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

[Catalystik]

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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]

.

 

[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]

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

 

[WHPH2016]

Question regarding benefit of adding in a new 1st author publication on AMCAS primary.

I have been fortunate enough to have a manuscript accepted to a reputable journal as 1st author. The current status is 'Accepted - Requires Action' and these actions pertain to other authors updating their COIs and some formatting for figures. I have read that it is okay to include accepted manuscripts that are not published yet if they were officially accepted. However, I am about ready to submit my application and am not sure if I should include this publication or if it is better to save it for secondaries or perhaps even as a substantial update for update letters (in case I need to send those down the line for schools that accept them).

Of note, I already have one first author publication on my application, a second authorship, and two other co-authored, as well as a poster I presented (listed under 'Posters/Presentations'). At this stage I am not sure if including an additional first author would greatly improve my application or if it would be better to save it for when it is official and has a DOI/PMID and can be used if needed to "help my case".

@Catalystik or any another experienced members, would appreciate your insight!

Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

Question regarding benefit of adding in a new 1st author publication on AMCAS primary.

I have been fortunate enough to have a manuscript accepted to a reputable journal as 1st author. The current status is 'Accepted - Requires Action' and these actions pertain to other authors updating their COIs and some formatting for figures. I have read that it is okay to include accepted manuscripts that are not published yet if they were officially accepted. However, I am about ready to submit my application and am not sure if I should include this publication or if it is better to save it for secondaries or perhaps even as a substantial update for update letters (in case I need to send those down the line for schools that accept them).

Of note, I already have one first author publication on my application, a second authorship, and two other co-authored, as well as a poster I presented (listed under 'Posters/Presentations'). At this stage I am not sure if including an additional first author would greatly improve my application or if it would be better to save it for when it is official and has a DOI/PMID and can be used if needed to "help my case".

@Catalystik or any another experienced members, would appreciate your insight!

Thanks!

I agree with your reasoning. Considering your previous accomplishments, save it for Secondaries/updates after your have a DOI/PMID.

 

[Catalystik]

I am wondering if my experiences do not count as clinical. I read this in a recent secondary application:

"Substantive, longitudinal clinical experiences such as: shadowing a physician, medical mission trips, scribing, community EMS, etc. Please note that volunteering in clinic/waiting rooms such as playing/reading to children, stocking shelves, and transporting patients is considered good volunteer experience, but is not hands-on clinical experience"

I haven't worked in a clinical setting, but have about 500 hours across volunteering in hospitals/clinics.

Never took vitals or did medical tasks, but I registered patients, did transport (both helping them walk and transport back to vehicles), assisting with needs after surgeries. I've spent hours with patients, according to this school (Georgetown) none of it counts as clinical experience? I also have shadowing, which is it clinical but still seems way less involved than any of the other things I did.

Is this a standard definition they are using or is this a school-specific, narrow criteria? Is it worth it to apply to these schools with these type of criteria?

Interacting with patients at the registration desk, providing post-surgery needs, and engaging in patient transport are widely considered to be substantive clinical experience. Interestingly, short-term medical mission trips are not much valued elsewhere.

 

[yodalehehu]

I had a shadowing experience arranged by the volunteer office at a local hospital a couple years ago. I had the opportunity to observe in various areas, including the OR, pre-op, and post-op rooms, where I watched surgeons and anesthesiologists in action.

It looks like listing the specific physician's name, date, and other details is expected on the application. However, since I rotated through different doctors over several days (4-8 hours per day), and given the “float” nature of the experience, I didn't catch the names of all the physicians. Assuming this experience counts toward my shadowing hours, how should I list it on the application?

 

[Catalystik]

I had a shadowing experience arranged by the volunteer office at a local hospital a couple years ago. I had the opportunity to observe in various areas, including the OR, pre-op, and post-op rooms, where I watched surgeons and anesthesiologists in action.

It looks like listing the specific physician's name, date, and other details is expected on the application. However, since I rotated through different doctors over several days (4-8 hours per day), and given the “float” nature of the experience, I didn't catch the names of all the physicians. Assuming this experience counts toward my shadowing hours, how should I list it on the application?

Use the Volunteer Office Coordinator as your Shadowing Contact (or someone in the office that can attest to the activity having occurred, even if only by their title). I assume you have an email or phone number to enter. State that the experience involved rotating through multiple departments. It's OK to list the main specialties that you observed without using the physician names (as they won't recall you anyway).

 

[doc_J61]

Agree with the above. Whomever gave you permission to shadow is the person to list as the contact person.

If all else fails, call/reach the hospital somehow and ask them to pick an appropriate liaison person. Try to describe the experience as best you can, remaining succinct while avoiding being terse!

Good luck. 🙂

 

[chilly_md]

I had a shadowing experience arranged by the volunteer office at a local hospital a couple years ago. I had the opportunity to observe in various areas, including the OR, pre-op, and post-op rooms, where I watched surgeons and anesthesiologists in action.

It looks like listing the specific physician's name, date, and other details is expected on the application. However, since I rotated through different doctors over several days (4-8 hours per day), and given the “float” nature of the experience, I didn't catch the names of all the physicians. Assuming this experience counts toward my shadowing hours, how should I list it on the application?

I have merged your thread with our main AMCAS Work/Activities thread. It is helpful to keep these posts here to help other applicants in similar situations and we also have a list of FAQ's from Catalystik on the first page.

 

[asterok]

Hi, I’m really interested in health policy, inequities, and public health, and have worked in conjunction with public health researchers and other students on commentaries/opinion pieces about current issues in those fields (like a working group focusing on health inequities). They've been published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, but I don't think it warrants being called "research" because it is really commentary/opinion, no hypotheses being tested, etc. I also have traditional research experience via 2 labs so I hesitate to add another experience that might make me appear all over the place when it comes to the research category. Would it be weird to put this under "advocacy", or would something else be better? I'm not sure and would really appreciate any suggestions, thank you very much!

 

[doc_J61]

Hi, I’m really interested in health policy, inequities, and public health, and have worked in conjunction with public health researchers and other students on commentaries/opinion pieces about current issues in those fields (like a working group focusing on health inequities). They've been published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, but I don't think it warrants being called "research" because it is really commentary/opinion, no hypotheses being tested, etc. I also have traditional research experience via 2 labs so I hesitate to add another experience that might make me appear all over the place when it comes to the research category. Would it be weird to put this under "advocacy", or would something else be better? I'm not sure and would really appreciate any suggestions, thank you very much!

Your research doesn't have to be organized. Try to tie it together w/a theme if you can, though.

Try to be more specific when you say things like "health inequities" or "opinion." Some of these topics can be touchy, so be careful about how you present them.

Don't put it all under "advocacy." Put it under "research."

 

[asterok]

Your research doesn't have to be organized. Try to tie it together w/a theme if you can, though.

Try to be more specific when you say things like "health inequities" or "opinion." Some of these topics can be touchy, so be careful about how you present them.

Don't put it all under "advocacy." Put it under "research."

Thank you!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi, I’m really interested in health policy, inequities, and public health, and have worked in conjunction with public health researchers and other students on commentaries/opinion pieces about current issues in those fields (like a working group focusing on health inequities). They've been published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, but I don't think it warrants being called "research" because it is really commentary/opinion, no hypotheses being tested, etc. I also have traditional research experience via 2 labs so I hesitate to add another experience that might make me appear all over the place when it comes to the research category. Would it be weird to put this under "advocacy", or would something else be better? I'm not sure and would really appreciate any suggestions, thank you very much!

You might consider using "Artistic Endeavors" to highlight validated writing capabilities shared with a wide audience.

 

[asterok]

You might consider using "Artistic Endeavors" to highlight validated writing capabilities shared with a wide audience.

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it!