I would definitely NOT give virtual shadowing its own space. Include it if you must, perhaps with a comment at the end of the Shadowing narrative like, "In addition to the above hours I virtually shadowed {specialty] for 20 more hours."
Thank you! Do we also need to include the virtual hours in the combined hours we input for the overall experience or is indicating it only in the description fine? I've read mixed opinions about this, as some said they might think you are trying to sneak more hours into the overall in-person hours.
I have moved your question to the AMCAS Work/Activities thread. Yes, you should rewrite a significant amount of them, especially if you received less than 3 interviews. Sending the same materials does not reflect well if schools have access to your prior app.
I would not include the virtual shadowing hours in the Total Hours space. Mentioning it only in your description is fine. If you elect to do so regardless, make the breakdown of real-time vs virtual clear in the description.
My slightly less conservative approach would be to completely rewrite the PS but to only somewhat change the activity descriptions, perhaps through a new first sentence plus varied vocabulary, leaving the rest of the structure unchanged if you’re happy with it.
Nonclinical, for AMCAS purposes. You did not directly interact with current patients.
Am I right to interpret the last sentence as a disclaimer (so the AAMC can't be accused of favoring applicants with certain political views), not as an instruction to omit volunteering that involved politics? I've spent a lot of time canvassing, door-knocking, etc. for specific candidates and parties, with the end goal of advancing climate action, universal healthcare, tenant protection, etc through legislation. I could either class these as "social justice/advocacy" or as non-clinical volunteering. My impulse is to do the latter, because I find the phrase "social justice/advocacy" annoying 😂. But I tend to overthink these things.
The AAMC doesn't care about your political affiliation, but unfortunately, individual adcomms might. Staying neutral in the way that you frame your narrative would perhaps be in your better interests. The tag you use should depend on how you present the activity. If you want to post a sample description leaning one way or the other, we might help by telling you if you did it right.
Thank you for your reply! I'll write them first (long day) and get back to you.
If you have the person’s permission to discuss their personal info/condition, you don’t have to change the name. Otherwise, yes.
Thank you! I do have both of their permissions. Would I have to indicate that I have permission, or would the admissions understand? I was unsure since I read that people who include real names might be seen as a red flag due to violating patient privacy since admissions can't know if there was permission.
You know, you can just list yourself as the contact for these activities
I think it would be a good idea to list the permission, like, "(details with patients' permission)." It would show you're sensitive to privacy considerations.
1) Yes.
Thanks so much for the information! Also, do you know if it is worth it to include a paid non clinical position I had during the summer before freshman year of college (kind of confused here since this technically is after HS but before college)?
If it was after HS graduation, it would be considered “within the college years. “ Whether it is worth including is for you to decide.
Got it, thanks a lot for the info and the fast responses!
Or should I say 0 hours for the publications and then in the experience description note "(actual hours of involvement included with research entry)"
I don't think it matters just put the date you start and the date you end. By this logic, if you take a week off for Spring Break, you would have to include that... 3 times... as long as the hours are correct, I don't think including gaps is necessary for breaks.
I would put the number of hours you worked on the actual manuscript - writing any sections, creating tables, editing, etc.
I would just list one continuous timeframe.
Most people put 0 hours for this, but if you want to try and estimate the number of hours you spent generating the publication that's also fine.
I have moved your question to this main AMCAS Work/Activities thread. Please see post #2, item #7 on the first page. Putting HR down is fine.
Hey sorry for the trouble and thanks for the confirmation.
Can you perhaps pare down the contact info so it's just an email address? Or use yourself as the Contact for all three?
Those were both my thoughts, I wasn't sure what was preferable. maybe just emails for all 3 and my own in the actual contact space? Also, I don't think I have the room for the names and titles for the contacts. Does that sound okay. Thank you for the help!
Not listing the names and titles of the Contacts were what I meant by "pare down." Yes, it's OK.
Yes. Both are less common and thus good potential conversation starters at interviews.
Good to hear! Hopefully my app will progress to the point where I can describe the times where I looked at turtle stool under a microscope to look for parasites to adcoms
1) Yes. Mention it was virtual.
Try not to have that happen.
Save the “story approach” for areas where you have more space and use it lightly, perhaps in the PS or MM entries, if you have space, and if it adds significant interest to your narrative. Definitely do not use it for every activity entry. They are tedious to read through and rarely add detail we need to know.
See post #2 of this thread, items 14 and 20.
1) If you want to list the leadership component on its own (75 hours being sufficient), split out those 75 hours into another (Leadership) space, with it’s own dates. Don’t double count the 75 hours.