You can say what is true at this time, but I don't see that this availability for involvement adds to your application. Why not save it for Secondaries or update letters, if you are eventually able to take an active role?
I think sector9 posted an example in post #2. And mine is here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12561811&postcount=848 You don't need much description, as adcomms know what shadowing entails. If the first one you mention was significant, put all the rest in the second box, or consider making them "Most Meaningful" so you have more space.
1) The contact only has to attest to your dates of involvement, so using the coordinator works fine.
All of the above are legit to use. In this case it's fine to use yourself as the contact.
You get your choice. Either is fine. I think for you this is an avocation, but it's also an art form that you've shared publically. You could pick the one that balances your application best if you don't have a preference.
Your question about a Secondary essay and glide year activities doesn't fall within the scope of this thread. You might seek out other threads like this one that cover your issue: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=928436 or do a further Search in PreMedAllo using the term "glide".
I've invited someone with experience in this area to comment. Please be patient for a response.
I think you can include it without going into great detail about how intense your interest is, as adcomms mostly will prefer to see you engaged in activities that require face-to-face people skills. I think that many adcomms will have had experience with video games (as I do myself) and may seek to involve you in a discussion of them. Be careful of this apparent friendly invitation to reveal all. You don't want to come across as 'Guy Living in Parental Basement With No Real-World-Navigating Skills.'
1) I think that plan works fine.1) So I guess it would be appropriate to just say that I enjoy playing video games and occasionally competing in community events and just leave it at that? I'm including hiking and fishing as well to my hobbies section so I hope that balances things out.
2) Just one question, do I need to really be into these hobbies? I mean, I do them in my spare time when I feel compelled to but it's not like I dedicate a considerable amount of thought to them. For example, if a fisherman interviewer were to ask me what kind of knot I use to tie a hook in a given situation or what specific brand of jigs I prefer then I would likely flounder.
3) Also, since I'm just throwing all of them into one list, what should I do about the date? I didn't start doing them all at the same time. I'm thinking of just throwing a random date on, would that be acceptable?
I communicated with Lil Mick, who is in an MD/PhD program. He/she thought interviewers are more likely to ask about the meaningful activities and that they should be activities you can convey some passion about, like something outside of research, but also one great research experience. "Most MD/PhD applicants have had some awesome experience in research to make them consider tacking on another 4-6 years to their MD."
1) Not if you explain the related activities as you did here.
Since the most recent experience is part of what had this impact on you, I think it's OK to generalize a bit about the transformative nature of your research as a whole on your thinking.
Entering a future event in its own space isn't going to enhance your application as you won't have much to say about it in the description. While theoretically, you could enter it, since you will begin in July and AMCAS will allow you enter 7/2012 as a start date, I think you would do better to mention the offer of a grant-funded position as as Clinical Research Coordinator at the end of another Research entry (showing your progression in responsibility), or even at the end of the PS if you can work it in gracefully. You could comment further on the job in eventual Secondaries and in future update letters.
1) Yes, you can mention them. Having begun, you at least know your responsibilities. If you were short on space (and had other experiences in that same category), however, you might leave them off in favor of activities that had a greater level of involvement, and save the new ones for Secondaries and update letters.
Most use just one space. Post #2 has sector9's example. Mine is here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12561811&postcount=848
Yes, include it.
1) Don't make excuses; it is what it is. Try to emphasize any patient contact you did have and the positives of having learned about patient confidentiality, intrahospital disease tranmission, and OSHA issues.
Options for 1):
1) Enter the header information for the most recent conference. Then, in the narrative, state that you've attended annually for three years and give the dates of the other two.
For option 1b, I'd go with the third choice.
I think it's worth listing, but since it was informal, it's best to use someone other than yourself as the contact. Is there an advisor or prof at the school aware of this activity? You might ask them if you could use their name. Alternatively, consider using one of the tutees. Last choice: yourself.Would it be a good idea to list informal tutoring under activities? I've tutored a half dozen students in calculus I and general chemistry I/II, although I was never affiliated with an type of tutoring center or organization. It's nothing significant -- maybe 50 hours across a few years -- but it's something that I kind of enjoyed doing. Would I list myself as a contact for verification?
Since one is 'most meaningful', I think they should be listed separately, if you have the space, and most particularly, if you are aiming for research-oriented schools.
) on facebook and tutored them in math (usually for free, if not they bought me lunch or something). Is this something I could list as an activity?
