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Some commented last year that they could only get in 685 characters. Maybe this represents AMCAS' effort to live up to the advertised character allowance.
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*~*~*~*Official AMCAS "Work/Activities" Tips Thread 2014-2015*~*~*~*
Started by Ismet
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I agree. However, listing leisuretime activities may give you an opportunity to show another side of yourself, to make your application a little different, to show you have ways to relieve stress, etc, that might make it worth making the extra room. You have to decide which adds more to your application.
1) Yes. Or if it works out, it might be included on some Secondaries.
2) That's a good solution. Or you could include it as part of the PS if it fits there gracefully.
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The Volunteer Office is better. The hours and dates of involvement are all that need to be backed up.
Yes. Knowing you ski would help me connect with you and might lead to a conversation of favorite runs. Another adcomm might want to discuss technical aspects of lifting. An adcomm who does neither will still get a better picture of who you are and how you relieve stress.
No, if you change the plan, save it for an update letter when you know the details for sure. But do differentiate between hours you have at the time of submission and those you plan for the future. See post #58 on page 2 for ideas on doing this.
Using the space to discuss leisuretime activities is far more likely to add to your appeal as a candidate than listing Deans List Awards.
Choice B would be preferred. If you do A, then in the narrative you should differentiate between current and planned Total Hours, which takes up precious space.
Since you will have started the experience by the time you submit, it's acceptable to list it, even though it will not add much to your candidacy. It's a good idea to also mention it in Secondaries, update letters, & interviews, if given an opportunity, since the close work with patients will likely give you new perspectives. If you are short on space, omitting it is fine.
Research need not be medically-related to have value on your application.
Then pick a category that best balances your application, but make the other characteristics of the activity clear, too, through your title and description.
You can include planned hours through the time you would start at the schools to which you are applying, namely August 2015, the beginning of the fall term for many med schools. I suggest you differentiate between current and future hours in some way, however.
Yes, it's fine to list it, but I suggest you use another veteran than your friend as a contact, if possible. The Teaching category would be a good tag for this activity.
The more contact information you can fit in, the better.
Yes. But I suggest that you not divide a sentence between the first and second area, since I can't guarantee that the school's view wouldn't look strange. Best if you finish a paragraph, then start another in the added "Most Meaningful" space, even though you are continuing with the same essay.
I worked a research/lab job for the academic years- so right now i have 1200 (300 hrs/year x 4 year) hours listed under one activity. I split it into 4 times from September to May for each year. Is it a requirement to write "work-study with 10 hours/week" in the description box to show that its employment and to show hours/week or is that not necessary? I'm just a little tight on characters for that and wondering how pertinent that information is?
also, I wasn't going to list dean's list because its on my transcript, but would it be good to list it chronologically especially because i have an upward trend so its something like deans list- Fall 2010, deans list-Spring 2011, second honors-Fall 2011, second honors- Spring 2012, first honors- Fall 2013... etc. - is this good to emphasize an upward trend? can i specifically write that i have an upward trend here or will that be noticed?
for a hobbies section- what if your hobbies are really boring (jogging, cooking, reading...)? None of these are particularly impressive or anything that I could speak to at length really. Should I still list them?
also, I wasn't going to list dean's list because its on my transcript, but would it be good to list it chronologically especially because i have an upward trend so its something like deans list- Fall 2010, deans list-Spring 2011, second honors-Fall 2011, second honors- Spring 2012, first honors- Fall 2013... etc. - is this good to emphasize an upward trend? can i specifically write that i have an upward trend here or will that be noticed?
for a hobbies section- what if your hobbies are really boring (jogging, cooking, reading...)? None of these are particularly impressive or anything that I could speak to at length really. Should I still list them?
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1) That it's a work/study job is important info, so I'd include that term somewhere; putting it in the title is a good place. I like to see the hours per week so I don't have to calculate it out myself. Do what you can to keep it in the description, if possible.
2) Personally, I wouldn't read through those details of which terms earned deans list. If your GPA is on the lower side, I guarantee your transcript will be looked at closely (if you meet the stated cutoff) and the upward trend noticed. If you want to highlight it, use a Secondary essay for "A challenge overcome," "A stress and how you managed it," or "Is there anything else you want us to know?" or somesuch.
3) Yes. Consider a bit more effort to make it interesting, so you have a hook if nothing else you've listed qualifies. Like this would do it for cooking: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...f-trying-to-unique.704852/page-2#post-9299338
I've been out of town for the last week without much internet access.
Example of a highly condensed format for listing multiple pub types: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12686778&postcount=13
Awesome thanks @Catalystik. Hope your trip went well. And if we classify something as one category but the app reader disagrees with our classification of that activity, it shouldn't be an issue right (as long as the activity itself has elements of all potential classifications)?
(for example -- you lead a school club whose mission is to volunteer in inner city high schools and you yourself are a mentor to students in addition to your leadership role within the club) -> could this be classified as community service not medical/clinical if we already have other leadership and extracurricular slots filled?
Thanks!
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1) Yes.
2) If "balls" is an example of the strongest term, I wouldn't worry about it. Much.
1) It won't be an issue if your description supports the "tag" you picked.
2) Yes.
1) why is showing a work/study job in an experience description or title important info? I thought it might take away from an activity if it was a most meaningful research activity, would adcoms question our motives for doing it (financial as opposed to academic curiosity?)This thread seems to imply that work study positions are associated with minimal duties? What if through our research we were able to achieve a lot (conferences, pubs etc.), but the funding was through work study?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/amcas-ec-research-funded-by-work-study.130891/
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Qualifying for need-based aid during the college years supplements the information given in response to the Disadvantaged question.
Thanks!
From a week or two ago: 1) Should we mention a publication in an experience description if we already mentioned it in the "publications" box?
From a week or two ago: 1) Should we mention a publication in an experience description if we already mentioned it in the "publications" box?
Follow up: if we mention we published papers in the most meaningful part of an activity, should we include them in the experience description of that same activity as well at the risk of being repetitive? (already have them listed in publications entry) Not sure how adcoms read these/if they read everything sequentially..
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I participated in a beauty pageant my freshman year of college and wanted to include it in the activities section. What would I categorize it under? I'm not sure what I should go with lol
This question relates to another section of the application: the standardized test section. Should I put SAT scores? 800/780/750
For the Work/Activities section: Should I include my summer job as camp counselor? Doesn't sound very medically-related.
Should I include non-science conferences that I attended like Clinton's GI? Or does seem as if I'm stretching to get to 15.
For the Work/Activities section: Should I include my summer job as camp counselor? Doesn't sound very medically-related.
Should I include non-science conferences that I attended like Clinton's GI? Or does seem as if I'm stretching to get to 15.
If you've cited them in the Publication space, don't do so again. Referring to the publication elsewhere is fine if you have room.
Each med school can reorder the activities list as they wish. "Chronologically" is the default setting.
Also, your concerns about the Work/Study designation are overblown. You had a choice of jobs to take. You had a choice of how involved to get and how much responsibility to take on. Only your own motivation made you as productive as you became, and your description and discussion of impact will show that.
I would include anything that you think adds to your value as a possible doctor. Did the camp counselor position teach you anything about leadership, service, or something to that regard? If you can write about it in that way on your application, it may help. If you will just post it as "Worked 5 hours a day running around with kids", then maybe its better to leave it off. Same for the non-science conference.
@NCKSD, I can site some valuable experience from the camp counselor job. But the conference… does everyone explain its impact, or is it just listed? Same thing with posters I created for a university-run conference: list or description/explanation?
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The "Other" category?
If you no longer play the trumpet, consider not listing it. If you do still play the trumpet, you could use an old music tutor, someone from a band you played in, or a teacher from a formal class. If all else fails, you can use a family member or yourself.
How would i list the hours for an oral presentation? Do i count in the hours spent on the project? or just the presentation time itself? I feel like adding prep hours is a little cheating since I already listed those hours under research category
It was an oral presentation at AACR. My speaking time was only 15 minutes.
Also for contact person, can I list my PI instead of someone from AACR? not exactly srue who sepcifically to use from AACR...
It was an oral presentation at AACR. My speaking time was only 15 minutes.
Also for contact person, can I list my PI instead of someone from AACR? not exactly srue who sepcifically to use from AACR...
1) Use the "Other" tag.
2) Rather than listing a leadership program, I suggest you list the Leadership activities you engaged in that utilized the skills learned during the process. You can credit the program or not, as you wish.
Well, let's reconsider based on this new information:
1) If you got into the program due to previous leadership experience, and it was a competitive selection process, you might list it under Awards/Honors, providing the back story in that same space for context .
2) Or you could mention it in the same space as the description of the Leadership upon which your selection was based.
If either experience is made "Most Meaningful" then you'd have plenty of space to describe the impact of the activity. Do you think something like this could work?
Usually some people save a box out of the 15 to have a general "Miscelleanous awards/activities" where you can put all the smaller items that weren't deserving of their own box. You could just list it in there with other things or make it its own box if you did something substantial at the conference. I don't know too much about the Clinton GI but if you were a speaker, presenter, or something more than most undergrad attendants, then maybe its worth posting.
I have a question regarding activities: I have been babysitting for the same family for 6 years. I've probably spent 800-1000 hours babysitting for this one family. What would that go under if I wanted to list it in the work/activities section on the AMCAS application? Any input on if this is a bad idea or not? Thank you!
Use Employment-not Medical/Clinical. I think it's a fine idea to include, as Adcomms like to know how you spend your time. Continuous employment at one site indicates that you are responsible, trusted, and (in this case) likely a good problem solver.
Hello, I have some questions.
1) I've shadowed five physicians, all at different time points, and plan to include them all under one category. However, three of the physicians work in the same practice; would it be alright to list those physicians' individual names and titles (some were pulmonary, others palliative or sleep medicine), and then indicate that they were all in the same office and have the same contact info? Wasn't entirely sure how to do that neatly (and still have room for an explanation of the activity).
2) I received several study abroad scholarships, including one national one, for a semester program. Would you recommend listing these awards in their own category, separate from other academic honors/awards? If so, I was thinking about explaining the awards, as they required me to develop a project and would allow me to talk a bit about study abroad.
3) Just to clarify, is listing a hobby/artistic endeavor as "Most Meaningful" alright? I have danced and performed for the last 12 years, so it has been a major activity that has shaped my character. I'm thinking of choosing non-clinical volunteering/tutoring and biomedical research for my other two, but wanted to make sure that I wasn't veering off in the wrong direction with these, especially since they're not directly in the medical field.
4) Finally, I have 600+ hours of clinical experience from the nursing program. I've extensively shadowed physicians (80+ hours) but was curious if I should list my clinicals under 'Other.' They involved directly caring for patients and performing basic procedures, but I wasn't sure if there was any benefit to explicitly mentioning it.
Sorry for all of the questions! Thank you.
1) I've shadowed five physicians, all at different time points, and plan to include them all under one category. However, three of the physicians work in the same practice; would it be alright to list those physicians' individual names and titles (some were pulmonary, others palliative or sleep medicine), and then indicate that they were all in the same office and have the same contact info? Wasn't entirely sure how to do that neatly (and still have room for an explanation of the activity).
2) I received several study abroad scholarships, including one national one, for a semester program. Would you recommend listing these awards in their own category, separate from other academic honors/awards? If so, I was thinking about explaining the awards, as they required me to develop a project and would allow me to talk a bit about study abroad.
3) Just to clarify, is listing a hobby/artistic endeavor as "Most Meaningful" alright? I have danced and performed for the last 12 years, so it has been a major activity that has shaped my character. I'm thinking of choosing non-clinical volunteering/tutoring and biomedical research for my other two, but wanted to make sure that I wasn't veering off in the wrong direction with these, especially since they're not directly in the medical field.
4) Finally, I have 600+ hours of clinical experience from the nursing program. I've extensively shadowed physicians (80+ hours) but was curious if I should list my clinicals under 'Other.' They involved directly caring for patients and performing basic procedures, but I wasn't sure if there was any benefit to explicitly mentioning it.
Sorry for all of the questions! Thank you.
1)Use the header info to show the three docs were in the same practice. List their information first with a breakdown of hours for each, then add: "Also: H. Pierce, MD, Pediatrics at [email protected] 8 hours and BJ Honeycutt, DO, Chest Surgeon, at 555-123-3456 during office hours 16 hour" or somesuch.
2) Yes. And explanation would be good.
3) Of course! A successful dancer demonstrates many qualities that are good characteristics to have in a potential physician.
4) A curricular nursing program isn't volunteer or employment, so Other is suitable. Adcomms have a pretty good idea of what Nursing Clinicals involve so explain or not, as the space allows, after covering impact and transformative nature, if you prefer.
Excellent, thank you - that will save a lot of space! Quick follow-up to my first question: One of the physicians (separate practice) is writing me a letter and I had the longest shadowing experience with him. Given that, should he be the one I put in my header, or does that not matter? I'll probably title the entire thing under something general like "Shadowing Experiences," so I imagine as long as I represent everyone I've shadowed and give a good description, it should be ok. Still, just wanted to check. Thank you again!
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Long-term adcomms for AMCAS schools aren't used to seeing predicted future hours, so I expect that most, like me, would not give them much weight. Their only value [sic] is that they give an indication of activities that might be continued through the application year. Your plan is fine by me (preferred, in fact), but unfortunately, I cannot guarantee mine is a universal or even a majority viewpoint. You will have to decide. But if you do decide to list future hours, I encourage you to differentiate between current and future hours in some way, with a few ideas below:
That approach will work fine as well.
One of the volunteer activities I started recently I plan on continuing even after I'm accepted, if I'm accepted to a nearby school. How would I list hours then since there isn't really an end date?
The application doesn't allow you to enter a future end date after Aug 2015, but you can mention your plans in the narrative space if you wish.
This is one reason why it's a good idea to specify current total hours vs future planned hours in some way. See post #555 above for strategies.
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