomm at least I may be somewhat skeptical of this.

Although I freely admit that I'm not LizzyM 🙂)), I don't think you should worry too much. You can't change who you worked for

 

[aspiringdoc09]

I suggest using Employment/not military. There is no Employment /medical category. In the name make both roles clear EG, Anatomy Tech and Work Study Coordinator.

Thanks. Work Study Coodinator isn't my official title, so will it be ok for me to put that?

 

[qwer123456]

If it really was significant, and you can justify it, then why not. I did an internship abroad for credit, and it was one of my most significant experiences. There are obviously big differences in programs, but your program sounds pretty cool.

 

[aSagacious]

Merging with the work/activities thread.

In the past, Lizzy M has specifically said not to use study abroad programs as one of the 15 activities. I think a lot of study abroad programs involve partying/easy classes or something. However, my experience was not like this. I attended DIS's Medical Practice and Policy Program in Copenhagen, Denmark--not your average study abroad program.

http://www.dis.dk/study-abroad/programs/medical-policy/

A basic description is found at their website--it was very medically centered and very hands on. In Human Health and Disease class, we had clinical practice labs where we learned suturing, IV entry, and blood drawing and also had weekly clinical cases as part of our class where we would team up and complete extensive differential diagnoses (this class was taught at the Hospital by two Danish Physicians). We also learned quite a lot about the Danish social medical system; pros, cons, challenges, etc. coming straight from the experiences of physicians working in the system. I also took two biomedical ethics courses (one on HIV/AIDS specifically, and one on the general history and possible future ethical dilemmas that plague medical decisions). I also took a Danish language class, which was extremely difficult. The program included two "Study Tours" including one regional (into the medical practices of the Danish countryside) and one European (we went to Poland and Germany). Both of these study tours were extremely cool. Some of the many things I did: observed an autopsy, shadowed a doctor at a cystic fibrosis clinic, and got to talk to doctors running a rural clinic about the challenges and benefits of ambulatory and private services to rural communities. And much more...

Not only do I really want to add this to my list of 15 experiences, I was considering using it as one of my three most significant experiences (which Lizzy M also specifically advised against).

If I do use it, are there any things that I should watch out for in my description? I know this is not a US experience, so translating it to the US medical system is not my intent. But, to deny that this study abroad experience did not have a significant effect on my understanding of what it means to be a doctor would be silly (whether it took place in the US, in Denmark, or on the moon, the ideas that were instilled are undeniably translatable to my desire to be a doctor!)

What say ye? Don't we think that this program is an exception to the rule? Speak, SDN, speak! 😀

Thanks all,
C

If that's the case - if you really feel as if your app would be missing something by not including this experience - then you should include it. Keep in mind that despite anyone's credentials, they are offering only one opinion that is likely biased in some ways. You should also keep in mind that this is YOUR application, not those from whom you get advice. Take advice from many different people, but don't follow anyone's advice as if it's dogma.

In general, I think with activity descriptions you should strive to show how that activity provides insight into your character (i.e., what's important to you, what your values are, etc.) and what you did if you don't think the adcoms would be able to figure that out on their own (which seems to be the case here). You don't need to go into painful details - e.g., "I took X, Y, and Z courses" - but talking about the experience and the opportunities you had certainly wouldn't be out of the question.

Ultimately, go with your gut. Again, this is YOUR application - while there certainly are some ways you can completely screw yourself over, I don't think describing this activity falls in the basket.

My goal in choosing the 15 experiences is to A) amplify impressive and interesting experiences that I have had in my life, and B) to augment my argument that I:

1. have at least some idea of what it is like to be a doctor
2. would be a good doctor
3. have had interesting and meaningful experiences that have matured me as an individual.

I think that my DIS experience does A, B1, and B3 and thus should be included. But, I am also biased and I want the opinion of SDN to tell me if I am on track. I am seeking multiple opinions because I am a first generation college student and my family can't really offer me advice here.

I saw LizzyM's advice and got nervous that I was making a naive decision about what to include on my application. Nick suggests that if it was important to me, that it should be included.

I just need some affirmation that including DIS would be helpful for my application; my naivety gets in the way of this application process all the time. I am constantly fighting against some pretty severe cultural and economic disadvantages that hold me back in this process. SDN is such a lifesaver for me... Without it, I would literally be lost and would probably give up on the application process altogether! So thanks... sincerely. 🙂

Best,
C

The Danish program sounds different than a typical semester abroad and so it might be worth devoting a slot to it as well as having the courses listed on your "transcript" section of the AMCAS.

Sorry for the thread hijack, but by the same token, would a semester abroad at University College London also be okay to put down as one of my activities, considering some included medical aspects (for genetics, one of our main textbooks was also used by the med students, and I also took a pediatric statistics course)? The classes were definitely not easy. Thanks!

I know this wasn't addressed to me, but I would include the experience without trying to hype up the fact that you took classes that were "definitely not easy." Keep in mind that if you include this you might be asked about things entirely unrelated to the academic nature of the experience.

The courses you take and the name of the school where the courses were taken go in the transcript section of the application. It is redundant to list them in the experience section as well.

But if they're just on your transcript you don't have a chance to describe the activity and how it impacted you. Isn't that worth the redundancy?

I was just curious, this doesn't have any impact on me personally, but why shouldn't you list study abroad as an activity? It makes sense that you would list more relevant activities first, and not include it if you didn't have a slot after listing those. If you did have space, however, why wouldn't you talk about it?

Yeah I won't use that or hint at the difficulty of the courses; I just wanted to refute the common misconception that all study abroad programs include blow off classes and 5 days of partying a week 😳

Go ahead. I've never seen an adcom member impressed by study abroad enough to comment on it but it could happen.

I've sure you've seen worse filler 😳

How can you list an entire semester abroad as a significant EC? I feel like that encompasses too much. Why don't you just list the activity/event that most impacted you instead of, for ex: Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain.

I feel a much stronger EC would be if you actually volunteered and did something with the rural communities in Denmark. That would be much more specific and interesting since you passed some cultural/ethnic barriers, rather than saying "Denmark Medical experience abroad." The EC would obviously have been in said country without directly listing it, and the adcomm would take into account experiential diversity and may then probe your study abroad experience in an interview (which should be an advantageous talking point for you)

If it really was significant, and you can justify it, then why not. I did an internship abroad for credit, and it was one of my most significant experiences. There are obviously big differences in programs, but your program sounds pretty cool.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks. Work Study Coodinator isn't my official title, so will it be ok for me to put that?

This is just one suggestion. Feel free to be more creative if your true title isn't a good clue to the leadership component that you want to make clear. In the narrative you will explain your true roles that back up your title.

Alternatively, if the leadership role is substantive, you can split it out from the Employment entry with its associated hours and list it on its own.

 

[MDschoolorbust]

Quick question:

If I volunteered for three summers in high school (combined it was something close to 350 hours), should I include it? It is non-clinical. I have clinical volunteering already so I was just wondering.

Also what about "service learning" courses where the primary activity is volunteering but credit is still earned? (the course was only 1 credit).

 

[Catalystik]

1) If I volunteered for three summers in high school (combined it was something close to 350 hours), should I include it? It is non-clinical. I have clinical volunteering already so I was just wondering.

2) Also what about "service learning" courses where the primary activity is volunteering but credit is still earned? (the course was only 1 credit).

1) There is no "rule" that you can't list HS activities, but it would be hoped that you had either continued the activity into the college years, or that it has some type of a WOW factor, if you want adcomms to give it consideration. Preferably, you'd have something more recent to show that your humanistic mindset did not disappear.

2) It isn't "volunteering" if it was required for a course, since you got a personal benefit out of participating, but you could list the activity if you feel it was substantive, or transformative, or impactful, even though it will also appear in the transcript portion of the application.

 

[sector9]

Quick question:

If I volunteered for three summers in high school (combined it was something close to 350 hours), should I include it? It is non-clinical. I have clinical volunteering already so I was just wondering.

I would recommend not including this in your application.

 

[MDschoolorbust]

I would recommend not including this in your application.

This is what I figured as I've always heard high school stuff shouldn't be on your app unless it was absolutely outstanding. I have other more recent activities I can put on there.

 

[Shockwave456]

Are the activities restricted to post-secondary? I've seen a number of other threads mention that the activities are only supposed to be post-secondary ones, but the 2013 AMCAS manual says nothing about this (in fact, it specifically omits mentioning any time restriction). Any thoughts on this? I was considering listing a Governor's School for Sciences and a National Merit Scholar.

Thanks!

 

[sector9]

Are the activities restricted to post-secondary? I've seen a number of other threads mention that the activities are only supposed to be post-secondary ones, but the 2013 AMCAS manual says nothing about this (in fact, it specifically omits mentioning any time restriction). Any thoughts on this? I was considering listing a Governor's School for Sciences and a National Merit Scholar.

Thanks!

As you noticed, there is no formal restriction prohibiting high school activities (years ago, the application did specify, but it doesn't any more). Or middle school, elementary school, or preschool. However, conventional SDN wisdom says that you should only be including high school activities in pretty rare circumstances

I don't have specific comments about the activities you listed, except that you could mention the National Merit Scholar along with your other scholarships and awards

 

[Catalystik]

I was considering listing a Governor's School for Sciences and a National Merit Scholar.

Use your spaces for activities that make you look like a good candidate for med school. These are not going to sway adcomms positively. If your HS gave you an experience that turned you on to medicine, mention it in your Primary Statement as part of your path to this career. As to winning a National Merit Scholarship: a med school application is not the place to mention a scholarship based on an achievement in HS.

 

[LizzyM]

... what about "service learning" courses where the primary activity is volunteering but credit is still earned? (the course was only 1 credit).

I have seen people list "volunteer-non-clinical" or "volunteer - clinical" for things that are done for university credit. Ditto for "shadowing" that is done as a part of a course on health careers. I don't see anything wrong with it. You volunteered to take the class knowing that it had this requirement so although it might not be purely out of the goodness of your heart, we know that the amount of volunteering that is done for purely out of generosity of spriit is a very rare thing.

 

[rrxcrunner]

I did a research internship last summer (and am doing the same one again this summer) for the Navy at the Naval Research Laboratory in DC. I was paid by the Navy and worked in the Navy's secure facility all summer.

Would it be acceptable to list this as military employment or do I need to be like on active duty to use that spot?

Obviously I would explain all the conditions of the internship and what I did and such in the box. I just thought it could add a bit of diversity to my application since it is probably one of the less common "checked" boxes.

Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

I did a research internship last summer (and am doing the same one again this summer) for the Navy at the Naval Research Laboratory in DC. I was paid by the Navy and worked in the Navy's secure facility all summer.

Would it be acceptable to list this as military employment or do I need to be like on active duty to use that spot?

Obviously I would explain all the conditions of the internship and what I did and such in the box. I just thought it could add a bit of diversity to my application since it is probably one of the less common "checked" boxes.

Thanks!

You were a civilian so I think that "employment, military" would not be accurate.

Furthermore, you'd get more value from that experience by labeling it "research" than "employment".

 

[rrxcrunner]

Yes, that is what I was thinking. I only would have preferred to list it that way because I already have pretty extensive research experience which will be listed elsewhere. Oh well, thanks!

 

[aspiringdoc09]

This is just one suggestion. Feel free to be more creative if your true title isn't a good clue to the leadership component that you want to make clear. In the narrative you will explain your true roles that back up your title.

Alternatively, if the leadership role is substantive, you can split it out from the Employment entry with its associated hours and list it on its own.

Ok. Thank you!

 

[catzzz88]

I have an abstract publication and powerpoint presentation at a national conference (both date to high school). The paper was actually pretty significant in my life because I developed a statistical method to quantitatively describe the shape of a fin on these fish that we were classifying and my methods and other more common methods led to the discovery of a new sub-species of fish...

But, I also have three other publications and lots of research, so I feel like maybe this is too much research to include on my application, especially since it is from high school.

At this point, at least 6-8 slots are already filled with research/presentations/publications...and I have so much other stuff that I need all 15 slots.

Thanks for any advice,
C

 

[sector9]

I have an abstract publication and powerpoint presentation at a national conference (both date to high school). The paper was actually pretty significant in my life because I developed a statistical method to quantitatively describe the shape of a fin on these fish that we were classifying and my methods and other more common methods led to the discovery of a new sub-species of fish...

But, I also have three other publications and lots of research, so I feel like maybe this is too much research to include on my application, especially since it is from high school.

At this point, at least 6-8 slots are already filled with research/presentations/publications...and I have so much other stuff that I need all 15 slots.

Thanks for any advice,
C

It seems like you answered your own question 😛 It sounds like you've got a lot of recent accomplishments that should take precedence over high school activities so I'd recommend focusing on them rather that pruning relevant stuff out

 

[sbuxaddict]

Hi everyone,
This is going to be my second time applying. I graduated last May, and have been working as a full-time scribe position in ER and shadowing various specialties when I have time (and now studying for the MCAT).
I had pretty substantial EC's in undergrad, but since it's been a year since I graduated, is it still ok if I pick 1-2 of them as one of the 3 most meaningful? I guess I'm just worried that the EC's I did in college won't be considered as relevant/important now that I'm no longer in undergrad.

 

[Quigon]

.

 

[Catalystik]

This is going to be my second time applying. I graduated last May, and have been working as a full-time scribe position in ER and shadowing various specialties when I have time (and now studying for the MCAT).
I had pretty substantial EC's in undergrad, but since it's been a year since I graduated, is it still ok if I pick 1-2 of them as one of the 3 most meaningful? I guess I'm just worried that the EC's I did in college won't be considered as relevant/important now that I'm no longer in undergrad.

Yes.

 

[Catalystik]

1) I will be listing two non-military jobs on my application. In each of these jobs, I had a leadership role. My question is: would it be acceptable to list one of those jobs under the category of "Leadership" to balance out my application, while listing the other two as "Employment-not military?" For the two jobs in which I had a leadership role, I would make it clear in the job title and description of the leadership role regardless of the category assignment.

Or should I just list them all as "Employment-not military?" The two jobs are my major leadership experiences.

2) Is it acceptable to list scholarships received for college tuition (total for four years >$20,000, but based on high school academics and maintenance of certain GPA in college)?

1) It's fine to choose Leadership as the designation, but if you do so, be sure to enter the date range for the leadership position (and the related hours per week) and not the start and end dates for the job (or the work hours/week). Within the narrative, you can list the date span for the employment that led to the leadership.

Alternatively, list both under Employment, but use the word Leadership or the title of the leadership position along with the name you give the activity, to make it clear the activity covers two designations. In the narrative you can discuss how the job led to more responsibility, and when. This approach would probably flow more smoothly.

Note that the leadership designation says: Leadership - not listed elsewhere. It's common to keep the leadership role with the activity that led to it.

2) It seems silly to list a scholarship based on HS work alone, but it's done. Since it was based on ongoing academic excellence in college, I think yours will be fine to include, but group it with other Awards/Honors/Recognitions, listing the criteria, how competitive it is, and put the amount of the total Award.

 

[Quigon]

.

 

[MDschoolorbust]

I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be laughed out of an admissions office for this.

Currently I write for BleacherReport, the 4th largest sports website in the US. I'm a "Featured Columnist" which means I'm required to put out weekly articles on select topics. I don't receive paid compensation except for perks (tickets to games, press passes, etc) occasionally. How do I make this look good on my application as I've sank a lot of time into it over the past 10 months or so.