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I'd suggest you wait a little longer until you have a clear idea of how the Experience will unfold.
*~*~*~*Official AMCAS "Work/Activities" Tips Thread 2012-2013*~*~*~*
Started by sector9
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You had good instincts! 🙂
I haven't done any shadowing where I was just following a physician around for a whole day, but I did clinical research for a year and a half in the emergency department and the doctors would often let me follow them and watch them do procedures when the research stuff was slow. And now I'm a patient sitter, so I spend all day in patient rooms, watching both doctors and nurses interact with patients (and interacting with the patients myself).
Both of these are among my "most meaningful experiences" and I explain that each come with a lot of patient contact and some shadowing activity, and personally I feel like I have a good understanding of what it is that doctors do everyday. Do I need to worry that none of these are designated shadowing experiences? I saw that other applicants were advised to put "job title plus shadowing" in the title of their experience, but since mine are both "most meaningful" and I detail that I have contact with doctors/patients in these activities, is that necessary?
Both of these are among my "most meaningful experiences" and I explain that each come with a lot of patient contact and some shadowing activity, and personally I feel like I have a good understanding of what it is that doctors do everyday. Do I need to worry that none of these are designated shadowing experiences? I saw that other applicants were advised to put "job title plus shadowing" in the title of their experience, but since mine are both "most meaningful" and I detail that I have contact with doctors/patients in these activities, is that necessary?
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If you have used the word "Shadowing" in your description, hopefully you'll be OK. I've heard sad tales of applicants dissed for having none (though this is rare) when it had clearly been done, per the written description. That's why I've added my recommendation, where there is no formal Shadowing entry, to try to use the word Shadowing in the title as well. This precaution may not be necessary, but it won't hurt, and for the rare inattentive reader, it will help.
And BTW, since you've had no shadowing in an office-based primary care office where you could witness longitudinal care, I suggest you consider getting some in before your interviews. Interview questions can be based on the sort of things you'll learn in this sort of environment. And the experience would make a relevant add-on for future update letters, as well.
A few questions...
1) I had an essay published this Spring in a humanities journal that my university publishes (essays and book reviews strictly written by students). Should I put this under publications or something else?
2) When listing hobbies who on earth do I use as reference? Myself?! 🙁
3) I am heavily involved with my church and am currently taking classes there in order to be permitted to teach and lead study groups in the college and high school ministries. The classes are intense, graded, and have homework and finals. (The class I'm currently taking is 3hrs long on Wednesday nights.) I feel they are significant. How would I list them?
Thanks!
1) I had an essay published this Spring in a humanities journal that my university publishes (essays and book reviews strictly written by students). Should I put this under publications or something else?
2) When listing hobbies who on earth do I use as reference? Myself?! 🙁
3) I am heavily involved with my church and am currently taking classes there in order to be permitted to teach and lead study groups in the college and high school ministries. The classes are intense, graded, and have homework and finals. (The class I'm currently taking is 3hrs long on Wednesday nights.) I feel they are significant. How would I list them?
Thanks!
1) As writing is one of the Arts, and your work has reached a public venue, I suggest you use Artistic Endeavors.
2) If any one of your hobbies required lessons or a class (dance, music, martial arts, fencing, etc), you might use the teacher as the contact, list that hobby first, and list the others after that without a contact. Or use yourself.
3) Perhaps Other is the best option, since you have not yet begun to teach.
See Post #2, items 4 & 5.
Do you feel one is better than the other.? How many applicants use bullet point vs paragraph?
Also for employment what happens if I worked somewhere and the placed closed down? For a contact.
1) Applicants mix and match styles depending on which lends itself best to what needs to be said. You can also describe the job with bullets and then reflect on it a bit by using narrative.
2) If it was a branch, there is a central office somewhere with old employment records that you can try to track down. If not, you can list the first and last name of the contact as Business Closed, and use the old phone number.
Hi everyone, sorry if this is a question already answered (I couldn't find it on the thread when I typed it in google). I'm not sure if I should categorize some activities as "extracurricular" or "leadership - not listed elsewhere". For example, if I was the president of a college club in the last two years and was involved since freshman year what should I put? Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Club membership is probably not going to help much, unless it led to community service opportunities or reveals an interesting facet of your personality. You can list it under Leadership, using the date span for the presidency only, but in the narrative mention the backstory of organizational membership since xx/xx/xx.
Alternatively, you could list it under Other with the full date span, title it something like, "Membership and Presidency of XXXXX Organization," then state the date that you assumed the presidency.
Hi,
I taught english in a super small and isolated village in China (it's my great grandparent's town) back in the summer of 08. I didn't get anyone's phone number or email. Should I list one of my friends as contact because they were with me? Or should I just leave it out? Also, how should i write the friend's project title... lol
Thank you kittie =]
I taught english in a super small and isolated village in China (it's my great grandparent's town) back in the summer of 08. I didn't get anyone's phone number or email. Should I list one of my friends as contact because they were with me? Or should I just leave it out? Also, how should i write the friend's project title... lol
Thank you kittie =]
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I know this isn't strictly about Work/Activities section but I didn't think it was worth making a separate thread. I applied via AMCAS in the summer of 2010 and I am now applying this summer. Is it true that AMCAS only keeps your application info from the year before? Since I did not apply in 2011, is this why my AMCAS is blank? There is no way to retrieve the old information?
1) You could do that, or list someone from the program/organization that sponsored/arranged your visit.
2) You can't omit a contact phone or email. The program won't let you.
3) The friend's project title might be Co-Teacher. If a program sent you, you'd want to get in touch with them to ask who to use for a contact.
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If you do not submit the application (and pay a fee) most of your entered data is not repopulated into the new year's AMCAS application. After two years, you can't even enter the old program: https://services.aamc.org/AMCAS2_2011/ to see what you wrote.
There is another thread for General AMCAS questions, if you have any more: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=895286
So I just realized today that one of my activity descriptions was not saved when I submitted my app. I know I cannot update my application but could I email amcas and have them update or would I need to email each school? Also I wrote my personal statement about this activity so I have a pretty good description of it in there. Could the schools just use that as a description of the activity?
I have never heard a story where AMCAS added an omitted activity. However, you're implying that the failure of the activity to appear is due to a flaw in their program. If this is the case, then try emailing them about the situation.
I doubt that will help (but let me know if it does), which gives you the options of either letting it go, since there's a good description of the activity in the PS, or emailing each school after they've received your Primary and letting them know about the omission if there's something important not mentioned in your "Why Medicine" essay.
Thank you, Catalystik! This is very helpful.
I was wondering for the dates active, there is a check mark for "continuing the work." If I'm not doing these work for the summer but plan to continue these activities in the upcomming semester, should I place a checkmark on that box? If not, should I write that I plan on continuing the work in the description?
Additionally, if I volunteered at multiple hospitals, should I list them on different sections? I know it says to keep them on one slot, but what would I do about the contact information, since there's only one place to put it?
Thanks!
Additionally, if I volunteered at multiple hospitals, should I list them on different sections? I know it says to keep them on one slot, but what would I do about the contact information, since there's only one place to put it?
Thanks!
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Hi everyone (especially Catalystik),
When should I total the hours committed to an activity? Obviously for shadowing. But what about for run-of-the mill activities like a collegiate choir or some other student organization?
Thanks,
Nancy
When should I total the hours committed to an activity? Obviously for shadowing. But what about for run-of-the mill activities like a collegiate choir or some other student organization?
Thanks,
Nancy
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Since you have other Presentations/Posters, I think you can list it with them. If space is tight, then putting it with the affiliated Research is OK too.
The AMCAS instruction manual says
So you should not check that box, since you are not still involved in the activity, and so should enter your last month of participation. But you may state that you anticipate returning to the activity xx/xx/xx in your description.
There isn't a "rule" that you ever have to give the total hours, but sometimes when the hours of involvement are intermittent or vary widely, or the average hours per week is less than 1 hour, or the entered datespan could be misleading (eg, 3/11-3/11 could be 1 week or 4), it works better to give a total instead of hours per week. Of course, you can choose to put them in regardless, to assist the math-challenged adcomm, even if you participated for ~the same hours per week throughout the activity.
When it might not be appropriate is when an activity entails a huge number of hours (1000+), if the activity is ongoing currently, if you just started and the total is tiny, or when caring for a sick family member. I'm sure there are other exceptions that aren't in my mind right now.
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Thank you so much!
Here's the problem. I added "total hours" to some of my activities, but then I got to a long-term one (three years/ 950 hours) and felt silly. Then I got to a volunteer position I just started last week and didn't want to put down only 8 hours for that. Of course I didn't put total hours for any of my jobs. So I'm worried about consistency.
I think I'll total all non-employment ECs, regardless of # hours, and go with it. Thanks again!
Thank you! One of the village elders asked me to teach english and it was the summer that we had to clean the graves and pay our respect to our ancestors so I said yes because I was going to be there any ways. So it wasn't formally organized. I dragged my friend to teach with me because he was free. I hope I get asked during an interview. I got some pretty interesting stories =]
Another question: How do you list Registrar's office as contact? What should i put as first name or last name... hahahaha
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Someone is the official designee at your college as the Registrar. You can probably look up their name and phone number through your college website. Or call the office and ask.
Catalystik .. you rock my world! hahha
So I got another problem. I'm a teaching assistant. Usually the first year you get credit. But the other years it's completely volunteer. I was the only TA in department who stayed for 3 yrs. I ran out of space in my descriptions. Should I title it: Teaching Assistant for credit 1 yr, volunteer 2yrs.
Or is it better just to leave it blank.
So I got another problem. I'm a teaching assistant. Usually the first year you get credit. But the other years it's completely volunteer. I was the only TA in department who stayed for 3 yrs. I ran out of space in my descriptions. Should I title it: Teaching Assistant for credit 1 yr, volunteer 2yrs.
Or is it better just to leave it blank.
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I don't know if this has been answered before, but I have a question regarding meaningful activities. Suppose you have an activity that you describe in the experience section, do you need to briefly describe what that activity is in the meaningful section before explaining why it was meaningful? I.e. xx is a cultural organization and you detail your responsibilities in the first section, do you need to explicitly state that xx is a cultural organization in the meaningful section?
That title works fine, or alternatively you can list precise dates for each in the narrative if you have the room and make the title more specific, eg, "Academic-Year Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant," which allows you to put the full date span and the hours per week as you worked them, without averaging them over a full calendar year (assuming you didn't do this over the summer).
I think explaining the mission of the organization would help to give context to your later comments if it isn't apparent from your reflections. Demonstrating a tie to your cultural roots is generally considered a positive, so you don't want adcomms to miss that element.
Do you think it is ok to list employment as a pharmaceutical technician as a most meaningful activity?
It honestly has been a very meaningful experience and I have learned a lot about patient interactions, healthcare as a whole and gained a very rudimentary knowledge of medicinal treatments for a variety of illnesses. I have much more to add to this and am confident that I can answer the question of "why not pharmacy" that would likely come up in an interview as a result.
My other meaningful activities were my research and teaching experiences. I would honestly label this experience as more meaningful than my other clinical experiences, but I am concerned that none of my 3 meaningful experiences are clinical experiences. I can argue that my pharm tech experience has been clinically relevant, but it is still not a clinical experience. Should I be concerned and maybe switch my clinical volunteering experiences to most meaningful?
It honestly has been a very meaningful experience and I have learned a lot about patient interactions, healthcare as a whole and gained a very rudimentary knowledge of medicinal treatments for a variety of illnesses. I have much more to add to this and am confident that I can answer the question of "why not pharmacy" that would likely come up in an interview as a result.
My other meaningful activities were my research and teaching experiences. I would honestly label this experience as more meaningful than my other clinical experiences, but I am concerned that none of my 3 meaningful experiences are clinical experiences. I can argue that my pharm tech experience has been clinically relevant, but it is still not a clinical experience. Should I be concerned and maybe switch my clinical volunteering experiences to most meaningful?
Starting in September I will be doing my senior thesis project doing cancer research for a teaching doctor/professor (and head of his department) for a Medical School near my college. He has already accepted me into his lab and it has been recognized by my school for college credit (which I will receive upon completion). Is there a way I could include this even though I haven't already started the research position?
Of course it's fine to list this job as "Most Meaningful, " because it was. And you stated that the activity did include patient interaction, so it was "clinical" even if that was a minor component of the Experience, and even if it shouldn't stand alone for patient experience on an application.
Picking a "Most Meaningful" designation because you think that's what an adcomm wants to see isn't necessarily going to win you extra points. I'd far rather see some passion injected into those extra 1325 characters, such as you did here.
You have already been accepted for the position, so since this is currently true you can mention it. I would not list it on its own, though, since its pretty worthless as an activity when you haven't done anything, but just want adcomms to appreciate that the opportunity is forthcoming. I'd tack mention of it onto the end of another Research entry. If you don't have one, work it into the end of your PS. If that doesn't work, then save it for future update letters or Secondary essays, where possible.
I have heard that one should be careful about mentioning having done medical work that one may not be qualified to do. While shadowing a primary care doc, they let me assist with some minor procedures alongside an MS3. Things like cryo treatment for warts and draining a leg abscess (cool!). Should I avoid mentioning this stuff in my app, or is it ok since I was under MD supervision?
The citation alone is sufficient, as presumably you have a related Research entry as well. But if you have other comments to make that didn't fit in the Research entry, the space is there, so you may as well use it.
Adcomms will vary in their opinion of functioning outside of one's training. It's fine to be vague about what you did, if you think it might cross that line (like, if you were the one holding the knife, you could say that you "assisted," a vague term that includes passing sterile 4X4 packages to the nurse).
I have done a service project abroad over the winter breaks of my freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. I feel as though it would be disingenuous for me to say that I did the activity for four years. Is there any suggestion for how I should list these dates?
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Two choices: Title the activity "Winter Break XXXXX Service Project" and don't give hours per week. Use the encompassing date span, stating in the narrative that each took place for the last two weeks of December (or whatever) and you participated XX hours /week for each. Or, enter only the most recent one 12/11-12/11, don't enter hours per week, then in the narrative give the true dates and total hours, then say you also participated in the same activity 12/10, 12/09, and 12/08 for a grand total of XXX hours.
1) What was your involvement, how long did you do the research activity, and what is your place on the authorship list? Was the college research in the same field? Please quote your question and this response in your next post. If I say it's OK, what will you remove?
2) I like to see the position first. The organization may be evident from the "Organization" you entered, in which case you can say instead, "President of Collegiate Service/Intramural Hockey/Faith-Based/Cultural/Pre-Med Organization."
3) Your title is College Student or Exercise Aficionado or Restaurateur or etc.
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I would list it as a Publication, but then discuss the details of the research in the same entry. If the research and your involvement were not substantive, and if you had no college research activity, I'd have suggested not including it at all. But research-oriented schools may find it appealing that you carried 'scientific inquiry' from HS through to the college years.
IMO, Hobbies are important to include (and I hope you mention your favorite dish). Maybe you can put two other activities together that fall into the same category instead.
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Hi, I've been reading through this thread and I may have missed them but I haven't seen anyone ask these questions yet:
1. I've been working in a research lab since my freshman year as part of a scholarship program at my school. I haven't done my own research but instead I work as a lab assistant for my advisor and her graduate students. Would that count as research/lab or as paid employment?
2. Would a short part-time job be worth including as paid employment? I worked as a seasonal employee at a small store for a month during my sophomore year and I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning.
3. I started out volunteering and shadowing at a small clinic in my town for a few months the summer after my sophomore year and the next summer I worked there part-time as a paid employee. Would I classify these separately as volunteering and paid employment respectively?
4. Should international shadowing/volunteering be included? I only spent a week there but it really made an impact on my view of medicine.
5. Should volunteering at things like Race for the Cure and Relay for Life all be grouped together under non-clinical community service? I didn't just run at the races, I helped organize and set up at them.
Thanks so much!
1. I've been working in a research lab since my freshman year as part of a scholarship program at my school. I haven't done my own research but instead I work as a lab assistant for my advisor and her graduate students. Would that count as research/lab or as paid employment?
2. Would a short part-time job be worth including as paid employment? I worked as a seasonal employee at a small store for a month during my sophomore year and I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning.
3. I started out volunteering and shadowing at a small clinic in my town for a few months the summer after my sophomore year and the next summer I worked there part-time as a paid employee. Would I classify these separately as volunteering and paid employment respectively?
4. Should international shadowing/volunteering be included? I only spent a week there but it really made an impact on my view of medicine.
5. Should volunteering at things like Race for the Cure and Relay for Life all be grouped together under non-clinical community service? I didn't just run at the races, I helped organize and set up at them.
Thanks so much!
1) Put it under Research, but make it clear through the title or description that you were employed.
2) Unless you can group it with another short-term job, I'd agree it's not worth listing.
3) If you have the space, it's easiest to list them separately.
4) Yes.
5) Yes, group them under Community Service-not Medical/Clinical.
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