Should I include this commitment?

[RdBruce]

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Hi guys,

Through college, I was the caretaker of my grandparents. I brought groceries and medications for them. I also cleaned and maintained their house, taught them conversational English, and drove them to doctor's appointments, etc.

This was a fairly significant time commitment for me at about 6 hours every 2-3 weeks for the past 3 years and counting. Would this activity be appropriate to list this on my application? If so, what would it fall under?

Thank you.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Probably not. It's family. I could have put being a parent and cleaning and caring for children, but it doesn't qualify, much like this activity.

 

[RdBruce]

lol. Point taken. Was it something you discussed during interviews though?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

It went in my PS and it made an appearance in the interview, but not a lot of focus.

 

[gravitywave]

Probably not. It's family. I could have put being a parent and cleaning and caring for children, but it doesn't qualify, much like this activity.

ah, but you did. at a minimum, AMCAS asks if you have any dependents. so even if you hadn't brought it up in your PS, it still would have been a part of your record.

I do agree though that this doesn't belong in the activities section. OP should find a way to work it into the PS if it was a meaningful experience that sh/e would be willing to discuss at an interview.

 

[curt656]

What if you were a part of his or her care? Several years ago, my grandfather had a stroke. He was invalid, but the family decided that we would care for him at home. Eventually he got to the point where he had no function below the waist. For a few years, there were a few days a week where I had a 4 or 6 hour shift serving basically in the capacity of his nurse.

It definitely had an impact on my desire to become a physician and also opened my eyes to a lot of the not so nice things about working with a patient.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

What if you were a part of his or her care? Several years ago, my grandfather had a stroke. He was invalid, but the family decided that we would care for him at home. Eventually he got to the point where he had no function below the waist. For a few years, there were a few days a week where I had a 4 or 6 hour shift serving basically in the capacity of his nurse.

It definitely had an impact on my desire to become a physician and also opened my eyes to a lot of the not so nice things about working with a patient.

I echo gravitywave. Definitely work it into your PS but leave it out of the activities. I think putting "caring for grandfather" might as well say "didn't have anything else and I am trying to make it more than it was." I am not saying that is how it is, just that it looks like that. This is my opinion.

 

[liveoak]

Probably not. It's family. I could have put being a parent and cleaning and caring for children, but it doesn't qualify, much like this activity.

really? caring for your child is the same thing as caring for a sick family member?

 

[Law2Doc]

I echo gravitywave. Definitely work it into your PS but leave it out of the activities. I think putting "caring for grandfather" might as well say "didn't have anything else and I am trying to make it more than it was." I am not saying that is how it is, just that it looks like that. This is my opinion.

Agreed, this belongs only in your PS if at all.