research award from high school??

[binsbts]

I was wondering if winning a 3rd place at the International Intel Science and Engineering Fair in engineering category helps in applying to med school? it's not related to biomedical research...hmm..sorry for the possibly silly question...anyways, good luck for those who are taking mcat next week!!

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[PBandJ]

my premedical advisors and other faculty i've known have always advised against including anything from high school in med school apps (and resumes in general). i wouldn't include it, unless it's a really prestigious award and you think it will beef up your app.

good luck!

 

[Bluntman]

I agree with Scentimint...No. The AMCAS specifically states only "post-secondary" experiences/awards/jobs/research/etc. are acceptable.

 

[tennisguy896]

I've been volunteering at hospitals since 7th grade, can I lump all that experience into one for my AMCAS application or should I only describe my volunteer work post-secondary? I have a couple awards for volunteering, but they're from pre-secondary- I can just mention them within my experience description, right? Also, do you think I should inlclude National Merit Scholar, Knights of Columbus Youth of the Month, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, or American Legion boys state? I have a good amount of post-secondary ECs, but I might throw in one or two of these to reach the 15 EC limit. Thanks.

 

[Bluntman]

I've been volunteering at hospitals since 7th grade, can I lump all that experience into one for my AMCAS application or should I only describe my volunteer work post-secondary? I have a couple awards for volunteering, but they're from pre-secondary- I can just mention them within my experience description, right? Also, do you think I should inlclude National Merit Scholar, Knights of Columbus Youth of the Month, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, or American Legion boys state? I have a good amount of post-secondary ECs, but I might throw in one or two of these to reach the 15 EC limit. Thanks.

The only one (out of those listed) you should mention is your hospital volunteer work, since you've continued it into college. Even for this, I would make sure that any specific anecdotes you talk about are from your college years, and only use your earlier involvement as an excuse to put an earlier start date. None of the other stuff is appropriate. Check out the help section on the AMCAS and it'll set you straight.

 

[NoSoupforYou13]

I've been volunteering at hospitals since 7th grade, can I lump all that experience into one for my AMCAS application or should I only describe my volunteer work post-secondary? I have a couple awards for volunteering, but they're from pre-secondary- I can just mention them within my experience description, right? Also, do you think I should inlclude National Merit Scholar, Knights of Columbus Youth of the Month, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, or American Legion boys state? I have a good amount of post-secondary ECs, but I might throw in one or two of these to reach the 15 EC limit. Thanks.

Personally, I think the second that you mention something that you did during high school (or even before) you will come across as juvenile and immature. I am sure that most people have tons of activities during HS (athletics, clubs, art, community service, etc.) and awards; however, when you start college, you really wipe the slate clean. Unless you have something truly amazing (i.e. Intel / Siemens Westinghouse winner), it will really look a bit silly.

Treat the AMCAS like a job application. If you are applying for a job, would you really want down that you won the "Best JV Soccer Player" in 10th grade? Would you put down your HS GPA? Answer are, probably not.

Good luck.

 

[tennisguy896]

Thanks for the advice. What about research in high school? I started in 9th grade, and got my first publication in 10th grade (I think I was 3rd author). I should be able to include that right? It's kinda like the volunteering situation b/c I've done both for over 7 years.

 

[Bluntman]

Thanks for the advice. What about research in high school? I started in 9th grade, and got my first publication in 10th grade (I think I was 3rd author). I should be able to include that right? It's kinda like the volunteering situation b/c I've done both for over 7 years.

I would not list that research as a separate experience unless you continued that specific project/lab into college.

I would list the publication, but maybe condense it in with other publications/presentations into one "experience" so you don't have to take up one of your precious 15 with a solely-high-school-related activity.

 

[Bluntman]

Personally, I think the second that you mention something that you did during high school (or even before) you will come across as juvenile and immature.

This is solid advice. Listing high-school achievements, even though they may be prestigious, is probably only going to work against you. In fact, it's better to leave some of the experiences blank than to fill them with HS activities that will only dilute your other, more important, college ones.

edit: I also agree with the same caveat about something truly amazing

 

[Reimat]

To the OP: I know that the Intel talent competition is probably the most competitive international science contest there is (for HS) - I think there is likely a way to include it in your app that would benefit you. Maybe put it in your personal essay as an achievement along your way to choosing medical school. I'm sure if you have continued to be competitive at that level, you're easily headed for the top med schools anyways - so your app may be strong enough without it.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

I agree with Reimat - you've done some cool stuff that deserves to be in your AMCAS. Under my experiences, I created an entry for "miscellaneous" and threw in my extra awards and recognitions. I included the fact that I won a full National Merit Scholarship to a school that I didn't attend - I'm 43 years old, but I wanted it in there.

Most stuff from high school would be inappropriate - I really wouldn't want to hear that you were president of the debate team. But you accomplished some very grown-up stuff - placing in the Intel science competition and being published - that absolutely deserve to be in your AMCAS. Just slide 'em into your personal experiences somewhere. I was astounded at my interviews that my adcom had read every single word of my experiences.

Good Luck!

 

[sintheta]

what about including a pub from HS in which you were approx 8th (or something similarly insignificant) author? do they assume that most applicants had extensive HS research experience, and that's why it shouldn't be included? thanks!

 

[checkers]

Remove (sorry, the search function on this website is screwed up)

 

[Flopotomist]

I would normally jump onboard the "list nothing from highschool" bandwagon - but think that there are a FEW exceptions - eg if you win something as amazingly prestigious as say the Nobel prize in highschool - you should list it. The Intel award is very well known in scientific circles, and is extremely prestigious. I would list it, but be careful to demonstrate that you have done equally amazing things AFTER high school, and be prepared to defend against the stereotype that people listing high school accomplishments are immature.

 

[Sunflower189]

I was told that it's OK to stick high school things in there as long as they support a continued pattern of involvement - say, you did this research, went to Intel and got published, then got to college and researched some more.

For what it's worth, I'm planning on sticking in my HS pub (3rd author in blah journal) and my Olympiad stuff. I've stayed involved with both. Otherwise, sadly, it's to the resume graveyard with all of it.

 

[OctoDoc]

Please tell me you weren't one of those that whipped out the ole high school yearbook in college. 😀

 

[Severus]

I personally don't see anything wrong with putting down an activity from HS that you continued through your college years a bit... like orchestra or volunteering at the same hospital, etc.