*~*~*~* Official AMCAS "Work/Activities" Tips Thread 2021-2026 *~*~*~*

[Catalystik]

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1) So essentially, citations aren't required. Just put poster title, conference name, and date; put separately who the actual presenter was?

2) I visited Item 20 and see what you mean by campus posters belong in research space; however, I have another research description for research that didnt yield any posters/presentations which I find important so I don't have space to put my campus presentations there or additional w/a slots, in that case is it okay to include in posters/presentations section for campus-wide presentation? My campus-wide presentations were more literature reviews than original research as my other posters were if that helps

1) If you say just once that another person presented, it will be assumed that you presented the rest, so no need to waste characters saying so.

2) Campus presentations are generally not selective (often required if for a class, etc), so they will not enhance your application. You are supposed to select out those activities that present you in the best light, You do not need to include everything. Lit reviews are not the sort of research that gives value to your application, anyway. I suggest against including them. They will be looked on as "fluff."

 

[Mpsll]

1) If you say just once that another person presented, it will be assumed that you presented the rest, so no need to waste characters saying so.

2) Campus presentations are generally not selective (often required if for a class, etc), so they will not enhance your application. You are supposed to select out those activities that present you in the best light, You do not need to include everything. Lit reviews are not the sort of research that gives value to your application, anyway. I suggest against including them. They will be looked on as "fluff."

That makes sense, I will remove the campus presentations and update the rest of the posters accordingly. Thank you so much for your help with the W/A section, you've been incredibly helpful!!

 

[blueisthecolorof]

Hello! I am posting on behalf of my cousin:

One of my most meaningful activities is teaching Pilates. I teach at a studio (550 paid hours) and also offer free classes to the community (80 volunteer hours). Currently, I have all my Pilates hours (~630) listed under Paid Employment, Non-Clinical, with a description that covers my studio work as well as a meaningful reflection on my volunteer teaching. I’m wondering if this approach is acceptable, or if my non-clinical volunteering might be overlooked. Could I put everything under hobby, and say in the description 550 paid hours, 80 volunteer? I have an additional 250 hours of non-clinical volunteering from another activity.

I don't have a lot of room, since I am a nontrad.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello! I am posting on behalf of my cousin:

One of my most meaningful activities is teaching Pilates. I teach at a studio (550 paid hours) and also offer free classes to the community (80 volunteer hours). Currently, I have all my Pilates hours (~630) listed under Paid Employment, Non-Clinical, with a description that covers my studio work as well as a meaningful reflection on my volunteer teaching. I’m wondering if this approach is acceptable, or if my non-clinical volunteering might be overlooked. Could I put everything under hobby, and say in the description 550 paid hours, 80 volunteer? I have an additional 250 hours of non-clinical volunteering from another activity.

I don't have a lot of room, since I am a nontrad.

Consider using the "Teaching" designation and using the space title to reflect both paid and volunteer aspects. Alternatively you could group the 80 volunteer hours with your other non-clinical volunteering, picking a space title that covers both activities.

 

[blueisthecolorof]

Consider using the "Teaching" designation and using the space title to reflect both paid and volunteer aspects. Alternatively you could group the 80 volunteer hours with your other non-clinical volunteering, picking a space title that covers both activities.

🙏 Thank you, this never occurred to me!! I'll tell my cousin to title her activity Studio and Volunteer Pilates Teacher

 

[Catalystik]

🙏 Thank you, this never occurred to me!! I'll tell my cousin to title her activity Studio and Volunteer Pilates Teacher

Or maybe Pilates Studio Employee and Volunteer [Instructor?]?

 

[DrainCravens]

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[Catalystik]

1) How do I go about including working at a family-owned business, but it’s not owned by my parents? Issue is that my pay is a flat amount per week year round, but I work only during the summers. My grandfather’s brother owns the business and is fine with it. Should I clarify this in the activity description?

Or, should I leave it off entirely? Not sure it will help me out

Definitely include it under Employment. Call the space Seasonal (or Summer) XXX Job, or some such, and you won't need to use the Repeated feature. No need to explain that your summer job pay is parceled out over a year's time.

 

[DrainCravens]

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[Catalystik]

Thank you. Just have one more question which made me concerned, the hours of pay vs hours worked are not the same. Ie. I got worked about 40% of the hours that I was paid for. My grandfather's brother does not mind, since it's a small amount (<$10k) and I help a lot with paperwork. Would that change your answer? Don't want to cause confusion if they ask for pay stubs

They will not ask for pay stubs. They are not IRS investigators. Your Contact, which can be the payroll office (or a supervisor, or a co-worker), just needs to confirm that you worked the dates you claim. They will not be asked to give a reference or what your salary was.

 

[hommefatale]

Yes.

Think I screwed up on my W/A a little - I had a research Fulbright I did from 5/2024-8/2024, but I listed it as an Award/Honor. On the date, I put 6/2024 since that's where I did the most hours, but did not clarify elsewhere that this was from May to August. I feel like it's a big deal - what are your thoughts?

 

[Catalystik]

Think I screwed up on my W/A a little - I had a research Fulbright I did from 5/2024-8/2024, but I listed it as an Award/Honor. On the date, I put 6/2024 since that's where I did the most hours, but did not clarify elsewhere that this was from May to August. I feel like it's a big deal - what are your thoughts?

When entering an Award/Honor, one usually puts the last date that all the claimed hours were accumulated. It might be assumed you completed the program in June, except that maybe you had academic credit during that semester, in which case a June completion is unlikely. The hours you claimed might be another tip-off for the program's duration. The location you inserted might not be near any other activity you entered for that time frame. I think that the worst case scenario is that you'd be asked to elaborate, giving you a chance to explain (if your written narrative did not make the issue more clear. I don't think this is a big deal. Regardless, you're still a Fulbright winner.

Did you have an affiliated Research entry?

 

[hommefatale]

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When entering an Award/Honor, one usually puts the last date that all the claimed hours were accumulated. It might be assumed you completed the program in June, except that maybe you had academic credit during that semester, in which case a June completion is unlikely. The hours you claimed might be another tip-off for the program's duration. The location you inserted might not be near any other activity you entered for that time frame. I think that the worst case scenario is that you'd be asked to elaborate, giving you a chance to explain (if your written narrative did not make the issue more clear. I don't think this is a big deal. Regardless, you're still a Fulbright winner.

Did you have an affiliated Research entry?

That is true. The word “Summer” is in the title of the award. I do not have an affiliated Research entry, I used the Honors description to talk about the project I did, and then how I disseminated my findings. I would think Summer inherently means more than one month (which was my thought process when filling things in), but now I’m rethinking. Yes, the location is different than any other activity in that timeframe. Would the 2XX hours I put down (def more than what could reasonably be completed in June), be a red flag to them to think I’m lying or anything? Or would they understand that it’s likely the activity continued for the whole summer. My contact info person is also happy to verify things! I did not do Research because I had a 3 (4, if you count my Publications activity description) that were dedicated to research, and I wanted to sort of evenly spread the categories based on the fact that this was an Award.

 

[Catalystik]

That is true. The word “Summer” is in the title of the award. I do not have an affiliated Research entry, I used the Honors description to talk about the project I did, and then how I disseminated my findings. I would think Summer inherently means more than one month (which was my thought process when filling things in), but now I’m rethinking. Yes, the location is different than any other activity in that timeframe. Would the 2XX hours I put down (def more than what could reasonably be completed in June), be a red flag to them to think I’m lying or anything? Or would they understand that it’s likely the activity continued for the whole summer. My contact info person is also happy to verify things! I did not do Research because I had a 3 (4, if you count my Publications activity description) that were dedicated to research, and I wanted to sort of evenly spread the categories based on the fact that this was an Award.

You'll be fine. "Summer" in the title takes care of it.

 

[PreMed2006]

Hi, I am undergoing a Medical Assistant training program currently. Planning to take the certification exam at the end of the training in September. The training has theory (100 hours) and practical/lab/externship (100 hours). Are we allowed to report all/any of these hours as clinical hours on the medical school application? Thank you

 

[Catalystik]

Hi, I am undergoing a Medical Assistant training program currently. Planning to take the certification exam at the end of the training in September. The training has theory (100 hours) and practical/lab/externship (100 hours). Are we allowed to report all/any of these hours as clinical hours on the medical school application? Thank you

Yes. You might report the Externship's face-to-face patient interaction hours under the tag "Other," since these are not Employment or Volunteer hours. You would need a Contact who can attest to this involvement.

 

[PreMed2006]

Yes. You might report the Externship's face-to-face patient interaction hours under the tag "Other," since these are not Employment or Volunteer hours. You would need a Contact who can attest to this involvement.

Thank you very much