Postpone sending in AMCAS so I can get another volunteer job?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I am worried about my lack of extracurricular activities. I am trying to get another volunteer job right now, but I'm wondering if I should postpone sending in my AMCAS so I can list this job?

 

[Megalofyia]

I wouldn't not postpone sending in your application. Being late will hurt you more than having more more volunteer experience that you just barely have had.

 

[skypilot]

Scour your brain to come up with additional things to put down on AMCAS. I would not postpone submitting under any circumstances. I am sure you can come up with ideas. The time you volunteered to help a neighbor change a tire? Put it down! The tree fort you built, (Worked on a construction project in an underdeveloped area). I'm exaggerating but there must be something you can put down. Also take the volunteer project you have done and expand, talk about the different tasks you were assigned to what you learned, how it affected you, how it made you certain you wanted to go into medicine.

Do not delay submit today!

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I agree with the other posters. In some ways it may be good that it is not on AMCAS. This will give you an excuse to send an update letter. Plus on many secondaries, it asks you what you are doing this year, your application year. When I sent my secondaries, in some cases I included a cover letter discussing what I've been up to.

So send it now. It won't get verified for a month or so. I submitted at the end of July last year and wished I had submitted a little earlier. It might not have made any difference, but I think that my interview invites would have come in Oct/Nov/Dec instead of Dec/Jan/Feb. I'm very glad that I didn't wait.

 

[Sweet Tea]

Submit now. send an update letter to the schools later.

 

[voltron77]

Send in your AMCAS application ASAP! As stated previously, it can hurt you more if your application is late. Processing times can take a while now. You can always find volunteer activities to do at local hospitals/medical clinics, soup kitchens and at local churches. Good luck and don't delay.

 

[Winston Smith]

Originally posted by skypilot
Scour your brain to come up with additional things to put down on AMCAS. I would not postpone submitting under any circumstances. I am sure you can come up with ideas. The time you volunteered to help a neighbor change a tire? Put it down! The tree fort you built, (Worked on a construction project in an underdeveloped area). I'm exaggerating but there must be something you can put down. Also take the volunteer project you have done and expand, talk about the different tasks you were assigned to what you learned, how it affected you, how it made you certain you wanted to go into medicine.

Do not delay submit today!

Can you really put those type of activities down? I've done several volunteer work with friends...some are involved in other activities and asked for my help. I must have gone to 10 or so last year. Can I put those down? thanks!

 

[mattunc]

Quality is much more important that quantity. Don't waste the reader's time with meaningless activities that you barely spent any time on, rather focus on larger activities. I think it's good to add things that show how you're a multifaceted person, i.e. if you're into sports and it doesn't show up on your application anywhere else, include working out regularly or playing pickup soccer games as an activity in order to provide the reader with a better picture of what kind of person you are. Do not include changing a tire unless you want to be asked in an interview about your auto mechanics background- just remember, whatever you put down in your activities section will be fair game for interview questions, especially the unique stuff. On my application last year I had 5 or 6 run-of-the-mill activities, a couple long term, unique projects, and several personal interests (playing guitar, huge sports fan, traveling). In interviews, I talked mostly about stuff from this section. Good luck...